54A Music Theory 1 Syllabus

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Course Description

Introductory course in music theory as applied to audio production, music technology and songwriting. Study elements of music, including melody, rhythm, chords and musical forms. Understand traditional music notation as applied to MIDI sequencers, Pro Tools and other Digital Audio Workstations (DAWS). Edit drum and percussion notation to program beats, MIDI sequencer Event Lists, and digital sample libraries. Ear training exercises for audio engineers to make equalization and production decisions based on harmonic overtones, key signatures and chord progressions. Selected listening and analysis of famous composers and award-winning producers in a wide variety of styles. Study the Nashville number music notation shorthand system. Develop ability to quickly and effectively recognize chord changes and transpose to any key. Learn to read, write and conduct orchestral scores used in commercial recording studios. Apply traditional music theory concepts to modern digital audio editing software, such as Melodyne, Autotune, Elastic Audio, and computer virtual instrument orchestration.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify key signatures, scales, chord progressions
2. Accurately transcribe data into MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) sequencers and DAWS (Digital Audio Workstations)
3. Identify and correct pitch intonation discrepancies in mono and polyphonic digital audio files
4. Read and conduct musical scores as required in professional audio recording studios and movie sound stages
5. Hear and identify harmonic functions of chords as they relate to key signatures and map to MIDI control data
6. Analyze rhythmic performances of musical instrument and vocal recordings
7. Understand and convert traditional music notation into MIDI sequencer data
8. Manipulate parameters of pitch, rhythm and harmony with MIDI software
9. Identify song structure, create tempo maps, memory locations and chord symbols
10. Apply digital audio processing to time stretch musical recordings or transpose to a different key
11. Understand drum and percussion notation to program MIDI sequencer Event Lists, and digital sample libraries

Prerequisites

Some previous experience with a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is highly recommended.

Course Outline

1. Intro Music Theory
2. Major Scales
3. Music Theory and DAWs
4. Rhythm and Chords
5. Nashville Number System
6. Frequency Spectrum
7. Song Structure
8. Song Writing
9. Composition
10. Music Production
11. Final Project

Required Subscriptions

1. pureMix Pro Subscription
   • Free coupon provided by in Canvas
2. LinkedIn Learning
   • Free for students

Required Hardware

Computer

1. Although iOS and Android mobile devices are getting more powerful all the time, Music Technology students need a computer to do a lot of this work
   • Either a Mac or Windows computer is fine
2. As much RAM as you can afford
3. As much internal storage as you can afford
4. Processor speeds are not as important

Additional Storage

• Dedicated Media Drive is recommended

Required Software

1. Any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
   • Including Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton Love, FL Studio, Cubase, Digital Performer, Reaper, GarageBand, Audacity etc.

Required Textbooks

Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music, 4th Edition

Author: Jonathan Harnum

Kindle: $9.99

Publisher: Sol Ut Press; 4th edition (January 1, 2005)

ASIN: B001KW08ZY

Recommended Ear Training Courses

1. Bruce Arnold - One Note Ear Training
2. Rick Beato - Ear Training App
3. David L Burge - Ear Training Course

Copyright and Intellectual Property

Your contributions to this class are a vital ingredient for all of us. The exchange of information and sharing of the creative process contribute to a rich learning experience often greater than any textbook could provide. Music Technology Classes involve the creation of digital media content. Students will retain full ownership of all their works and copyrights. Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. Only the author, or those deriving their rights through the author, can rightfully claim copyright. In other words, you hold the copyright once you've written it.

Diverse Range of Students

We acknowledge the diversity of the students in all of our Music Tech courses. Many of you join our classes ranging in age and with different backgrounds, experience levels, and skill sets. In teaching so many diverse students, one of our challenges as professors is to provide a personalized experience for all of our students so that you may get the most out of each course and walk away with skills and knowledge that you feel will benefit you for the future. That being said, given the diversity of your backgrounds, it is possible that at certain points, the courses may not be moving at the pace that you would like, whether that be too fast or too slow. If you feel the course is moving too fast and falling behind, please message me as soon as possible so we can help you get caught up and point you in the right direction for resources and materials to help you. If you feel the course is moving too slowly, we would also like you to contact us ASAP and let us know. We have many supplementary materials, including hundreds of articles, videos, and exercises, so you can learn at your preferred pace and get the most out of each course.

Welcome to Class!

We are all in this class because we are moved and inspired by the magnificent magic of music and sound. We are fascinated with Music Technology and the rapidly evolving tools and techniques used in the creative process. Learning the art and science of music production also requires focused work and self-discipline. You should plan on dedicating time each week to study and explore. Your instructors are here to help - so we can all learn and grow together.