<p>I apologize if this is the wrong area to post this thread, but you have all been very helpful to me so far.</p>
<p>My son's high school offers AP Music Theory during the same hour that band is offered. After much complaining, the AP course has been moved. Next year it will be the same hour that Jazz Band is offered. The only people able to take this course are now orchestra and choir kids (and non-music ensemble students). Therefore, my question is whether AP Music Theory is available as an online course anywhere. My son has attempted to self study, but he would really like to take a more structured AP Music Theory class at some point. He may not choose to take the exam though. He really just wants the knowledge. We've investigated some local college music theory courses, but right now they conflict with my son's class/extracurricular schedule. Suggestions?</p>
<p>Berklee School of Music has a college level music theory course that is offered online. You can find it through a google search. </p>
<p>It is not AP music theory, but college level. </p>
<p>If you S decides to major in music in college he will most likely have to take the music theory placement test offered by his college. Most college music schools will not accept AP music theory for music theory credit, or music theory taken at other institutions.</p>
<p>There are several Music Theory courses on line- try Google. I honestly wouldn’t worry all that much about the course in high school as it really doesn’t matter when he gets to college, when he’ll have to begin all over again. Depending upon the school, a student might be able to test into a 200 level course (but that is very rare and it’s not allowed everywhere), but most end up in the regular 100 courses or even pre-conservatory theory. Since each college has its own methods, they prefer their students to take all courses in their stream, so a lot of course work in advance counts for not much…</p>
<p>Thanks. My son is a sophomore and only wants to take this course for the info. As of right now he has no intention of taking the AP Music Theory exam or trying to test out of a 100 level music theory course in college. He just would like more theory knowledge and cannot obtain this at his high school or our local colleges. He realizes that he will, in all likelihood, have to take placement tests prior to entering college/at auditions. He just feels that additional music theory will be beneficial for him while he continues in high school. I haven’t had great luck with google searches so far, but I’ll keep trying. Thanks for the suggestions.</p>
<p>PercMom - Is there a chance that the teacher who gives the course will work with him via the Independent Study route? Teachers will often work with kids they know are serious about the subject.</p>
<p>PercMom: The main problem with AP Music Theory is simply the lack of study materials or online courseware ideal to prep for the exam. Now, I don;t know much about your child’s aural capabilities, but one must have a good ear to perform well on the aural portion of the exam. The other half, however, can be easily studied for using the first 15-16 chapters of “Tonal Harmony” and the three released exams from the Collegeboard. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>The University of Miami has an online music theory course called Music Fundamentals. It is not an AP Music Theory course. You can find the page via web search for the University of Miami music theory online. I remembered coming across this a few years ago, I do not know anything specific about the course. It looks like it costs $299 including a CD. I believe that this course is for those high school students who have not had an opportunity to take Music Theory, to help them be up to speed to take first level music theory in college, not to place out of or prepare for the AP music exam.</p>
<p>Thanks slovesviola. That may work nicely. I had found the Berklee course but was also looking for other options that the google searches may not be showing me.</p>
<p>As I mentioned, my son does NOT plan to take the AP Music Theory exam. That is not why he wants to take a theory course. He just wants to know more about music theory -you know…learning for the sake of knowledge?</p>
<p>He has done some self study, but he does better with at least a little structure and guidance. The high school only allows independent study during an “open hour” of class time (which has to correspond to the instructor’s open hour), so this hasn’t worked out yet. That’s why he’s doing self study right now.</p>
<p>I noticed recently by accident that Stanford has an online highschool, and it offers AP Music Theory. I think you can apply to just take one class, but perhaps you have to be available to meet online certain times of week? Not self-paced, anyhow. Sorry, I haven’t looked further into it. My (sophomore) S’s HS doesn’t have AP Theory at all, so I thought it would be neat. However, my husband is a musician, and thinks it’ll all happen again right away in college, and at a faster, higher level anyhow. Right now S is very busy with what his piano teacher is giving him, so I dropped it :).</p>
<p>Besides the online stuff, there are books on music theory that may be good for self study (not to pass the AP music theory test)…my S decided I was too stupid about music, and found me a book in the “X for idiots” series, this one music theory. Don’t let the title insult you, my son looked through the book and said it was a pretty good self study course, that includes a companion CD for ear training and it is a pretty decent place to start (some of the basics in the book are designed for people with no musical knowledge, but it is easy to skip the sections you know). Good part is these books are readily available, aren’t expensive and can help fill in the missing spots and such:)</p>