D22 is very interested in sound engineering/music/sound. She has also taken Art all three years of HS, and had always assumed she’d go on to AP Art as a senior. However, she is now considering not taking AP Art and adding AP Music Theory. AP Music Theory is not offered at her HS (which offers very few AP classes) but she could take it on line during a regular class period. This would also free up another class period since AP Art is two class periods - so she could take photography, media studies or another art class, depending on what worked with her schedule, in addition to AP Music Theory. She has played piano since she was 6 and her band teacher worked this year with her & one other kid on music theory (which she enjoyed) since they couldn’t do regular band due to COVID but it’s otherwise a bit unclear how prepared she is for the class. Her music teacher - who is a bit, how should I say this? not always looking to do the difficult thing? told her it was a really hard class. This gave her pause. Her friends who have done other AP classes through the video HS have mostly hated them and found them to be a ton of work. She is a hard worker but doesn’t want to get overwhelmed. She will be taking all honors or AP classes otherwise as a senior, though not the hardest AP classes - e.g., AP stats (already took AP Calc AB this year), AP Env Science, AP language - school offers no APs in the humanities but will be taking honors classes which the school considers equivalent. Has intensive out of school extra curriculars and a part-time job. But it might show colleges that she’s gone out of her way to take a class in “her” subject. Might also help her as a non-music major get into music theory and/or music technology classes she is interested in if she can show that she has the foundation. Thoughts?
Ap music theory IS hard. Can she sight read? Take musical dictation? Rhythm dictation? Read in one than one key?
I just asked her (I know nothing about music; she did not get those genes from me). She can sight read and read in more than one key. I know she definitely sight reads well based on her scores from auditions for district concert band over the years. She seems more uncertain about musical dictation or rhythm dictation - she hasn’t much had experience with either. Would you say that’s a dealbreaker?
I did two online APs this year(Art History and Human Geography). Keeping up with the class requires a lot of inner motivation and personally, I don’t think the online classes prepared me for the AP exams which meant a lot of self-studying along with required work. My friends who were taking the in-person classes felt a lot more prepared. However, I loved what I was taking and that got me through it. If she can handle the online work, do it, but know it can be overwhelming.
(Just to clarify, I was doing an asyroncous class through a state-wide program that my school offered)
@MYOS1634 So much agreed! I also feel large part of it is pitch. Not having a good sense of pitch/having perfect pitch before the class can seriously botch your D’s attempt to do well in the class and on the exam. Although pitch is something that can be learned, it will take a LOT of time.
My D who is a dedicated musician (9 years in one of the great youth choirs in the country, 10 years of piano, 2+ years of guitar, writes and performs her own music) studied for AP music on her own and at the last moment decided against taking the exam. Which was quite unexpected before we thought it over.
The material is vast, and while not overwhelming when taken separately, together with other numerous APs, colleges research and essays, and other assorted time-devouring activities of her senior year, it was just too much.
Your mileage may vary, I’m just adding a data point.
If you are still reading this thread.
My kids took the AP music theory course. Both are excellent musicians with very good ears for music. One is a professional freelance musician. Both said the test was a doozie even though both got 5 scores.
There are two parts…the q and a part. Then the second part is transcription of a piece the student hears. This transcription requires all components of music notation needed to transcribe the piece. It’s not easy.
My older S who has played an instrument since he was 5 and attends a precollege program had to drop AP music theory because he could not handle the ear training part. If your daughter hasnt decided yet she should go online and see if she can recognize basic intervals after a little bit of practice. If she can master this then fine, if not the test is quite difficult even if you understand the written and singing parts
Thanks all. My D22 stuck with AP Art - on top of everything else it seemed complicated to change and there will be a new art teacher next year so she’s excited for that. But I’m sure these responses will be useful for others in the future.