Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School – AP Music Theory 1-2

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

Students in this one-year course learn to recognize, understand, describe, and produce the basic elements and processes of performed and notated music. Course content extends from the fundamentals of pitch, rhythm, timbre, and expression to concepts of harmonic function, phrase relationships, and tonicization. Students study these concepts in heard and notated music, with emphasis on identification and analysis of musical features, relationships, and procedures in full musical contexts. Repertoire for analysis on the AP Music Theory exam ranges from European Baroque pieces to folk and popular music from across the globe. Students develop musicianship skills through melodic and harmonic dictation, sight singing, and error-detection exercises. Writing exercises further emphasize the foundational harmonic and voice leading procedures of Western art music. <br /><br />Note: The AP Music Theory course corresponds to one-to-two semesters of typical, introductory college music theory and aural skills coursework.