Music Theory

Faculty

Dr. Ellen Harrison (on leave 2009/2010 school year)

Dr. Igor Plitsyn

Rebecca Danard

Jennifer Roig-Francoli (Alexander Technique)

Cost: $200 per semester, $150 for students enrolled in private music lessons

Download the theory test as a PDF file here.

CCM PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC THEORY

Music theory is a very important part of music education for our students. A thorough understanding of music theory is key to a music student’s success. Music students age eight and above are encouraged to study music theory at CCM Prep. There are six levels for youngsters and three levels for adults. Students have access to practice theory in the computer lab at CCM. Advanced students may wish to take private theory lessons or composition lessons. Students enrolled in private lessons at CCM Prep receive a discount for theory classes. A theory test determines proper placement.

Two Track System for Levels I, II and III
Most younger students take two years to complete each of the three levels. For these students, the levels are each broken into two separate years of study: I-1, I-2, II-1, II-2, III-1 and III-2. Older students and adults can choose to complete each level in a single year, and must be ready to master musical skills in a short period of time.

Level I
The first level of the Preparatory Theory Program serves as a direct aid to beginning instrumental study. Ear training focuses on aural recognition of the concepts studied in written theory. Students study solfege and develop the ability to sing simple melodies in major and minor keys while conducting the meter. In addition, students train their inner ears by learning how to notate simple melodic and rhythmic dictations. Great emphasis is placed on rhythmic control and proper execution of the subdivisions of the beat.
Topics mastered include: treble and bass clefs; major and minor scales and key signatures; basic intervals; simple time signatures; and rhythmic subdivisions.

Level II
Level II reviews and builds upon the foundation of Level I and focuses on more challenging sight singing and dictation (melodic and rhythmic.) Students develop the ability to recognize and sing all intervals and triads.
Topics mastered at this level include: all intervals; triads and their inversions; figured bass; non-harmonic tones and ornaments; transposition; compound time; and small-scale musical forms.

Level III
This class is designed for those students who already have a secure knowledge of the fundamentals covered in Levels I and II. It will focus on the basic elements of diatonic harmony and functional analysis and introduce four-part harmony before moving on to modulation and chromatic harmony. The ear training will include challenging sight singing assignments as well as harmonic, melodic and rhythmic dictations.
Topics mastered include: alto and tenor clefs; seventh chords and their inversions; transposition; melody writing; diatonic church modes; realizing a figured bass; cadences; part writing and harmonization of a melody; large-scale forms; and analysis of selected works

INSTRUCTORS
Igor Plitsyn
DMA in Composition, CCM. Diplomas in Violin and Composition, Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Over 50 compositions for all media. Performances in the United States, Eastern Europe and Asia. Grants and awards from the Ministry of Culture of Russia, ASCAP and Meet the Composer.

CLASS SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Young students
Level IA Saturday 9:00 am
Level IB Saturday 10:00 am
Level IIA Saturday 3:00 pm
Level IIB Saturday 2:00 pm
Level IIIA Saturday 11:00 am
Level IIIB Saturday 12:00 noon

High School and Adults
Level I Saturday 1:00 pm
Level II Saturdays 2:00 pm
Level III Saturdays 3:00 pm
Theory placement tests are available in the office. Please call 513-556-2595 to obtain a test and return to Dr. Harrison. She will contact you regarding your placement.