Opinion of AP Music Theory in High School

Hi all – My son is currently in 10th grade and is an advanced musician. He is thinking of taking AP Music Theory next year. Question to all of you experienced music students and parents: Is AP Music Theory worthwhile? Is it demanding? Is it expected that an aspiring music major would have taken it? Thank you for your thoughts.

I’m in it and found it to be very interesting. It goes beyond typical music theory knowledge even for the competition winning/music major type students in my class. It’s a little bit archaic. But I would definitely recommend it.

Also, how demanding depends on the teacher. The exam is supposed to be really hard, but I haven’t taken it yet.

S is very glad he took it, as a sophomore. It comes in handy for dictation skills, and general music theory readiness for college.

@Studious99 @GoForth Thank you for your replies.

@Studious99 What do you mean that it’s archaic?

@brantly You have to follow all these Common Practice Period guidelines in your composition like no parallel 5ths, no cross voicing, etc. Good guidelines but kind of cramps one’s style.

@Studious99 Got it. Thanks.

IMO if there is room in the schedule, taking the class can be good for musicians who have had no exposure to music theory and who want to study music in college. My S didn’t have room in his schedule until senior year. Music Theory will give them a base of knowledge and a taste of the academic side of a music major. It also may make college level music theory a bit easier. My S realized in AP Theory that he had perfect pitch, and he has found the class to be relatively easy for him compared to other APs, but his friends have found it more challenging, so natural aptitude (and teacher) may make a difference.

Many music schools give some sort of theory test as part of audition day, though it is usually for placement purposes not for admissions. Still, my S felt like audition days were less stressful because he felt reasonably prepared for the theory placement tests (at that point he had had only a partial year of theory).

Of course, there are many web sites and even apps to help a person learn music theory basics, so that is another alternative to AP Theory if you are motivated and don’t have room for the class in your schedule. I get the sense that many, but not all music majors have at least some music theory exposure before college, but I am sure it varies by school. I could be wrong - my kid is not in college yet.

It is important to note that many top music programs will not give credit for AP Music Theory and will still typically require that students start Music Theory at the beginning of their standard music theory sequence. Some have an Honors section for those who have more extensive music theory experience. Some universities, especially public U’s, will give credit for AP Music Theory and will allow a student to start in a more advanced theory class if they got a high score on the AP test. As long as you don’t go in expecting to earn credit for it, it seems worthwhile to take it.

I agree with @classicalsaxmom that having taken AP Theory took some stress out of audition day at programs that did theory tests for my daughter.

Also, her comments are spot on about many top schools not allowing you to pass out of any theory. This is often because they want you to learn theory the way they teach it, from 101 on up, so take it because you’re passionate about it (which hopefully you are if you’re considering music) not with the expectation of earning credit.

Even though she took AP my daughter decided, by choice, to not even attempt to pass out of any theory because she wanted to start from the foundation in her program. The interesting thing is that she said even in 101, the kids that that hadn’t taken AP were having a much harder time.

Thanks. Placing out of theory in college is not the goal. Just want to know if the course is considered demanding or a “gut” AP for a HS musician. In addition to HS advanced band, he’s in an outside ensemble, practicing several hours a week, where the director incorporates theory. He also took a HS music class that’s a prereq to AP Music Theory.

My D took it senior year. As a vocalist (meaning not as much exposure or time with theory), it was very helpful. She didn’t find the class or test particularly difficult. She liked it.

As mentioned above, it did not allow her to test out of any theory classes. Her music conservatory within the university would not accept the AP theory class as a “replacement” class (HOWEVER the university did accept the credits as liberal arts credits). So all schools are different.

BUT the biggest bonus was she did not get put in “rudimentary” theory first semester - which was a class that didn’t give college credits (kind of like a rudimentary math class to get you ready for college-level math). She had to take a theory placement test; and she did test above the threshold for Theory 1. It was really a pass/fail test…the only placement was rudimentary or Theory 1. The school did offer a honors Theory 1 that any student could choose if interested or accelerated. So all students took the same set of theory classes (with one honors level class for each). A few of her vocalist friends ended up in rudimentary theory. There was no Theory 1 during second semester (only Theory 2) so the students in rudimentary theory had to wait until Sophomore year to take Theory 1. So they were always a bit behind their peers. A few of her friends had good attitudes and were fine with it…but it certainly bugged one of them.

And…after seeing your comment above…AP Theory was not the APUSH nightmare! I don’t really remember long nights or complaints for AP Theory…I think she liked it…unlike that horrible APUSH class!

This has been discussed before, and generally the attitude towards it is that any exposure to music theory before college/conservatory is a good thing, if just to dispel the fears of it. Music schools generally don’t assume students have exposure to theory and they offer placement tests when you get admitted to determine where a student is (some schools may use it in admissions, though I haven’t seen that in any of the programs my son applied to or looked into, someone I believe said Oberlin might use it in admisions, but not sure of my recall). I would question taking the test (unless the class uses that in the final grade), since music schools don’t look at the AP music theory test or give credits for it, they base placement on their own placement test (as someone pointed out, you may be able to get credits for ap theory towards liberal arts requirements).

Again, I tend to lean towards AP theory simply as an introduction to theory so when kids hit music school they know what it is about. Every program is different in how they teach theory, and taking AP music theory may not pass you out of theory 1, and to be honest you may not want to, because theory training is not standard, schools can use different terminology for both theory and ear training, may teach things in different order, and it may be easier to follow their track, but having that exposure will be a big help I think in getting comfortable with it. The downside would be if the course work for the AP class is heavy enough that it takes from practice and the like, if it makes the schedule even more difficult, then it may not be worth it. There are other ways to get exposed to theory if not through the AP, there are pretty good online classes and books that can help familiarize the student with theory, again with the idea of making them comfortable with the idea of what it is, if the AP would be too heavy.

Conservatories don’t take AP Theory, and it’s true that you learn important stuff, however, I think the time and effort would be better spent on taking an AP class your college will accept That way your student will have more time to spend on music classes while spending less time on English or Math, etc…

There are other ways to learn theory too: through a piano teacher, at a summer program, at a conservatory prep, Dummies books (!) and through various online options. I don’t know that much about AP Music Theory but if none of the above are available, or even if they are, the AP class is probably a good option for intro. Agree with everyone that the students generally start at the intro level to the theory sequence wherever they land.

My son (a senior) is taking AP Music Theory this year and loves it. At least once a week he’ll come home from school and sit at the piano to explain something “really cool” to me. I nod and try to look like I’m following him, but it’s all Greek to me. My son hasn’t had loads of homework in that class (that I’ve noticed). He’s had to compose a few short pieces and these have been time consuming but only because he went far beyond what was required. Again, it’s fun. My son’s primary instrument is the viola, but he also plays piano and guitar and I get the sense that the music theory class has been easier for him than for some of his classmates who either don’t play an instrument at all (vocalists) or just aren’t as advanced.

DS just walked by and recommended talking to other students who’ve taken the class at his school. Do they like the class? What about the teacher? Sure, there are lots of ways to learn music theory and if it doesn’t fit into your son’s schedule, he could read a book or look for online resources, but if he loves music enough to want to study it in college and the class at your son’s school is enjoyable, why not take it? It would be great for him to get some theory under his belt in some way or another before he starts taking practice lessons with prospective college instructors because theory questions always come up as a normal part of these interactions. It’s not a problem if the students don’t know something, but it makes them that much more comfortable when they do.

So to OP’s question: Yes, it’s worthwhile if the student loves music and can work it into his schedule. Is it demanding? YMMV. Your son will have to find out from his peers about this one. After 10 AP classes my son has learned that how demanding a class is really depends on the teacher.

@heidekraut Thank you for your (and your son’s) perspective. He did sign up for the class. Do you think it would be useful for him to take piano lessons while he’s taking music theory? He’s a percussionist. He used to play cello.

I asked my son whether you have to play piano to be successful at music theory and he said, no. It’s not necessary, but it makes it “exponentially easier”. I then asked if a music theory student who doesn’t already play piano would benefit from taking lessons. He thought about it for a minute and said yes. “It just makes things easier.”

In addition, I have yet to come across a college music program that doesn’t have some kind of a keyboard/piano requirement. Students don’t have to come into college knowing how to play the piano, but they’ll have to acquire some level of skill while they’re there. How much depends on the program, of course. Some programs allow students to place out of the required piano classes, others don’t. But if your son thinks he might like to major in music and can find the time in his schedule, I’d encourage him to start taking piano lessons now. Since he’s already an advanced musician, he’ll make quick progress, I’m sure. Good luck to him!

I would encourage taking piano lessons as well, music theory and the piano go together for obvious reasons (my son’s first exposure to music theory was when he was about 6 or 7, he took piano lessons from a retired music professor who taught my son music theory as he was teaching piano, was fascinated that my son enjoyed it and really picked up on it). It can only help, and even though schools do have keyboard requirements, having that background will make the transition to music theory in college easier IMO.

I also recommend the piano lessons - my son only started taking them about a year ago (with a bunch of interruptions for camps, marching band season, and auditions) and he thinks they have helped him with theory. He found a teacher who is teaching him piano from a theory perspective. He still will likely be starting piano as a beginner, but it was a bit of a learning curve for him to be playing more than one note at once, reading both treble and bass clefs at the same time, etc. so he is glad to have a head start.