AP Music Theory

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hey everybody! I hope you are all doing well. How are you guys?

I know I ask a lot of questions on here, so I’m sorry about that. However, I have one elective spot left in my senior schedule which I am planning next year, and I was wondering what you guys thought of the choices I had in mind.

I recently discovered the course Music Theory, and because of my love of music, I have become interested in the course. I have second thoughts of enrolling, however, because it is known as a very rigorous course at my school, even for people who study music. I played the violin fourth to ninth grade, so I’m not very experienced in music. I talked to the Music Theory teacher and explained my situation, and she feels I will be okay in the class because of my past violin experience and because regular and AP Music Theory are in the same period. Despite this, me struggling in AP Physics 1 this year has made me seriously consider the implications of signing up for an AP course that is not a language or social study.

Initially, I was very interested in taking AP Euro, and I still am, because I really love history and Europe. I also have taken or am taking AP World and AP US History, and while I love AP World far more, I really enjoy both courses. However, the big problem with AP Euro is that there is a high likelihood it will not happen. The course hasn’t had enough students to sign up for almost three years, and not many students I know are interested in the course because it cannot be used to satisfy a social studies credit. If AP Euro is cancelled, I will have to come up with another course I would like as an alternative, and AP Music Theory was one of the courses I was interested in pursuing. What do you guys think of me signing up for or using AP Music Theory as an alternative course? Is there a good chance my lack of musical experience will hurt me?

To clarify my situation more, my currently planned senior year schedule is:
AP English Literature
AP US and Comparative Government
AP Calculus AB
Astronomy
AP Spanish Language
Creative Writing
(AP European History, AP Music Theory, or another elective)

I also intend on majoring in Creative Writing and/or English in university.

Thank you guys so much and have a nice day.

2

I haven’t taken music theory, but it is a very difficult course; a lot more math than you would expect. Don’t take astronomy. Take a more mainstream science course. Since you don’t like the sciences, I’d reccomend AP Psychology instead. AP Music theory probably won’t help with your major, and you might struggle in the class. Take AP europeon history or another English elective to help with your major.

3

First of all, @cram545, thanks so much for your advice. I appreciate it. I appreciate you letting me know that it is difficult. I had a feeling that is the case.

However, I will be taking Astronomy no matter what. Even though I struggle and don’t really like Science, Astronomy has always been something I’ve been interested in, and I have a very close and positive relationship with the teacher. I am currently taking AP Psychology, and it can only be used as an elective credit for social studies, so I will be unable to take it as a Science. I am also very poor at Science. I am currently in AP Physics 1 and am doing very poorly in the course. For all of these reasons, I cannot see much benefit in signing up for another AP Science. I did very well in Honors Chemistry, but my school recommends a year of Physics before AP Chemistry, and I think my poor Physics will put me at a disadvantage. I am far more interested in developing a humanities spike, which is why I am attempting to enroll in so many humanities course, like English, Music, Spanish, and History.

Again, thanks so much for your response.

Have a nice day.

4

Regardless of how a HS may classify it, almost every college considers AP Psych a social science. Astronomy is a perfectly valid science course in HS, particularly if there is an observational component to the class. If available, AP Environmental Science is also an option.It’s interesting, but not as science-y as chem or physics.

I did, so I’ll give some first-hand insight.

FWIW, I expected none, and there was none.

Difficulty depends upon the teacher (and musical background).The OP can ask current students about workload, which s/he apparently already has. IME, if you have some musical background, you will be fine in the course. However, AP Music Theory, at least for private colleges, will likely not earn any credit, and even where credit is given, will probably only be elective credit.

That said, I would take AP Euro (if offered).If AP Euro is not offered, there may be a fun elective that better fits your interests.Don;t take AP Music Theory simply because it is an AP course.

5

@skieurope Thanks very much for the advice! I am interested in Music Theory for the music, so it’s not because it is an AP. I really appreciate your advice on this matter.

Have a nice day.

6

Can you start a campaign to get people interested in AP Euro? After all, it may not matter much to your high school but it DOES matter to colleges since they consider it a rigorous class (senior level, like AP Physics C or AP Chem, but for social science, definitely seen as more rigorous than AP Econ for instance).
Kids may take honors English, AP Econ, and AP Euro for the most competitive colleges.
(For instance, aiming for Wharton or Stern? Calc BC or MVC, AP Econ, AP Euro would be a great trifecta to have.)
^like my marketing? :stuck_out_tongue:

Now, AP Music Theory is likely to be really difficult if your sole background is playing the violin through 9th grade. Is there a way for you to get back into a school orchestra this term, to see how you fare? AP Music Theory doesn’t have Math, but it IS abstract and very complex.
Does your school offer AP Art History? It’d still be AP and artistic but isn’t as conceptually complex - kind of like AP Physics C v. AP Bio.

7

My kid was self-studying for the course a couple of years ago, when he realized that part of the test included sight singing, which was pretty much a non-starter for him lol.

8

@MYOS1634 I really appreciate your advice. Thank you. You are right about trying to take rigorous courses for schools. It is the reason why I am trying to take AP Euro over AP Human Geo, especially because I really enjoy European History. My top school is Brown, and I plan on applying ED this following fall. Also, I like your marketing. Thanks for the laugh. I have been thinking of starting a campaign to get people interested, but I am worried it is too late, as the first rising seniors are making their decisions beginning Tuesday.

To also answer you on Orchestra, as strange as it sounds, I would prefer not to return. If it is alright with you, I have some personal reasons why I would not like to return. I’m sorry. Likely, this is the reason I probably should not take AP Music Theory, simply because I am not willing to put aside my personal reasons.

AP Art History is offered at my school, but even less people enroll than they do for AP European History. Thanks for the suggestion anyway, though!

@ProfessorPlum168 Thanks for letting me know! I’m sorry he was put into that situation. I hope he did well on the exam anyway.

Have a nice day.

9

@excoverer haha he gave up on the self-studying which was done mostly in the summer between 10th and 11th grade, after a month or so, so no he never did take the exam.

10

@ProfessorPlum168 I’m sorry to hear that. I can relate to him, though, because I tried to self-study AP Environmental Science in ninth grade, and I eventually gave up. I hope he’s doing well now.

Have a nice day.

11

Even music majors in college find music theory a difficult class. If you haven’t studied music since 9th grade, I think that taking AP music theory would be a bad idea.

12

@RoaringMice Thanks for your answer, and after hearing about AP Music Theory, I agree it is not the class for me. I decided that I will enroll for AP Euro and put AP Art History as my alternative. Thanks again, though! I appreciate it.

Have a nice day.