Music
Theory at the University of Maine General Information for New Undergraduate Music Majors
At the University of Maine, the music theory sequence
undertaken by music majors is the same for everyone during the first two
years. The information
below is intended to assist interested persons for preparatory purposes as
well as general information.
The 2-year sequence is comprised of 4 courses: MUY 111, Elementary Harmony
I, offered Fall semesters only; MUY 112, Elementary Harmony II, offered Spring
semesters only; MUY 211, Advanced Harmony I, offered Fall semesters only;
and MUY 212, Advanced Harmony II, offered Spring semesters only. The prerequisite
for MUY 112 is the successful completion of MUY 111; of MUY 211, the successful
completion of MUY 112; and of MUY 212, the successful completion of MUY 211.
All of this information may be found in the University's Undergraduate Catalog.
Approximately the first 6 weeks of MUY 111 is devoted to the fundamentals
of music, that is: the materials of music; notation; scales, key, and modes;
intervals and transposition; and chords. It is recommended that students
who feel that they are not ready for this work through a text in the Fundamentals
of Music (or take a course of this type offered through a high school, community
college, or local college or university), of which many are available, from
a variety of publishers. People who are interested in a text that coordinates
with those used at the University of Maine are referred to the one published
by McGraw-Hill. Students who are not ready for MUY 111 are referred to MUY
101, Fundamentals of Music, as a preparatory course. Be apprised that MUY
101 is not part of any music major curriculum and will most likely require
additional time for the completion of an undergraduate degree in music.
The music program offered at the University of
Maine is a traditional one in that it is approved by the National Association
of Schools of Music, as
well as other national accrediting bodies. Therefore, there is a responsibility
to offer courses which will eventuate in the development of well-rounded
and versatile musicians, capable of assuming their place in today's diverse
musical community, be it in education, in the performing world, in graduate
school, or in the musical life of the community. In the music theory area,
this means that students will be exposed to and expected to demonstrate competence
in all areas of music theory, including the "classical," jazz,
musical theater, and popular domains. Some of these overlap, and capable
musicians in any genre are, sometimes surprisingly, well-rounded and knowledgeable.
At the University of Maine, there is no test for placement in the Harmony
(music theory) sequence. All students begin with MUY 111, Elementary Harmony
I. Exceptions are occasionally made for transfer students from other accredited
undergraduate programs, and require transcript evaluation and usually a test.
Advanced Placement Credits (AP) are accepted on the following schedule: a
score of 3, 4, or 5 will excuse students from MUY 101, Fundamentals of Music
(this is the core theory course for Music Minors, incidentally); and a score
of 5 only, and the successful completion of a test given by special arrangement,
will excuse students from MUY 111.
Finally, there is no provision at this time for taking a proficiency test
which would excuse students from any or all of the sequence.
The following texts are currently in use at the University of Maine:
MUY 111 Benward and Saker, Music in Theory and Practice, volume 1, 7th ed. NY: McGraw-Hill.
ISBN: 0-07-241430-8, part of 0-07-249296-1. Comes bundled with a compact
disc.
Mike Steinel, Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble: A Comprehensive Method
for Jazz Style and Improvisation, CONDUCTOR. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Corp.
ISBN: 0-7935-9631-9. Comes bundled with 2 CDs.
MUY 112
Benward and Saker, Music in Theory and Practice, volume 1, 7th ed. NY: McGraw-Hill.
ISBN: 0-07-241430-8, part of 0-07-249296-1. Comes bundled with a compact
disc.
Mike Steinel, Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble: A Comprehensive Method
for Jazz Style and Improvisation, CONDUCTOR. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Corp.
ISBN: 0-7935-9631-9. Comes bundled with 2 CDs.
MUY 211 Benward and Saker, Music in Theory and Practice, volume 2, 7th ed. NY: McGraw-Hill.
ISBN: 0-07-241432-4, part of 0-07-249297-X. Comes bundled with a compact
disc.
Chuck Sher, publisher, The Real Easy Book: Tunes For Beginning Improvisers,
Petaluma, CA: Sher Music Co. ISBN: 1-883217-15-6.
MUY 212
Benward and Saker, Music in Theory and Practice, volume 2, 7th ed.
NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 0-07-241432-4, part of 0-07-249297-X. Comes bundled
with a compact
disc.
Chuck Sher, publisher, The Real Easy Book: Tunes For Beginning Improvisers,
Petaluma, CA: Sher Music Co. ISBN: 1-883217-15-6.
