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MUS10190

Academic Year 2024/2025

Music Theory 1 (MUS10190)

Subject:
Music
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Music
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Conor Power
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module introduces students to concepts of melody, triads, voice-leading, and orchestral reduction. The module examines the convergence of harmony and melody in four-part vocal chorales. Additionally, students will learn to read and complete figured bass analyses of short pieces. The module culminates with classes on orchestral writing, wherein students consider orchestration, textures, and timbre and, ultimately, write their own reductions of larger scores. Lectures will be supplemented by weekly tutorials in music theory and aural and sight reading skills. Students will have weekly keyboard harmony classes (labs).

Students who wish to take this module should note that musical literacy and a solid knowledge of intervals, scales and key signatures are expected. Students should have taken MUS 10020 or MUS 10210 beforehand.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
- demonstrate a thorough knowledge of diatonic harmony and voice-leading
- explain and analyse the basic elements of tonal music
- harmonise a chorale melody in four-voices
- analyse and realise figured bass
- analyse a short orchestral score and arrange/reduce it for piano or small ensemble
- demonstrate basic keyboard skills

Indicative Module Content:

Chapters 3 to 15 of Burstein & Straus, Concise Introduction to Tonal Harmony (New York & London: W. W. Norton, 2016).

— Figured bass harmonisation
— SATB chorale composition
— Voice-leading analysis
— Fundamentals of diatonic harmony
— Using notation software (such as Musescore)
— Alto and tenor clefs
— Transposing instruments
— Orchestral textures and timbres
— Orchestral score reduction
— Basic keyboard skills

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24

Tutorial

12

Laboratories

12

Specified Learning Activities

36

Autonomous Student Learning

16

Total

100


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Weekly lectures and small group tutorials.
Formative assessment through assignments during tutorials
Summative assessment through graded assignments and feedback from tutors
Autonomous engagement with online textbook resources
Practical learning in keyboard harmony groups

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Completing MUS10210 (Musicianship) in Autumn is highly recommended for any student who needs to strengthen their skills in reading music notation and the basic elements of music theory before attempting this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Online MCQ Quiz Week 5 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Take home assessment (hard copy submission) Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
30
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Score reduction (online submission) Week 15 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
30
No
Practical Skills Assessment: Keyboard Assessment (by tutor) Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Attendance at lectures and tutorials is essential to progression in this module. Feedback will be provided individually and to the group within tutorials. Individual feedback is also available from the module coordinator during weekly office hours. Students are also encouraged to engage with the self-assessment activities available in the textbook and its online resources.

Chapters 3 to 15 of Burstein & Straus, Concise Introduction to Tonal Harmony (New York & London: W. W. Norton, 2016).

Name Role
Ms Anika Babel Tutor
Fiona Baldwin Tutor
Ms Aoife Murphy Tutor
Tegan Sutherland Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32 Mon 15:00 - 16:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 3 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 4 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 5 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 7 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 8 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 15 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 18 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 11:00 - 11:30
Spring Laboratory Offering 2 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 10:00 - 10:30
Spring Laboratory Offering 3 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 14:00 - 14:30
Spring Laboratory Offering 4 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 14:00 - 14:30
Spring Laboratory Offering 6 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 13:00 - 13:30
Spring Laboratory Offering 8 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 12:00 - 12:30
Spring Laboratory Offering 10 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 13:00 - 13:30
Spring Laboratory Offering 10 Week(s) - 30 Thurs 13:00 - 13:30
Spring Laboratory Offering 11 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 15:00 - 15:30