MUSC 251 Music Theory III
This course deepens students' understanding of harmony, focusing on chromatic extensions
beyond traditional major and minor scales. We also study techniques for analysis and
composition of popular and classical song genres, studying how composers' and songwriters'
expressive choices of harmony intersect with rhythm, form, and lyrics. Students will learn to
think critically about many perspectives on what a theory of harmony is and should be, including
classical theories of voice-leading, using chromatic harmony to signal and structure large-
scale key areas over conventional baroque and classical period forms, representations of
emotions and atmospheres in cinematic harmony, and jazz theory practices of chord alteration
and substitution. Each of these perspectives is studied in historical and social context. Students
will continue developing their skills in the writing of scholarly analysis and engage in
compositional projects. Includes both a lecture section, and a musicianship lab section focusing
on more advanced tonal sight-singing, dictation, and listening.
Corequisite
MUSC 251A