<p>does anybody know anything about this test? all i know is i'm taking it, theres a mc section, a writing section, and a singing section. i feel like i can get a four, but i hear its the hardest ap test in existence, which doesnt make me feel too good.</p>
<p>can anybody tell me anything about it? curves for the multiple choice? how the singing is graded? how the written response is graded? any review sources? any practice test sources? ANYTHING AT ALL?</p>
<p>why is this test so elusive?</p>
<p>row row row your boat gently down the stream</p>
<p>merrily merrily merrily merrily life is like a dream</p>
<p>Here are some released music theory free responses: [url=<a href="http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/prep_free.html#music%5Dhttp://collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/prep_free.html#music%5B/url">http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/prep_free.html#music]http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/prep_free.html#music[/url</a>].</p>
<p>I've never taken it, so I can't answer any of your questions, but maybe downloading the course description from [url=<a href="http://collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/music/ap-music-0607.pdf%5Dhttp://collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/music/ap-music-0607.pdf%5B/url">http://collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/music/ap-music-0607.pdf]http://collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/music/ap-music-0607.pdf[/url</a>] would help?</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Woah, its all just composition? Well I guess I don't really know much about Music theory, but, I thought it was more than that. Maybe the other sections are different though.</p>
<p>It has a multiple choice section of about 40 written theory questions(What type of scale is this progression? And then a staff of music with notes on it is provided) and then 40 aural (What chord progression was just played?)</p>
<p>Then the FR is melodic dictation, harmonic dictation, roman numeral part writing, figured bass part writing, and advanced composition.</p>
<p>I'm taking AP Music Theory right now. It's not the HARDEST exam out there, but for those who are not already musically trained from a young age, it would appear to be a hard test. However, if you have a good teacher, like mine, he/she will prepare for the test adequately. I happen to have taken piano lessons since I was 7 years old and music theory/musicianship lesson inbetween some years. So half of the stuff on the test is stuff I already learned and the other half I had to learn from scratch. </p>
<p>First part of the FRQ Section: The melodic and harmonic dictations for most people since you have to listen to notes/music being played on any random instrument. I just happen to have "perfect pitch," so I find it the easiest section, but for most people, they have trouble identifying the notes being played and then transposing it onto the staff paper.</p>
<p>Also, you're not expected to get each FRQ question correctly because no one is perfect when it comes to listening and composing music. The multiple choice test is designed so that you will not be able to answers all the questions because you have to have really good ears to hear every little detail and memorize in your head the tune being played. </p>
<p>The multiple choice section is worth 90/200 points or 45% of the test and the FRQ section is worth 111/200 points or 55% of the test. Hope you take it next year! It's really fun, or at least at my school!</p>
<p>well i'm taking it this yaer, and our teacher prepared us...but not very well. isnt there a singing part? is that part of the frq section? do you know how that part's graded, or curves for the mc part?</p>
<p>Well i know it maybe a bit late, but the singing is graded on a 9 point scale like an essay, based on accurate pitch, accurate rythem, and steady tempo, if you sing in the wrong key the most you can get is a 6/9. I believe it is counted every half measure. So any general thoughts on the test today.</p>
<p>I thought it was pretty easy, i was under the impression however that on the singing the starting pitch would be played twice so it threw me off on the first sight singing question.</p>
<p>flutegirl,
how much did you study? or how'd you study?</p>
<p>The Sightsing section does not count off if you transpose.</p>
<p>The only point deduction you will recieve is if you chang key in the middle of the piece, and then I believe you onlt lose the point for that part</p>
<p>Sight singing section is graded by either measure or semi measure depending on the meter. </p>
<p>There are two melodic dictations two harmonic as well as two partwriting and one weird one where you have to figure out the bass line</p>
<p>The test wasn't/isn't hard if you know anything about music.</p>
<p>Basically if you have a music background, you will do okay. Just not on the analysis.</p>
<p>It is very hard if you don't have perfect pitch. I consider myself a very competent pianist, but the melodic and harmonic dictations are hit and miss. The rest is not too bad though.</p>
<p>Actually I didn't study too much. We took a mock test in class which i found was the most helpful, and my teacher handed out a Cd-rom to help us out through the year. I also had a friend play pieces in piano class and i would practice dictation that way.</p>
<p>But overall i agree i agree that if you have a musical background its not bad. However i dont agree w/aznxboy1228, i don't have perfect pitch or anything close to it and i didnt think it was very hard</p>
<p>I don't think AP Music Theory is that hard, because I took it in freshman year and I got a 5...
well, I don't really know how that happened....
and the AP class doesn't really help... Just self practice ear training or singing and if you play music then the test will be easy for you
Good luck...(um...well, ap test is over....so how did you do?)</p>
<p>What textbooks are good for self-study?</p>
<p>Also, has anyone heard that it's possible to acquire perfect pitch?</p>
<p>Not possible to acquire perfect pitch, though near-perfect pitch is possible.</p>
<p>Do you do that by just memorizing tones?</p>
<p>Some people have perfect pitch naturally, but you really can have perfect pitch by putting effort on your ear. Go online buy those ear training program or practice ear training on piano. Basically, is like memorizing tones, but it will take a long time (years) to train your ear.
I have been trained when I was young, teacher and classmates thought I have perfect pitch, but I didn't really have it.
An example of a perfect pitch is when a person played ten different pitches at the same time, the person who have perfect pitch can named all ten pitches correctly by hearing ones and without looking at the keys.
However, during the test they don't give you those heard cords, so if you really do ear trainings and put efforts on it, and also do your best on non- aural part, then I bet you will have a score you like. Don't worry!
By the way, I used "The Element of Music: Concepts and Applications" Second Edition by Ralph Turek last year on my AP music theory test. I hope this information will help you to prepare for next year’s AP test. =]</p>
<p>Thanks fl6013!</p>
I took AP Music back in high school when I was a junior. However, I am very fond of music; thus, that is the reason why I took the class. It is a very difficult class because there are several different topics and a plethora of vocabulary that needs to be memorized and understood. The AP test is unlike other AP tests, it involves listening to melodies and notes and based off of those there are multiple choice and FRQ questions. It is a pretty demanding test, one of the harder tests, in fact, without studying I got a 2. I mean a 2 is not good in any means whatsoever, but it is a difficult test when compared to other exams, it’s probably the 3rd most difficult after AP Physics C and AP Chem. However, I did end up with an A in the class. If you are planning to take AP Music, it is very rigorous, yet it is a great experience. You will look different on transcripts, you will fulfill a wonderful fine arts journey, and you can express yourself musically. Also, understanding the theory behind music is a core concept of this course, aside from sight singing, which helps u actually comprehend and learn new methods of thinking. This class is a must b/c of it’s several positive benefits, but beware u will have to work! 