UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER

School of Performing Arts

course syllabus for

MUSI 1311: Music Theory I (3 credit hours)

Fall 2022
MWF 9:05–10:00 a.m. – FAC 2006

Professor: Dr. Kyle Gullings Office Hours: (subject to change, face-to-face or Zoom)
Office: FAC 2213 Mondays 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Email (preferred contact method): kgullings@uttyler.edu Thursdays 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Office Phone: 903.566.7388 Fridays 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
(other times by appointment)

Course Description: An elementary study of melody, rhythm, and diatonic tonal harmony in four voices and in simple
instrumental textures. Emphasis on rudiments of music, voice leading, harmonic progression, and elemental melodic
forms.

Co-Requisite: MUSI 1116 (Aural Skills I). Students not possessing the co-requisite(s) will be administratively removed
from the class unless otherwise approved by the department.

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in MUSI 1301, or permission of the instructor granted upon earning a passing score
on the Music Fundamentals Placement Exam.

Course Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Identify and write all elements of the fundamentals of music, including pitches in various clefs, rhythms,
simple and compound meters and time signatures, major and minor scales and key signatures, intervals, triads,
and seventh chords, at a mastery level (proficient level only for tenor and alto clefs)
2. Evaluate and write single-voice cantus firmus lines and counterpoint in first and second species, at a
proficient level
3. Compose an original melody, using and analyzing various musical elements covered in class

Required Texts:
Online Textbook and Other Resources:
https://viva.pressbooks.pub/openmusictheory/ (our free, online, open-access textbook)

Other Required Materials: Manuscript paper and a pencil are required at each class meeting. Composition assignments
may be written on manuscript paper or notated using software.

Additional Online Resources: (for independent practice)

http://openmusictheory.com/ (the old website [Version 1] of our online textbook)
http://www.musictheory.net (another free, online resource for learning about and practicing music theory)
http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm

Grading:
Grade Weighting Homework Assignments and Quizzes 25%
Analysis Projects 15%
Participation 10%
Composition Project 10%
Midterm Exam 20%
Final Exam 20%

Grading Scale 90–100% A

80–89% B
70–79% C
 60–69% D
Below 60% F

Methods for Assessing Outcomes: Students will be evaluated through regular out-of-class assignments, analysis projects,
quizzes, in-class participation, a composition project, a midterm exam, and a final exam.

Methods of Instruction: A variety of instructional methods will be used, including in-class lectures, group and
individual exercises and discussion, listening examples, and online assignments.

** Due Dates and Excused Absences Policy: All assignments are due on the days indicated, at the start of class. At the
instructor’s discretion, reduced credit may be given for analyses, presentations, or other work that is late or missing
due to unexcused absences. If granted, late work for reduced credit must be turned in before that same assignment is
returned to the class, generally within one week of the due date, after which the assignment will not be accepted.

At the instructor's discretion, absences may be considered excused only for legitimate, documented reasons (serious
illness, family emergency, etc.). Even in cases of excused absences, any outstanding assignments are due at the
following class period. Missed presentations typically must be made up within one week of the absence. In all cases, it
is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor of absences as soon as possible, and to document that absence if
an excused absence is being requested.

** Attendance Policy: Full attendance and participation are expected in this course. Arrival after class has begun will
count as a tardy. Three tardies will count as one unexcused absence.

For this course, students are allowed three unexcused absences. After this, the following penalties may be applied:
4-6 unexcused absences = 1 letter grade reduction
7-9 unexcused absences = 2 letter grades reduction
10+ unexcused absences = automatic failure of the course (“F”)
(This penalty is not part of the Participation grade, which reflects engaged activity in class.)

Additionally, avoidable distractions such as cell phone use/texting, eating food, outside work, and unnecessarily
leaving the room during class time may results in a tardy or absence for the day, at the instructor’s discretion. Multiple
occurrences will result in the student being asked to leave the class session.

** Communication: Students are required to regularly check their Patriot e-mail account and the class Canvas page.

** Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated (cheating, copying homework, plagiarism, etc.).

Other: On our course Canvas site, on the “Syllabus” page, please see the links titled “Student Resources” and
“University Policies and Information.”
 Music Theory I – Fall 2022

Course Calendar
(subject to change)
Week Date Topic or Event
1 8/22 First Class Day / Syllabus
Introduction to Tonal Music, Music Theory, Analysis, Intro. to Analysis Project #1
Introduction to the “textbook”
Music Theory Fundamentals Assessment (online, out of class)
8/24 I. Fundamentals [unit heading]
Introduction to Western Musical Notation
Notation of Notes, Clefs, and Ledger Lines
8/26 Due: Analysis Project #1 (Great Music, and How It Works), Part 1 of 2
Reading Clefs
The Keyboard and the Grand Staff

2 8/29 Half- and Whole-steps and Accidentals

8/31 American Standard Pitch Notation (ASPN)
Other Aspects of Notation (dynamics, expression marks, etc.)
Rhythmic and Rest Values
9/2 Due: Analysis Project #1 (Great Music, and How It Works), Part 2 of 2
Census Date (last day to withdraw from courses without penalty)

3 9/5 NO CLASS: Labor Day

9/7 Simple Meter and Time Signatures
9/9 Compound Meter and Time Signatures
Other Rhythmic Essentials

4 9/12 NO CLASS: Instructor has jury duty

9/14 Major Scales, Scale Degrees, and Key Signatures
9/16 “

5 9/19 Major Scales, Scale Degrees, and Key Signatures

Minor Scales, Scale Degrees, and Key Signatures
9/21 Due: HW#1 (Major Scales, Major Key Signatures)
Minor Scales, Scale Degrees, and Key Signatures
9/23 “

6 9/26 Introduction to Diatonic Modes and the Chromatic “Scale” [not graded]
The Basics of Sight-singing and Dictation [not graded]
Intervals
9/28 Due: HW#2 (Minor Scales, Minor Key Signatures)
Intro. to Analysis Project #2 (Interval Study)
Intervals
9/30 “
Triads

7 10/3 Triads
10/5 Due: HW#3 (Intervals)
Triads
10/5 “
Week Date Topic or Event
8 10/10 Seventh Chords
10/12 Due: Analysis Project #2 (Interval Study)
Due: HW#4 (Triads)
Seventh Chords
10/14 “

9 10/17 Intro. to Composition Project

Seventh Chords
Midterm Exam Review
10/19 Due: HW#5 (Seventh Chords)
Midterm Exam
10/21 Inversion and Figured Bass

10 10/24 Inversion and Figured Bass

Roman Numerals and SATB Chord Construction
10/26 “
Intro. to Analysis Project #3 (Chord Qualities in Popular Songs)
10/28 Roman Numerals and SATB Chord Construction

11 10/31 II. Counterpoint and Galant Schemas [unit heading]

Introduction to Species Counterpoint (includes cantus firmus writing)
11/2 Due: Composition Project Draft #1 (Single-Line Melodies w/Fundamentals & Cantus Firmus)
Introduction to Species Counterpoint (includes cantus firmus writing)
11/4 “

12 11/7 First-species Counterpoint

11/9 “
11/11 “

13 11/14 Second-species Counterpoint

11/16 “
Due: HW#6 (Cantus Firmus A & First-species Counterpoint A [2 sheets])
Due: Analysis Project #3 (Chord Qualities in Popular Songs)
11/18 Second-species Counterpoint

14 11/21–25 NO CLASS: Thanksgiving Break

15 11/28 Due: HW#7 (Second-species Counterpoint)

Composition Project; Final Exam Review
11/30 Due: Composition Project Final Draft (Single-Line Melodies w/Fundamentals & Cantus Firmus)
Final Exam Review
12/2 Composition Project Watch Party; Final Exam Review
Optional Review Session: Friday, Dec. 2 at 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

16 12/5 (M) Final Exam: Monday, Dec. 5 at 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.