Though AP Music Theory roughly parallels the content of a college freshman year theory course, some of the topics included are usually covered quite late in the undergraduate course of study. The material is covered very rapidly so that it can all be fit into the course; frequent homework and intensive skills practice are required of the student. Significant critical/analytical/ creative thinking skills are fostered in most parts of the course, and especially in considerations of texture, harmonic progression, formal structuring, instrument transposition, and style.

AP Examination questions emphasize the synthesis of musical knowledge into usable musical understanding; the final question on the test asks students to compose music in an 18th century idiom.

In addition, the Music Department maintains a policy of teaching an advanced theory course that is of significant relevance to students who will not go on to major in music. Thus, the subject matter is much wider than required by the AP Music Theory Examination, and the challenge is all the greater for the inclusion of this material.

Oral skills: Sight-singing is taught using solfege, movable "do" system. Melodies, very simple at first, are sung in class as a group and as solos; ancillary drills emphasizing specific problems in sight-singing (larger intervals, difficult rhythms, etc.) are also used. Later in the 2nd semester, melodies in minor mode and sight-singing melodies from AP Examinations of previous years are practiced.

Aural skills: Melodic dictation is begun using very simple 5-7 note fragments; these are notated without rhythm. Gradually, the fragments are lengthened and rhythm added. Later, triads, 7th chords and modes are introduced for identification by ear. These skills are reinforced by the singing of the same items. Identification of intervals is facilitated by the use of familiar melodies that begin with each interval. Harmonic dictation, in which the student must write down the soprano, bass, and harmonic functions from a brief example played on the piano, is a very advanced skill introduced about 6 weeks before the AP Examination.

Analytical skills: Basics of musical analysis are presented in lecture-demo format, with vocabulary introduced as necessary to the discussion. Illustration is provided on the piano and with recordings. Worksheets of practice problems dealing with current topics are assigned almost daily; these are discussed the next day in class. Whenever possible, singing is used to reinforce the concepts. Many writing skills are developed in group efforts on the board and in group critiques of individual exercises. Many AP Examination questions (and similar problems fashioned by the faculty) are covered in the last quarter of the year.

A theory placement test is given to determine the level of a student's prior experience. In addition, a student must submit a transcript of his/her academic work from his/her home school.

STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE THE AP EXAMINATION

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