AP Music Theory – Part 2: Harmony, Part Writing & Modulation

Complete Course Material | 30 Lectures (50 Minutes Each) | GyanAcademy

📋 Course Overview

📚 Detailed Lecture Breakdown

MODULE 1: Diatonic Harmony & Voice Leading (Lectures 1-6)

Lecture 1: Introduction to SATB Part Writing

• Voice ranges and tessitura (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)
• Spacing rules: Between upper voices vs. Tenor-Bass
• Doubling guidelines for triads in root position
• Common notation practices for keyboard style vs. open score
• Takeaway: Understanding the physical constraints and conventions of four-part writing.

Lecture 2: Voice Leading Principles

• Common tone retention vs. stepwise motion
• Contrary, oblique, and similar motion
• Avoiding voice crossing and overlapping
• Resolving tendency tones (Leading Tone, Chord Seventh)
• Takeaway: Mastering the rules for smooth and independent voice movement.

Lecture 3: Forbidden Motions & Errors

• Parallel perfect fifths and octaves
• Hidden (direct) fifths and octaves
• Unequal fifths (diminished to perfect)
• Identifying and correcting common part-writing errors
• Takeaway: Recognizing and avoiding critical voice-leading violations.

Lecture 4: Primary Triads in Root Position (I, IV, V)

• Harmonic function: Tonic, Subdominant, Dominant
• Connecting root position triads with common tones
• Bass line motion and harmonic rhythm
• Cadential progressions using primary triads
• Takeaway: Writing solid progressions using the foundational chords of tonality.

Lecture 5: Secondary Triads in Root Position (ii, iii, vi)

• Function of supertonic, mediant, and submediant
• Substituting secondary triads for primary functions
• Avoiding doubling the leading tone in iii and vii°
• Progressions involving ii and vi
• Takeaway: Expanding harmonic vocabulary beyond primary triads.

Lecture 6: Module 1 Review & Part Writing Exercise

• Comprehensive review of Diatonic Harmony & Voice Leading
• Guided part-writing exercise: Harmonizing a melody
• Self-assessment guide and weak area identification
• Transition to Inversions & Non-Chord Tones
• Takeaway: Solidifying root position part writing before studying inversions.

MODULE 2: Inversions & Non-Chord Tones (Lectures 7-12)

Lecture 7: First Inversion Triads (6)

• Figured bass notation for first inversion
• Doubling guidelines for first inversion triads
• Using first inversion to smooth bass lines
• Avoiding augmented intervals in the bass
• Takeaway: Incorporating first inversion triads for better voice leading.

Lecture 8: Second Inversion Triads (6/4)

• The three uses of second inversion: Cadential, Passing, Pedal
• Strict voice-leading rules for 6/4 chords
• Doubling the bass (fifth of the triad)
• Resolving the 6/4 to dominant or tonic
• Takeaway: Mastering the specific contexts where second inversion is permitted.

Lecture 9: Non-Chord Tones: Passing & Neighbor

• Unaccented vs. Accented passing tones
• Complete vs. Incomplete neighbor tones
• Identifying NCTs in scores and harmonizing them
• Voice leading implications of NCTs
• Takeaway: Distinguishing between harmonic tones and embellishments.

Lecture 10: Non-Chord Tones: Escape, Appoggiatura, Suspension

• Escape tones (Échappée) and Appoggiaturas
• Preparation, Suspension, and Resolution (4-3, 7-6, 9-8)
• Chain of suspensions
• Harmonizing melodies with suspensions
• Takeaway: Identifying and writing complex embellishments that create tension.

Lecture 11: Non-Chord Tones: Anticipation, Pedal, Retardation

• Anticipation and Retardation timing
• Pedal point (organ point) in bass or upper voices
• Combining multiple NCTs in a single line
• Analysis of NCTs in Bach chorales
• Takeaway: Recognizing the full spectrum of non-harmonic tones.

Lecture 12: Module 2 Review & NCT Analysis

• Comprehensive review of Inversions & Non-Chord Tones
• Analysis exercise: Identifying NCTs in a provided score
• Self-assessment guide and focus areas for continued study
• Transition to Seventh Chords
• Takeaway: Ensuring mastery of embellishments before adding seventh chords.

MODULE 3: Seventh Chords & Secondary Functions (Lectures 13-18)

Lecture 13: Diatonic Seventh Chords in Root Position

• Structure of ii7, V7, vii°7, etc.
• Preparation and resolution of the seventh
• Doubling guidelines for seventh chords
• Incomplete V7 chords (omitting fifth, doubling root)
• Takeaway: Building and resolving diatonic seventh chords correctly.

Lecture 14: Seventh Chords in Inversion

• Figured bass for seventh chord inversions (6/5, 4/3, 4/2)
• Voice leading for each inversion
• Resolving the tritone in vii°7 and V7
• Bass line motion with inverted sevenths
• Takeaway: Incorporating inverted seventh chords for smooth bass motion.

Lecture 15: The Dominant Seventh (V7) & Leading Tone Seventh (vii°7)

• Function and tendency tones
• Resolving the leading tone and chordal seventh
• Using vii°7 as a substitute for V7
• Common progressions involving V7 and vii°7
• Takeaway: Mastering the most critical functional chords in tonal harmony.

Lecture 16: Introduction to Secondary Dominants

• Concept of tonicization vs. modulation
• Notation: V/X or V7/X (e.g., V/V, V/ii)
• Identifying secondary dominants in scores
• Voice leading for secondary dominants
• Takeaway: Understanding how to temporarily emphasize non-tonic chords.

Lecture 17: Secondary Leading Tone Chords

• Notation: vii°/X or vii°7/X
• Function and resolution patterns
• Differentiating secondary dominants from modulations
• Common progressions (e.g., vii°7/V)
• Takeaway: Expanding chromatic harmony with secondary leading tones.

Lecture 18: Module 3 Review & Chromatic Analysis

• Comprehensive review of Seventh Chords & Secondary Functions
• Analysis exercise: Identifying secondary dominants in a score
• Self-assessment guide and weak area identification
• Transition to Modulation
• Takeaway: Solidifying chromatic harmony before studying key changes.

MODULE 4: Modulation & Sequence (Lectures 19-24)

Lecture 19: Types of Modulation

• Common Chord (Pivot Chord) Modulation
• Phrase Modulation (Direct Modulation)
• Chromatic Modulation
• Identifying the pivot chord and new key
• Takeaway: Understanding the mechanisms of changing keys.

Lecture 20: Common Chord Modulation Techniques

• Selecting appropriate pivot chords (diatonic in both keys)
• Modulating to closely related keys (Circle of Fifths)
• Voice leading through the modulation point
• Writing a modulation progression
• Takeaway: Executing smooth modulations using pivot chords.

Lecture 21: Modulation to Relative & Parallel Keys

• Modulating between Major and relative minor (and vice versa)
• Modulating between parallel Major and minor
• Special considerations for mode change
• Analysis of common modulatory patterns
• Takeaway: Mastering the most common key relationships.

Lecture 22: Sequence & Patterns

• Definition of sequence (Tonal vs. Real)
• Common patterns: 5-6 sequence, Pachelbel sequence
• Voice leading within sequences
• Identifying sequences in analysis
• Takeaway: Recognizing and writing repetitive harmonic patterns.

Lecture 23: Harmonic Analysis & Roman Numerals

• Full harmonic analysis including inversions and NCTs
• Notating modulations and secondary functions
• Analyzing phrases and periods
• Practice with Bach Chorale excerpts
• Takeaway: Synthesizing all harmony skills into comprehensive analysis.

Lecture 24: Module 4 Review & Modulation Exercise

• Comprehensive review of Modulation & Sequence
• Guided exercise: Writing a modulation from I to V
• Self-assessment guide and focus areas for continued study
• Transition to Aural Skills & Dictation
• Takeaway: Ensuring mastery of key changes before final aural prep.

MODULE 5: Aural Skills & Harmonic Dictation (Lectures 25-30)

Lecture 25: Harmonic Dictation: Bass & Soprano Lines

• Strategies for notating outer voices
• Identifying cadence points to determine key
• Using harmonic rhythm clues
• Practice exercises with increasing complexity
• Takeaway: Developing strategies for capturing the framework of a progression.

Lecture 26: Harmonic Dictation: Inner Voices & Chord Quality

• Filling in Alto and Tenor based on harmony
• Identifying chord inversions by ear
• Recognizing seventh chords and NCTs aurally
• Practice exercises focusing on inner voice movement
• Takeaway: Completing the four-part texture from auditory cues.

Lecture 27: Melodic Dictation: Advanced Strategies

• Dictating melodies with chromaticism and modulation
• Using solfege and scale degrees simultaneously
• Notating rhythm and pitch simultaneously under pressure
• Practice exercises with complex rhythms
• Takeaway: Mastering the melodic dictation portion of the AP Exam.

Lecture 28: Sight-Singing: Advanced Techniques

• Handling leaps and chromatic alterations
• Maintaining tonality during modulation
• Performance strategies for the AP Exam recording
• Practice with graded sight-singing examples
• Takeaway: Building confidence for the sight-singing submission.

Lecture 29: Part 2 Comprehensive Mock Test

• Simulated MCQ Section: 30 multiple-choice questions (Harmony & Analysis)
• Simulated FRQ Section: Part Writing & Harmonic Dictation
• Exam conditions: Timed practice to build stamina
• Answer key and scoring guidelines provided separately
• Takeaway: Experiencing exam conditions to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Lecture 30: Final Review, Exam Strategies & Course Completion

• Mock test solutions walkthrough and common error analysis
• Final review of key progressions (ii-V-I, Cadential 6/4, Modulations)
• Course wrap-up: Key themes across Units 2-6
• Final pep talk, certificate distribution, and preview of Part 3
• Takeaway: Confidence, clarity, and readiness for Part 3 (Form, Analysis & Final Prep).

📝 Part 2 Learning Outcomes

📦 What’s Included in Part 2

• 🎥 30 HD Video Lectures (50 Minutes Each)
• 📄 Lecture Notes PDF (Downloadable, with music examples and exercises)
• ✍️ Practice Problem Sets (150+ part-writing & analysis exercises)
• 📊 Module Quizzes (5 quizzes with instant feedback)
• 📝 1 Part-Wise Test (Harmony, Part Writing & Modulation)
• 🎯 Aural Skills Workbook (Listening exercises and dictation practice)
• 📚 Vocabulary Lists (Key harmony and analysis terms for each module)
• 💬 Priority Doubt Support (Email/WhatsApp within 24 hours)
• 📜 Certificate of Completion (Part 2)