Hello Incoming AP Music Theory Class! Congrats on Making It Through This Past School Year

Hello incoming AP Music Theory class! Congrats on making it through this past school year.

I know it seems like September is a long way off (thankfully), but I wanted to let you know that there is required summer work for AP Music Theory. I’m attaching pdf copies of both Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 of “Tonal Harmony”, which is the textbook that we’ll be using in the course. Please read these chapters, and use the text to help you complete the workbook assignments that are in the 3rd attachment – you’ll need to print this and complete all of the exercises – you’ll be turning this packet in at the start of the school year, and we’ll be taking quizzes on those chapters almost immediately.

The reading and workbook assignments are simply a review of core musical skills, (major/minor key signatures, intervals, scales, chords) – it is ESSENTIAL that you not only grasp these skills by the start of the school year, but that you can apply this knowledge quickly! All of our work for the year will assume that you’ve mastered these skills. Please note – most of the assignments are not challenging, but you will need to dedicate a couple of hours to getting it all done – it can’t be finished in 10 minutes! Space out the work through the summer and practice.

Here are some important keys to completing the work - Chapter 1 will introduce three concepts that may be brand new to you: 1) Octave registers, 2) Alto and Tenor clefs, 3) Scale degree names. Please take the time to read those sections of the text carefully! - Many students come into AP Theory not really knowing their minor key signatures and scales very well. Memorize these key signatures and know the difference between the 3 forms of the minor scale! Don’t rely on always referring to major keys when thinking of minor - Chapter 3 will review the four types of triads and 5 types of seventh chords that you’ll need to be familiar with. Chord spelling (with proper accidentals) is probably the most important skill to review and familiarize yourself with over the summer - In the textbook sections that are attached, there will be sections marked “Self-Test”. You are not required to do these exercises, but if there’s a concept that you feel you need additional practice with, I recommend doing them. - The textbook refers to dominant 7th chords as “Mm7” (this is because a dom 7 chord is a major triad with a minor 7th added on). The problem is, most of the world does not use the symbol “Mm7”, so neither will we. You’ll see a hand-written not from me on pg. 44 that says that if you’re asked to identify a dominant 7 chord with a symbol, use either “dom 7” or just “7”. Likewise, if any exercises ask you to write a “Mm7” chord, they mean a dom 7 chord. - If you feel you need any additional practice with these skills, you can head to www.musictheory.net and do interactive exercises there.

Please don’t stress about this work – if there’s anything you don’t understand, just email me, and I’ll be happy to explain this. Just don’t put all of this off until the last minute – like I said above, you’ll be turning in the workbook assignments for a grade, and we’ll be taking quizzes on these chapters right away when you come back.

Enjoy your summer!

Mr. Klenk [email protected]