General Music

Towson High School General Music Classes provide an opportunity to students looking for an alternative to our performing ensembles. Typically, beginners with little or no experience can enroll in a standard level general music class. AP and Honors Music Theory is designed for advanced musicians seeking to expand their knowledge of theoretical music concepts as they apply to music performance and/or the College Board's AP Music Theory Exam. Although these classes are not considered "performing ensembles," students do perform in-class on a regular basis (at least 8 times per year). These courses satisfy the Maryland State requirement of one (1) fine arts credit for graduation from high school.

Guitar Class

Guitar is a sequential program of year-long instruction. Through the study of music theory, vocabulary, musical styles, historical reference, and the opportunities for performance on acoustic guitar, students will learn the basics of playing guitar. No experience is necessary and beginners are welcome! This course satisfies the Maryland State requirement of one (1) fine arts credit for graduation from high school.

For more information or to audition for placement in a higher level guitar class, contact Mr. Olin.

AP & Honors Music Theory

The ultimate goal of an AP Music Theory course is to develop a student's ability to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. The achievement of these goals may best be approached by initially addressing fundamental aural, analytical, and compositional skills using both listening and written exercises.

Building on this foundation, the course should progress to include more creative tasks, such as the harmonization of a melody by selecting appropriate chords, composing a musical bass line to provide two-voice counterpoint, or the realization of figured-bass notation.

Click here to visit the College Board AP Music Theory site

The AP Music Theory exam tests your understanding of musical structure and compositional procedures through recorded and notated examples. Strong emphasis is given to listening skills, particularly those involving recognition and comprehension of melodic and rhythmic patterns, harmonic functions, small forms, and compositional techniques. Most of the musical examples are taken from standard repertoire, although some examples of contemporary, jazz, or vernacular music, or music beyond the Western tradition are included for testing basic concepts. The examination assumes fluency in reading musical notation and a strong grounding in music fundamentals, terminology, and analysis.

How does studying theory makes you a better instrumentalist, singer, conductor, musician, etc.? Let's ask Mr. Olin...

A beneficial aspect of studying music theory during my undergraduate career was its direct relevance to my piano skills class and its subsequent impact on my performance as a trumpeter. Through the study of music theory and its application on the piano, I began to develop a deeper comprehension of my role as a trumpet player within the orchestra. As a trumpeter, I often held the melody, but not exclusively so. I discovered that my knowledge of music theory greatly aided me in understanding the specific note within the chord I was playing (vertical harmony) and the section of the music I was performing (form). Theory serves as a universal language for describing musical concepts, and with a fundamental grasp of theory, I was better equipped to both perform and discuss music with my colleagues and peers.

Studying music theory equips us with an understanding of how music is structured, how it adheres to established rules, and how it occasionally deviates from them. Most importantly, it provides insights into why music follows these rules or chooses to break them. Music theory is undeniably one of the most valuable assets for musicians because it enables us to communicate effectively with fellow musicians, both in verbal conversation and in the language of musical performance."

~Mr. Olin, THS Music Teacher

Music and Audio Technology

The Music and Audio Technology courses are designed to provide students with opportunities to explore content, skills, tools, and techniques for creating music and audio productions. No experience is required for this course and you do not need to know how to play an instrument or sing. Any student can sign up for the Music and Audio Technology class. This course satisfies the Maryland State requirement of one (1) fine arts credit for graduation from high school.

Class Piano

The Class Piano courses are designed to provide students with opportunities to explore content, skills, tools, and techniques for creating and performing music on the piano. No experience is required for this course and you do not need to know how to play an instrument or sing. Any student can sign up for Class Piano. This course satisfies the Maryland State requirement of one (1) fine arts credit for graduation from high school.

Standard Class Piano

Technique

keyboard topography and orientation; proper posture and hand position
focus learning 5 note scales and playing triad chords
all white key major and minor 5 finger patterns, tonic triads in root position
multiple exercises in elementary level articulation; introducing coordination between hands
selected etudes and technique building exercises
scale preparation exercises
I-vi-VI-V and ii-V-I progression in the key of C

Repertoire:

many folk songs in a variety of settings: hands alone, hands together, solo, and duet
solo and duet pieces in increasing difficulty; composers include Kabalevsky, Turk, Bartok, and Gurlitt
selected outside material

Fundamental Skills:

exercises in grand staff reading
sight reading examples ranging from single line melodies to independent voices
harmonization using blocked and broken chords
lead sheet harmonization
all key signatures and theory work
improvisation using the technical and theoretical material of these chapters

Honors Class Piano

Technique:

major and minor scales up to three sharps and three flats, hands together, 2 octaves
review all white key major scales, hands together, 2 octaves
the chromatic, whole tone and pentatonic scales, hands alone
2 and 3 note slurs; some preliminary attention to arm rotation, wrist flexibility; more emphasis on posture, finger strength and independence
modes

Repertoire:

songs, etudes and exercises from selected texts
pieces at the late elementary to early intermediate levels, stressing hand independence, a broader choice of articulation, a wider dynamic range, scale passages, chords in root and inverted positions; composers include Heller, Diabelli, Duncombe, Beethoven, Kabalevsky, Bartok, Dring, and Caramia

Fundamental Skills:

chord progressions: I-V-I; I-iii-IV-I-ii-I-V7-I; I-IV-V7-I; I-V-vi-iii-ii-I-V7-I; I-vi-IV-I-ii-I-V7-I
lead sheet harmonization, with triads, and jazz chords; harmonization by ear
accompaniment
study of 7th chords
sight reading, improvisation and work with jazz chord vocabulary