Welcome to the ASU Music Theory Resource Page
This page is intended as a resource for ASU students enrolled in music theory courses (specifically MUS 1350 and 1351), incoming ASU music students, and music teachers or students who visit this site from beyond the ASU community. These documents can be downloaded, printed, and copied.
Please check back because new documents will be added periodically.
For more information about Theory at ASU, email Dr. Stephen Emmons.
Handbook for MUS 1350 Introduction to Music Theory
Workbook for MUS 1350 Introduction to Music Theory
Staff Paper
General Information about Theory at ASU
Outline of Six Semester Theory Sequence
All music majors must apply for upper-level approval for both their academic and applied studies. No student may graduate with a degree in music nor be admitted to student teaching, without being admitted to upper-level status and completing all requirements in both areas.
Upper Level Approval in Academic Areas for All Majors (BA and BM)
Music majors will apply for upper-level academic approval during the semester in which they are enrolled in MUS 2352 (Theory of Music IV) and 2152 (Aural Skills IV). Each student will take a comprehensive exam in each of the following areas:
1. Dictation (includes harmonic dictation, melodic dictation, interval recognition, chord type recognition, and scale recognition)
2. Sight Singing
3. Theory (includes harmonic analysis, part writing, and other areas)
Students muss pass the theory exam (#3 above) prior to admission to MUS 3251 (Analytic Techniques).
Students pursuing the BM degree will be evaluated in Formal Analysis and Music Terminology during the semester in which they are enrolled in MUS 3251 (Analytic Techniques).
All transfer students must successfully complete the upper-level academic approval process before being approved to graduate or to register for student teaching. Having sufficient transferable credit hours to replace the four-semester Theory of Music and Aural Skills sequence does not constitute sufficient proof of achievement to be exempt from this requirement.
Remediation for Upper-Level Academic Evaluation
Any student failing to pass one or more sections of the initial exam as described above will be required to enroll in individual instruction in the area(s) of weakness. Student will be allowed to take a test in any given area a maximum of three (3) times. Passing grades will be a 70% or above for each exam.
Further information regarding the evaluation process in the academic areas may be obtained from the theory instructor. Test dates will occur during the last week of August and during dead weak of both the fall and spring semesters.