AP Music Theory is Kinda a Scam

Master This Master That
3 May 202311:43
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script presents a candid and humorous take on the Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory exam. The speaker, presumably a student, critiques the exam's relevance and difficulty, suggesting it focuses on outdated material not widely accepted for college credit. The script humorously describes the exam's components, including music theory, dictation, part writing, and sight-singing, and shares personal anecdotes about the challenges faced while preparing for the exam during a disrupted school year. The student's experiences highlight the struggle of learning through online platforms and the intense practice required to master the exam's skills. The summary ends with a teaser for a follow-up video that will delve deeper into the exam experience and question its actual importance in the context of college admissions and credit.

Takeaways
  • 🎓 The AP Music Theory exam is considered challenging and contains obsolete content that may not be accepted for credit by many colleges.
  • 💸 AP courses are designed to provide college-level education and are offered by the College Board, which is a for-profit organization.
  • 🎼 Students take AP courses to gain college credit or demonstrate their academic abilities to colleges.
  • 🎹 The AP Music Theory class focuses on recognizing, understanding, and describing the basic processes of music through listening, reading, writing, and performing.
  • 🚫 The class is criticized for its lack of variety and inclusivity, primarily focusing on classical piano and Western European music from the 18th century.
  • 🎼 Performance in the class is a component that requires students to learn to sing, even if they are primarily instrumentalists.
  • 📚 The content of the AP Music Theory exam is divided into categories such as harmony theory, dictation, part writing, and sight-singing.
  • 📉 Dictation is particularly difficult for many students, especially when taught through online platforms like Zoom, which can hinder sound quality.
  • 🧠 Memorization and practice are key strategies for success in the dictation section of the exam.
  • 🏆 Despite the challenges, the speaker eventually improved their dictation skills, although they describe the process as a gamble.
  • ❓ The speaker questions the value of the AP Music Theory exam, suggesting that its difficulty and the lack of college credit acceptance may detract from its usefulness.
Q & A
  • What is the AP music theory exam described as by the College Board?

    -The AP music theory exam is described by the College Board as an opportunity to learn to recognize, understand, and describe the basic processes of music, developing skills by listening, reading, writing, and performing a variety of music.

  • Why do students typically take AP courses?

    -Students typically take AP courses to gain college credit or to demonstrate to colleges their willingness to take on challenging coursework.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the value of AP music theory in college?

    -The speaker believes that AP music theory is somewhat of a scam, with obsolete content that most colleges do not accept for credit.

  • What are the four main categories of content in the AP music theory exam?

    -The four main categories of content in the AP music theory exam are harmonic theory, dictation, part writing, and sight-singing.

  • How does the speaker describe the listening component of the AP music theory exam?

    -The speaker describes the listening component as lacking variety and inclusivity, primarily focusing on solo piano or classical ensemble pieces in the common practice style.

  • What challenges did the speaker face when learning to do dictation through Zoom?

    -The speaker faced challenges such as poor sound quality due to Zoom's noise suppression features, difficulty receiving instant feedback, and the fast-paced nature of learning new content online.

  • Why did the speaker find the sight-singing component of the AP music theory course difficult?

    -The speaker found the sight-singing component difficult because they had chosen to learn piano instead of voice, believing they were not a good singer, and thus had to learn a new skill from scratch.

  • What was the speaker's experience with the AP music theory exam during the 'year to be forgotten'?

    -The speaker took the AP music theory exam during a year when most of the school year was spent at home, which led to unique challenges in learning and preparing for the exam.

  • How did the speaker's school approach teaching AP music theory during the first and second semesters?

    -During the first semester, the focus was on learning new content across a wide range of topics. The second semester was spent entirely on practicing and working on the different skills required for the exam.

  • What strategies did the speaker suggest for improving dictation skills?

    -The speaker suggested breaking down the music into smaller chunks to focus on, memorizing the tune to refer back to it later, and practicing repeatedly to improve dictation skills.

  • What was the speaker's final sentiment regarding the AP music theory exam and its relevance to college credit?

    -The speaker expressed skepticism about the value of the AP music theory exam, suggesting that even if one does well, many colleges do not accept it for credit, which raises questions about the exam's purpose.

Outlines
00:00
😀 AP Music Theory: The Struggles and Realities

The speaker humorously introduces the AP Music Theory exam, highlighting the intense and sometimes absurd experience of preparing for it. They criticize the exam for its obsolescence and the for-profit nature of the College Board. The speaker also discusses the various components of the exam, including music theory, dictation, part writing, and sight singing, and shares personal anecdotes about the challenges faced while studying for the exam, such as the lack of variety in music genres covered and the difficulty of learning to sing for sight singing.

05:02
😅 The Challenges of Learning Music Theory Online

The speaker reflects on the difficulties of learning music theory during a time when classes were conducted online. They describe the fast-paced nature of the first semester, where new content was continuously introduced, and the second semester, which was dedicated to practicing various skills. The speaker also shares their personal struggle with dictation, which was particularly challenging due to the limitations of learning through Zoom, such as poor sound quality and lack of immediate feedback. They offer strategies for tackling dictation, though they admit that these strategies may not be entirely practical.

10:04
😓 The Intensity of In-Person Practice and Exam Preparation

The speaker recounts the intense period of practice leading up to the AP Music Theory exam when they returned to in-person schooling. They describe their efforts to master the dictation portion of the exam, which constituted a significant portion of the exam score. The speaker admits that their success was somewhat a matter of luck and criticizes the College Board for potentially encouraging students to purchase additional resources. They end on a skeptical note about the value of the exam, questioning its relevance given that many colleges do not accept it for credit.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡AP Music Theory
AP Music Theory refers to an Advanced Placement course and exam offered by the College Board. It is designed to teach students to recognize, understand, and describe the basic processes of music through listening, reading, writing, and performing. In the video, the speaker discusses the challenges and perceived obsolescence of the course content, as well as its impact on college credit and student preparedness.
💡Roman Numeral Analysis
Roman Numeral Analysis is a method used in music theory to notate the harmonic structure of a piece using Roman numerals. It is a core concept in the AP Music Theory exam, where students are expected to dictate all notes being played and provide a full analysis of the harmony using this system. The video humorously mentions this requirement in a challenging exam scenario.
💡Figured Bass
Figured Bass is a notational device used in music to specify the bass notes of a harmony. It is often used in conjunction with Roman Numeral Analysis to provide a complete understanding of the harmonic structure. The video script alludes to the use of figured bass symbols as part of the exam's requirements.
💡College Credit
College Credit refers to the academic recognition given by colleges and universities for completed courses or exams that meet their standards. In the context of the video, the speaker questions the value of AP Music Theory for earning college credit, as it suggests that many colleges do not accept it.
💡Dictation
Dictation in music theory involves listening to a musical passage and transcribing it by writing down the notes and rhythms. It is a significant part of the AP Music Theory exam, which the speaker found particularly challenging, especially when learning through online platforms like Zoom.
💡Part Writing
Part Writing is a music theory skill where students learn to write music for different voices or instruments while adhering to the rules of harmony and counterpoint. The video script humorously compares the complexity of part writing to scheming against a monarchy, indicating the numerous rules and customs involved.
💡Sight Singing
Sight Singing is the ability to sing a piece of music at sight, without prior rehearsal. It is a skill tested in the AP Music Theory exam, where students are given an unfamiliar piece and are expected to perform it accurately in terms of rhythm and pitch. The speaker expresses their initial reluctance due to self-perceived lack of singing ability.
💡Zoom
Zoom is a video conferencing software that has become widely used for remote learning and teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The video script discusses the challenges of learning music theory, particularly dictation, through Zoom, highlighting issues with sound quality and the lack of real-time feedback.
💡College Board
The College Board is a non-profit organization that administers the SAT, AP courses, and other educational programs in the United States. The video script criticizes the College Board for its profit-making practices and questions the relevance of AP Music Theory in the context of college admissions and credit.
💡Music Theory
Music Theory is the study of the practices and elements of music, including melody, harmony, rhythm, and form. It is a fundamental part of the AP Music Theory course, which the speaker discusses in the context of its difficulty, the breadth of knowledge required, and the practical application of this knowledge in the music industry.
💡Student Loans
Student Loans are financial loans provided to students to help cover the cost of higher education. The video script uses the phrase 'student loans plus depression equals your mom' as a humorous metaphor to emphasize the stress and pressure associated with college debt and the potential negative impact on mental health.
Highlights

AP Music Theory is described by the College Board as an opportunity to learn to recognize, understand, and describe the basic processes of music.

The class can be super helpful in allowing college students to finish college quicker and be less in debt from student loans.

AP Music Theory is considered one of the hardest AP classes, despite not being in the top 10 hardest according to some rankings.

The content of the class can be broken up into several categories: harmony theory, dictation, part writing, and sight singing.

The listening component mostly focuses on classical music, with little variety or inclusivity of other genres.

The part writing section involves learning many rules and customs from 18th century Western European classical music that are no longer commonly used today.

The sight singing component requires students to learn to sing a piece they have never heard before, which can be challenging for those without prior singing experience.

Many students taking AP Music Theory have limited prior experience with music theory concepts beyond reading and listening to music.

The class is fast-paced, with the first semester spent learning new content and the second semester focused on practicing skills.

Dictation is a particularly difficult skill for many students, as it requires listening to a piano passage and writing down what is heard.

Learning dictation through Zoom can be challenging due to sound quality issues and lack of immediate feedback.

Some students struggle with memorizing and recalling multiple melodies during the sight singing component.

The exam is comprised of multiple sections, including harmony theory, dictation, part writing, and sight singing.

The dictation section makes up 25% of the exam, but many students find it difficult and feel it comes down to luck.

Some colleges do not accept AP Music Theory for credit, leading to questions about the value and purpose of the class.

The speaker humorously describes the challenges and frustrations of taking AP Music Theory, while also acknowledging its potential benefits.

Stay tuned for part 2 where the speaker will share more about their experience with the AP Music Theory exam and its real-world relevance.

Transcripts
Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating: