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Music Theory Fundamentals in Four Weeks

This innovative online course prepares music school and conservatory entering freshmen for theory placement exams.

Each of the skills required on the placement examinations is developed and tested.
Proficiency will allow students to place directly into regular theory curriculum, bypassing Intensive Theory curriculum.
In addition to the presentation of basic concepts and terminology of music theory fundamentals, the site includes over 200 sets of writing, playing, listening, singing, and conducting exercises.
Exercise sets are interwoven throughout each module in order to provide immediate feedback on all new concepts (sample answers are provided). Self-assessment provides a summary of the tasks.
This background will provide a smooth transition between high school and college-level academics.
The course can be completed in four to six weeks. Working on the program at least one hour daily will reap the greatest benefits.
The emphasis is on skill development, and the majority of time will be spent on demonstrating and internalizing these concepts.
The program will be available on Blackboard. Technical assistance will be available for those unfamiliar with the system.
Students will need access to a computer (PC or Mac), a printer, headphones, and a piano keyboard.

The course was designed by a team of professionals at the Eastman School of Music’s Institute for Music Leadership.

	Steven Laitz, a nationally recognized figure in music theory, teaching, and an Eastman Associate Professor of Music Theory, authored the course. Laitz also serves as an Affiliate Faculty Member in Eastman’s Chamber Music Department. Since 1998, Laitz has taught on the piano faculty at the Chautauqua Institution, where he lectures on analysis and performance issues and teaches piano.
His publications include: The Complete Musician; An Integrated Approach to Tonal Theory, Analysis, and Listening; Graduate Review of Tonal Theory: A Recasting of Common-Practice Harmony, Form, and Counterpoint, both published by Oxford University Press.

A computer with broadband Internet access (minimum download speed of 512 Kbps) and speakers or headphones
A web browser: Internet Explorer, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox (we recommend using Mozilla Firefox for correct display of vector graphics)
Adobe Flash player Plug-in installed (Download here and install)
Printer
One ream of paper (this will vary based on how much you decide to print)