<p>Can some one recommend which are the best accredited online AP course providers?
We are looking for a self paced class for AP Macroeconomics and AP Music Theory for our daughter.
The AP Macroeconomics course by CTY JHU looks good but is session based.
We could not find any accredited Music Theory courses. </p>
<p>Many Thanks in Advance.</p>
<p>i thought BYU had AP Music Theory…definitely a really good online program, i’ve been taking chemistry on it and I enjoy it and understand it a lot more. although each class is probably dependent on the person who creates it</p>
<p>If going into a performance major, be aware that the AP Music Theory class will most likely not be accepted for credit, even with a perfect score on the test. Some schools will grant advanced standing, meaning that the student would be allowed to skip the first semester or two of the required music theory sequence. This is normally based on a test or series of tests given by the college, not on the basis of AP scores.</p>
<p>If the intent is to gain knowledge without regard to AP credit, then there are some very good classes available through MIT OpenCourseWare at [Free</a> Online Course Materials | Music and Theater Arts | MIT OpenCourseWare](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/music-and-theater-arts/]Free”>http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/music-and-theater-arts/)</p>
<p>Some info and additional links here
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/953746-online-music-theory-course-recommendations.html?highlight=theory[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/953746-online-music-theory-course-recommendations.html?highlight=theory</a></p>
<p>I’ll go further than BassDad - don’t expect AP credit for Theory, even for a non-performance major. Boyer, for example, does not give credit, regardless of the score. It is possible, however, to test out of Theory 1 - at the professor’s discretion.</p>
<p>At my son’s school (UMich) I think even the test out only nets your 4 - 8 “free” weeks (meaning you don’t go to class for half the semester, but once you rejoin the class you continue on and are graded and receive credit in your sequence.)</p>
<p>What others have said is right on the money with what I know, that basically the AP music exam won’t really do much for a student entering a music program. Someone specifically asked about AP credit at an information session for one of the conservatories, and the person there said they don’t grant credit for it (though with a conservatory program they will give placement based on taking the placement exams). I tend to agree with others, if your kid is heading into music and you plan on doing an online thing, even if you do the AP course there may be no sense in taking the test. It could be that it could get them credit in a LAC music program or to fulfill a core requirement at an LAC, but not sure if even that is true. </p>
<p>While it probably is not a bad thing to start getting familiar with music theory, the other thing is an AP course probably won’t get you placed that deep by itself. The theory at a college level is pretty intense from what I can tell and the AP probably only would get you at most a semester, and maybe even less, in terms of placement (not guaranteeing that, just my impression of it)</p>
<p>My son finally found an accredited AP Music Theory course online through arsmusicaonline.com. It has College Board AP designation and is taught by a woman from the University of Michigan who seems wonderful to work with. Here is some info from their website:</p>
<p>ArsMusicaOnline offers an online AP® Music Theory course that introduces and integrates aspects of melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, form, analysis, elementary composition, and to some extent, history and style. Musicianship skills such as melodic/harmonic/rhythmic dictation and sight-singing are emphasized throughout the course. The course prepares you to take the Advanced Placement Music Theory Examination, which MAY result in partial or complete college credit for the first year of music theory. If you are interested in taking this class, you also should understand that most colleges and schools of music do not accept the AP Music Theory scores as the only evidence that a student has mastered the elements of first-year college level music theory. Schools will require you to take a placement exam to verifiy your grasp of the material. Whether or not your AP scores are accepted, this class will prepare you for the school’s placement exam. You should begin this class with a working knowledge of the basic elements of music theory. You should know all of the major and minor scales, basic chords (triads and seventh chords), intervals (major, minor, diminished and augmented), and rhythm and meter. In addition to recognizing these elements visually, you should also be able to identify them aurally. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>My daughter is taking AP Music Theory online this year through Virtual High School. It’s an excellent course, taught by a terrific teacher, very legitimate, lots of work but worth it. While she’s not expecting to get AP credit for it as a music major in college next year, it has really helped her deepen her knowledge of theory which has made her feel more confident at the auditions that included theory testing and will help her feel more confident going into college theory classes. And even though she was pretty strong in sight-reading to begin with, she feels that the class has helped her greatly strengthen her sight reading skills, and that was definitely useful in terms of feeling confident at auditions this year. Most of all, she loves the subject matter so it’s nice to have a class senior year that she’s really enjoying. I highly recommend Virtual High School; they also offer a wide range of other AP classes. If your child’s high school is a member of VHS, there is no cost but if the school is not a member (my daughter’s is not) it’s pretty expensive–the only drawback. We had to pay $800 for the year-long class. Her school is giving her independent study credit for it. And she will be taking the AP exam, even knowing that she won’t get music major credit for it, just because she feels she’s worked hard and might as well take the test.</p>
<p>I do think it’s worth TAKING the class. But taking the Exam? Maybe not. I encouraged my son to do so, in case he didn’t get into a conservatory - he then could have gotten credit for an elective with a different major. </p>
<p>He ended up with a 5 on the exam. The only thing it got him at Boyer was a discussion with his Theory prof, who offered him the opportunity to test out of Theory I. He got o credit for it, but it opened an extra time slot for a different course.</p>
<p>Regardless of if college credit is given, it is probably well worth taking as two of the colleges that my son is auditioning for have there own theory placement test. One of the colleges pretty much expects every accepted music major to exempt out of the first semester of music theory (their curriculum requirement doesn’t even require the first music theory class, although it does state that if they don’t pass the placement test they will have to take it and that taking it adds to the number of college credits required to graduate).</p>
<p>Anyhow, after not doing so good on his first college theory placement test he watched so videos on youtube and realized that although he understood some of the theory he wasn’t familar with the terminology. He is now regretting not spending a few hours prep’ing for the placement test. He does have one more chance to redeem himself next weekend as the college he will be audititioning for does give a theory placement test.</p>
<p>Regardless, even if the college doesnt give credit, the student may still recieve credit through the colleges own placement test.</p>
<p>Actual credit for a college’s theory placement test is pretty rare. Advanced standing is much more usual. With that, the student can skip one or two semesters of theory, go straight into the higher level courses and have an extra elective or two to play with, but will not receive actual credit hours on the transcript for courses not taken.</p>