Every student has heard some sort of music whether it’s an instrument, through a video, or on social media but very few actually know what music really is. To give students the opportunity to better their understanding of key components to the sound of music, Cathedral now offers an AP Music Theory course.
AP Music Theory is not limited to band or choir students rather it welcomes anyone curious about understanding music on a deeper level. However, many students don’t know the course exists or that it’s available to all, which has kept enrollment smaller than it deserves to be.
By taking the AP music theory course, students will be introduced to the study of how music is constructed and put together. Having a better understanding of music theory will help students gain a deeper understanding of their perception of music and every detail that forms music into its incredible form of art.
This AP course is taught by Mr. Ian Callen and essentially studies and breaks down harmony, rhythms, and melodies. One of the other forms of training this class uses to understand the foundation of music is ear training. In AP Music Theory, students sharpen their ears by stepping outside the classroom while Mr. Callen plays a melody on the piano, then they return and write down every note from memory. Exercises like this train students to truly hear music, not just by playing it, but also by building the confidence and skills they’ll need to succeed on the AP exam in the spring and become a better musician.
When students truly understand how music works, it completely changes the way they hear, perform, and connect with the pieces they play in a band. Senior Susannah Ferris said, “I’ve been in a band class since sixth grade and being in music theory has helped me connect the dots with the music I am reading and it has also helped me understand why everything works the way it does. Taking this class has helped me understand the inner workings of the music system.”
This class emphasizes that performing music isn’t just about playing melodies correctly, but also about decoding and understanding how everything ties together as a whole. Music theory is beneficial in many aspects, even to the class’s own teacher.
Callen said, “I feel like I was in high school before I knew all this music because I really studied it in college. It was more about me playing my part and me playing all the right notes but now it’s very easy to see how my part is fitting into the larger piece.”
