Music Theory/Song Writing
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Canal Winchester High School offers Beginning and Advanced Music Theory/Song Writing Classes open to all students. The department is committed to creating excellence in Music Education using the Academic Content Standards laid down by the Ohio Department of Education. While not officially an Advanced Placement Class, most of the course concepts and assignments are taken from the AP Music Theory curriculum.
Compositions will range from a few measures to 36 or more measures. The course grade is a composite of the student’s ability to follow the assignments’ goals and their grade for assigned on-line homework. Each composition and on-line assignment maybe resubmitted as many times as necessary to achieve mastery of the concept. The recorded grade will be changed to reflect the mastery.
By the end of Beginning Music Theory/Song Writing Class, students are expected to become proficient at using all major key signatures and scales, all popular meter signatures, treble and bass clefs and classic progression. The class will create melodies using harmonic and non-harmonic tones and will be able to choose the appropriate chords to accompany their compositions.
By the end of Advanced Music Theory/Song Writing Class, students are expected to become proficient at using all minor key signatures and scales, non-popular meter signatures, secondary dominants, non-diatonic progressions and extended harmonies. The class will create melodies using harmonic and non-harmonic tones and will be able to choose the appropriate chords to accompany their compositions.
Music Theory students may use the department MIDI lab, their personal devices and the school owned Chrome Books throughout the course. With the constant developments in software, it’s impossible to list all the programs available to our students. The class is encouraged to search out new programs and bring them to the class’ attention.
Primarily, software will fall into four categories. The Music Theory MIDI Lab is equiped with the first software noted. The others listed are just a few of the personal options.
1) Music Notation - Sibelius First (Free download, Mac and PC), Finale ($, Mac and PC), Noteflight (Free, Web based, ChromeBook friendly)
2) Sound Editing - GarageBand (Free download, Mac), FL Studio ($, Mac and PC), Audio Tool (ChromeBook App)
3) Music Accompaniment - Band In A Box ($, Mac and PC), Chordbot ($, iOS and Android App)
4) Sound Recording - Pro Tools First (Free download, Mac and PC), Audacity (Free download, Mac and PC), Numerous ChromeBook Recording Apps
It is vital that all Notation software be able to export and print the composition. All software must be able to import and export MIDI files.
Finale Sibelius Band In A Box Audacity
GarageBand FL Studio Chrome App Store
The online resources, www.musictheory.net and www.learnmusictheory.net will be used to re-enforce the classroom lessons and as graded homework assignments.
For Homework Assignments
Music Theory/Song Writing Class Rules and Grading Policy
Are you thinking about a career in Music?
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Download Music Theory Class Packet
Music Theory for Musicians and Normal People
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Download Music Theory Hand Signs
Do you need help on understanding Extended Chords?
