This is a example powerpoint slide of what you might see in a 12th grade music theory class. This is an outline/introduction to root position part writing!

1. Music Theory 12th grade Root Position Part Writing Caitie Wagner

3. Guidelines

4. Parallel Motion

5. Errors in Writing

6. Example

7. PracticeTable of Contents

9. Common Tone – note in the voice that stays the same despite change of chords

10. Voice leading –ways in which chords are produced by the motions of individual musical lines

11. Focal Point – Highest sounding note in a melody

12. Contour – Shape of the melody

13. Counterpoint – combining of relatively independent musical linesVocabulary

15. Every melody note should belong to the chord that is to harmonize it

16. Keep the melody mostly stepwise. The shape of the melody should be clear and simple but interesting with a single focal point

18. Sometimes in music voices that move from one chord to another they form relationships to each other. There are five possibilities: STATIC OBLIQUE CONTRARY Stays the same  SIMILAR PARALLEL Parallel motion Why is this one so special?? Let’s find out…

20. Now that you have the rules… let’s put it to practice!!

21. LEAD BY EXAMPLE! PAY ATTENTION TO KEY SIGNATURE – CHECK IF ITS MAJOR OR MINOR SIMILAR STATIC MOTION OBLIQUE PARALLEL

22. Analyze this piece by… pRACTICE Labeling the chords with figure bass Identify different kinds of parallel motion If there is any, label parallel/hidden 5ths and octaves

23. Listen to the clip provided and do the following: Write what things you like and dislike about the piece. Research the time period the piece was written in (I’ll give you a hint…it’s Beethoven!!!) and describe what was typical musically during that time period. Watch the contours of the lines – do you think the piece was shaped well? See you in class next time! Homework