Music Fundamentals is a remedial course designed to reinforce knowledge of the rudiments of music as well as to provide the information taught in Harmony & Counterpoint 1. After successfully completing Music Fundamentals students continue on to Harmony & Counterpoint 2.

In addition to the three hours of classes all students registered for Music Fundamentals attend a weekly one hour study group led by one of the Theory Department’s Teaching Assistants.

The objectives specific to Music Fundamentals are the ability to write and to make a harmonic analysis of four-part chorale style exercises using root position and first inversion triads. These skills will be achieved through an understanding of, and proficiency in applying the following:
• key signatures, scales, and intervals
• understanding of rhythm and time-signatures
• inversion symbols and figured bass
• diatonic triads in major and minor keys
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd species counterpoint
• identification of 7th chords
• principles of voice leading
• root position and 1st inversion part writing
• harmonic progression
• harmonizing a melody
• harmonizing a bass line

Midterm Project
composition of a cantus firmus and 2nd species counterpoint
Final Project
composition of a non-modulating four-part Chorale

Textbooks
Required texts are available online from www.textbookx.com
THE MUSIC THEORY HANDBOOK
Marjorie Merryman
Wadsworth Publishing, 1996
ISBN: 9780155026629