Prerequisites for AP Music Theory
AP Music Theory is a very demanding collegiate level course that generally moves at a fast pace. Late homework assignments are not accepted, so you need to have a strong work ethic to do well. In order to be prepared for the course, be sure that you begin the school year with the following skills:
1. Be able to instantly identify the note names of both the treble and bass clefs.
2. Be able to immediately identify all major key signatures.
3. Memorize the order of key signatures around the circle of fifths.
4. Sing the solfeg (do re mi) scale both up and down very quickly and from memory. You are required to sight sing on the exam and must use the solfeg syllables.
5. Quickly identify and play any note on the piano keyboard.
6. Play quickly on the piano a major scale beginning on any pitch.
7. Clap basic rhythms on sight in both compound and simple meters.
Students unable to do the things above will not succeed in the AP Music Course. Please come to class the first day prepared. The skills listed above will be reviewed the first week, but after that the class will move ahead very quickly.
