The Music Theory & Aural Skills courses are a series of courses compulsory for all Bachelor of Music students that develop core skills underpinning analytical and practical engagement in a variety of musical idioms, including common practice, jazz, and popular styles. This course introduces the fundamental, core elements of music theory, including the function and use of basic vocabulary and notation to describe pitch, metre, rhythm, chords, and harmonic functions. The theory component is complemented with the sequential and aligned development of relevant aural skills, including an aural awareness of basic melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic structures.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- define and describe, through prose and notation, the fundamental elements of music, including pitch, harmony, tonality, rhythm, and metre;
- apply theoretical knowledge through basic music analysis using appropriate terminology and notation;
- demonstrate an ability to read and apply music notation, including inner hearing of basic melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic elements through sight-singing, sight-reading, and performance activities; and
- aurally identify the fundamental elements of music, such as pitch, chords, harmony, and rhythm, as demonstrated through notation and/or performance tasks.
Indicative Assessment
- Mid-Semester test (theory and aural), 1.5 hours, held during class in week 6 (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Final examination (theory and aural), 2 hours, held during the exam period (40) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Portfolio assessment (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- (null) [LO null]
- Hurdle requirement: A minimum mark of 50% cumulatively across all assessment items in the aural component, and a minimum mark of 50% cumulatively across all assessment items in the theory component, is required to pass the course, regardless of performance in other items. (50) [LO null]
- (null) [LO null]
- (null) [LO null]
- (null) [LO null]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:a) 48 hours of contact over 12 weeks of Theory & Aural workshops; and
b) 82 hours of independent study, including listening and written tasks, and practical exercises (e.g., sight-singing).
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the School of Music to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Prescribed Texts
NA
Preliminary Reading
Clendinning, J. P., & Marvin, E. W. (2014). The Musician’s Guide to Fundamentals (2nd ed). New York: W.W. Norton.Root, Jena. (2014). Applied Music Fundamentals: Writing, Singing, and Listening. New York: Oxford University Press.
Snodgrass, J. S. (2016). Contemporary Musicianship: Analysis and the Artist. New York: Oxford University Press.
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $3000 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $4560 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3039 | 25 Feb 2019 | 04 Mar 2019 | 31 Mar 2019 | 31 May 2019 | In Person | View |
