The Aural Skills and Music Theory 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. In this course, students apply their analytical approaches to larger harmonic and formal frameworks while investigating more complex rhythmic, pitch, formal, and harmonic structures in music. The theory component is complemented with the sequential and aligned development of relevant aural skills, including audiation (inner hearing) and aural awareness of related melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic structures, through individual and group listening, reading and performing (singing), and dictation activities.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate an understanding of more complex elements of music, including those relating to pitch, melody, harmony, rhythm, and form;
- fluently apply theoretical knowledge through analysis of music scores using more complex terminology and notation;
- demonstrate an ability to fluently read and interpret more complex music notation, including inner hearing of melody, harmony, and rhythm, through sight-singing, sight-reading, improvisation, and performance activities; and
- aurally identify and creatively interpret more complex elements of music, including pitch, chords, and harmony in major and minor keys, and more complex rhythms, as demonstrated through notation and performance tasks.
Indicative Assessment
- Aural Exam - 1 hour, held during class in week 6 (20) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Theory Project - Arranging Assignment (15) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Aural Project - Transcription Project (15) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Theory - Summary Sheet/Video (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Theory Exam - 1 hour, held during week 12 (25) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Aural Demonstration - Harmonic Security & Sight Singing (15) [LO 1,2,3,4]
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).
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Edlund, L (1994). Modus Vetus. Beekman Books Inc.
Palmqvist, B (2004). The Refinement of Rhythm. Bopac.
Fox, D (2002). The Rhythm Bible. Alfred Music.
Preliminary Reading
Burstein L. P., and Straus, J. N. (2016). Concise Introduction to Tonal Harmony. New York: Norton.
Karpinski, G. (2007). Manual for Ear Training and Sight Singing. New York: Norton.
Levine, M. (1995). The Jazz Theory Book. Petaluma: Sher.
Mulholland, J. and Hojnacki, T. (2013). The Berklee Book of Jazz Harmony. Boston: Berklee.
Rawlins, R. and Bahha, N. E. (2005). Jazzology: The Encyclopedia of Jazz Theory for All Musicians. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you 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). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 12
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found 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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $3780 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $5280 |
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.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8274 | 22 Jul 2024 | 29 Jul 2024 | 31 Aug 2024 | 25 Oct 2024 | In Person | N/A |
