<p>Hi, everyone. I took the AP musics theory exam last year and received a 5 (aural:5, non aural:5) on the exam. If anyone has any questions on how to prepare for the exam, I would be happy to answer them:)</p>
<p>I’ve been wondering about the level of music theory
What instrument do you play? How many years of experience do you have? Do you have a level (e.g. cm/royal for piano)</p>
<p>Thank you so much for you help</p>
<p>I have played the oboe for 5 years. However, I began to learn the piano by ear in kindergarten, which defintely had an impact on my ear training for the exam :). The nonaural part of the exam is relatively straightforward and can be covered using Tonal HArmony. However, the nonaural section encompasses sight singing, melodic dictation, and harmonic dicatation, skills that take time to build effectively.</p>
<p>Hi noreally, thanks for offering your help!
I’m taking this exam this year (same date as ap physics C… that’s going to be a LONGG day >.<) and I’m pretty worried b/c my school does not offer any music related courses other than theory, and no one in the last 5 years of the class’ existence have made a 5… (and I knew a few great musicians in the years past too)
I’ve been playing the cello for 9 years and piano a few years prior to that, but other than intuitive musical knowledge, is there any textbooks or programs that you recommend for performing better on the exam? Thanks =D</p>
<p>abc0: The difficult thing about the theory course is that there is no widely available practice book or compilation of techniques for the aural porion of the exam. However, my class used Tonal Harmony for the nonaural portion of the course. If you use this book, only the material before the augmented 6th chords chapter is covered in any detail on the exam. However, this book provides and excellent foundation in the principles of part writing (FRQ questions 5,6,7) and gives an excellent base for basic musical terminology (modes, scales, cadences, forms, retrorade, etc). The aural portion of the exam is easiest to prctice for using collegeboard’s released FRQs. Melodic dictation was relatively easy for me, as I simply gleaned all the appropriate pitches first and then applied them to the rhythms played. Harmonic Dictation is a bit trickier; I would suggest listening to recordings of the Bach chorales for this portion. Buying a released exam (2003) is also extremely helpful as a pt of reference for the mc questions. good luck!</p>
<p>So it’s one day before the exam, so is there any advice you could offer about the exam itself? Any time issues? Specific topics I should go over? Last-minute cramming?</p>
<p>Thank you SO much for this, noreally. Seriously, you have no idea how desperate I was to talk to someone who had already taken this test.</p>
<p>You said to know the material in Tonal Harmony up through the chapter with augmented 6th chords, right? Which chapter is that?</p>
<p>1012: Listen to some orchestral works and try to hear chord progressions, intervals, instrumentation, CADENCES, etc.</p>
<p>siemprecuriosa: I am not exactly sure of the chapter number :(</p>
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<p>I’m taking this class this year, and I’m REALLY worried about the singing and ear-training parts. I know all my written theory (piano for nine yrs, done all my theory books). However, I have no experience with singing. I don’t really know what I’m asking for here, haha… just venting.</p>
<p>sparrkmymind: In my experience, the best way to master the singing portion is to start with either humming or whistling, both of which are accepted on the AP exam. Then, as you begin to feel more comfortable audiating a pitch, ask a chorus person (this is what i did) to help you out with the basics.</p>