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MU1037: INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC THEORY AND HARMONY (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

 In this course, basic concepts of Western tonal music such as primary triads, cadences, idiomatic chord progressions, and voice leading are taught using exercises in harmonic analysis, figured bass, and part writing. More advanced concepts such as secondary dominants and chromatically-altered chords are also introduced. In parallel to lectures and seminars, students will work with software designed to reinforce key concepts such as clefs, intervals, key signatures, and scale structures.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 1
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Frauke Jurgensen

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Either Programme Level 1 or Programme Level 2
  • Music (MU)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Course Aims

This ten week course is designed to provide a fundamental knowledge of how music works and to ensure musical parity in all students as they progress to the later years and more advanced sections of the degree.The course deals, in the main, with harmony and counterpoint, the lexicon of music, musical appreciation and introduces basic musicology and composition.

Main Learning Outcomes

1) To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts of Western tonal music
2) To apply methods of aural and written analysis to all musical endeavours
3) To be able to use notation effectively and (where appropriate) with performers
4) To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of various approaches and methods, with particular understanding of practices and idioms of music in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
5) To be able to use skills developed in more formal compositional contexts and to deploy techniques learned effectively
6) To have the musical 'tools' that can be applied to all musical endeavours
7) To give all students the confidence, belief and skills to progress in the later stages of the degree



Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Alternative Assessment

Portfolio (60%)

Online Multiple Choice Exam (40%)

Alternative Resit Assessment

Resubmission of the failed assignments; online exam (100%)

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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