Undergraduate Ear Training

The four semester ear training sequence gradually introduces increasingly advanced rhythms, melodies, textures, and chords in order to provide students with the skills needed to hear music internally, to notate what is heard, and to aurally recognize the harmonic, formal, and rhythmic structures of music.

Classroom time is devoted mainly to Sightsinging and Aural Analysis. All freshman Ear Training sections meet together on Friday morning for a 25 minute Dictation session, followed by a second Dictation session for all sophomore Ear Training  sections. 

Ear Training 1

MU113 
Fall Semester
Credits: 2 
Prerequisites: none
Meetings: two 50 minute classes weekly and one 25 minute Dictation session weekly

Course Objectives

Sightsinging and Rhythm
fluency in and understanding of
• treble and bass clefs
• singing and conducting in simple meters
• fixed do solfége syllables applied to simple, non-modulating major and minor melodies

Aural Analysis
aural recognition and identification of
• simple harmonic progression in major and minor keys
• scale types
• simple meters

Dictation
transcription of
• non-modulating tonal melodies
• simple meters
• triads
• simple harmonic movement

Textbooks

MELODIA: A COURSE IN SIGHTSINGING
Samuel Cole and Leo Lewis 
Oliver Ditson Co.
ISBN: 9781598060836

371 HARMONIZED CHORALES AND 69 CHORALE MELODIES WITH FIGURED BASS
Johann Sebastian Bach, ed. Albert Riemenschneider           
G. Schirmer
ISBN: 9780793525744

Grading

Class Participation 50%
Dictation 30%
Midterm (Sightsinging) 10%
Final Exam (Sightsinging) 10%

Ear Training 2

MU114 
Spring Semester
Credits: 2 
Prerequisite: Ear Training 1
Meetings: two 50 minute classes weekly and one 25 minute Dictation session weekly

Course Objectives

Sightsinging and Rhythm
fluency in and understanding of
• ledger lines in treble and bass clef
• singing and conducting in compound meters
• fixed do solfége syllables applied to non-modulating major and minor melodies
• fixed do solfége syllables applied melodies that include tonicization
• all diatonic intervals within the octave
• triplets and sextuplets
• tied notes, dotted notes, and syncopation

Aural Analysis
aural recognition and identification of
• simple harmonic progression in major and minor keys
• triad qualities
• simple meters
• compound meters

Dictation
transcription of
• non-modulating tonal melodies including non-chord tones
• 1st and 2nd Species counterpoint
• simple and compound meters with ties, triplets and syncopations
• an outer and an inner voice from a 4-part chorale

Textbooks

MELODIA: A COURSE IN SIGHTSINGING
371 HARMONIZED CHORALES AND 69 CHORALE MELODIES WITH FIGURED BASS
see MU113 Ear Training 1

Grading

Class Participation 50%
Dictation 30%
Midterm (Sightsinging) 10%
Final Exam (Sightsinging) 10%

Ear Training 3 

MU213 
Fall Semester
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: Ear Training 2 or placement
Meetings: two 50 minute classes weekly and one 25 minute Dictation session weekly

Course Objectives

Sightsinging and Rhythm
fluency in and understanding of
• alto clef
• performing simple meters in two parts
• fixed do solfége syllables applied to modulating major and minor melodies
• all chromatic intervals within the octave
• seventh chords
• quintuplets and septuplets

Aural Analysis
aural recognition and identification of
• secondary dominants
• cadences
• seventh chords
• second inversion triad usage
• all chromatic intervals within the octave
• non-chord tones
• large intervals
• irregular meters       

Dictation
transcription of
• modulating tonal melodies                       
• 3rd and 4th Species counterpoint
• 2 voice canons
• an outer and an inner voice from a 4-part chorale
• irregular meters with ties, dotted notes, quintuplets, and syncopations

Textbooks

CHORALES
Johann Sebastian Bach, ed. Charles Boyd and Albert Riemenschneider            
G. Schirmer
ISBN: 9781423474739

MELODIA: A COURSE IN SIGHTSINGING
see MU113 Ear Training 1

Grading

Class Participation 50%
Dictation 30%
Midterm (Sightsinging) 10%
Final Exam (Sightsinging) 10%

Ear Training 4

MU214 
Spring Semester
Credits: 2 
Prerequisite: Ear Training 3
Meetings: two 50 minute classes weekly and one 25 minute Dictation session weekly

Course Objectives

Sightsinging and Rhythm
fluency in and understanding of
• tenor clef
• changing clefs
• singing and conducting in irregular meters
• performing simple and compound meters in two parts
• fixed do solfége syllables applied to modulating major and minor melodies
• intervals larger than an octave
• dotted and tied duplets

Aural Analysis
aural recognition and identification of
• modulation by common tone, altered chord, and sequence
• Neapolitan and augmented sixth chords
• mode mixture
• large intervals           
• irregular meters
• changing meters
• phrases and periods
• binary and ternary form

Dictation
transcription of
• 3-part and 4-part chorales
• modulating tonal melodies incorporating chromaticism and leaps
• baroque counterpoint
• changing meters with ties, dotted notes, quintuplets, and syncopations
• rhythmic dictation in two parts

Textbooks

MELODIA: A COURSE IN SIGHTSINGING
CHORALES
see MU113 Ear Training 1

Grading

Class Participation 50%
Dictation 30%
Midterm (Sightsinging)  10% 
Final Exam (Sightsinging) 10%