AFA believes in the development of a “total musician” by
providing important classroom training in music theory and history taught
by AFA’s accomplished composition, piano, theory and music history
faculty.
In
2007, all students will have the opportunity to sign up for a variety
of enrichment courses. Based on your department, all students sign up
for a minimum of 1-2 weeks of music theory classes and, with their remaining
weeks, will have a menu of options to choose from. See your enrollment
package for further details.
Music History
Taught by rotating faculty, music literature classes focus on selected
periods of Western music history. Topics vary each year and are based
on the programming of the AFA orchestra as well as significant works
performed by both AFA ensembles and Houston and Southeast Texas presenting
organizations.
Music Theory
Students receive an introduction to the building blocks of music and
learn to understand the music they play including scales, keys, rhythm,
triads, voice leading and, for more advanced students, chromatic harmony
and counterpoint. All orchestra/chamber music, piano, composition and
choral students are automatically enrolled in music theory.
Other Electives (Houston Campus only)
Electives currently planned for the 2007 season include the following
classes. Other classes will be added. See your enrollment package for
further details.
- Conducting
- Introduction
to Composition
- Songwriting
- Alexander
Technique
- College
and Career Seminar (11th and 12th grade)
- Vocal
Improvisation
Music Theory Placement Information
AFA understands that students who attend the Summer Music Conservatory
will have had widely different backgrounds in music theory and history.
This is why we administer a brief placement exercise on the first day
of the program. There are no grades on this exercise. It is simply a tool
to help AFA place each student in a section of music theory that is appropriate
to his or her background.
Music theory is a critically important part of developing a “total
musician.” Young musicians need to fully understand the mechanics
and background of the music they play in order to realize the highest
level of performance possible. This is why music theory and history are
such an important part of the AFA curriculum.
Following the placement exercise, students should sign up for sections
that, based on the exercise, best reflect their knowledge and grasp of
the concepts of music theory. If, after attending class for a few days,
a student feels that they have been placed in a section that is either
too advanced or not advanced enough, the student should speak to the Director
of the music theory program or to the Executive Director. In almost all
cases, a move to a new section that is appropriate for the student can
be arranged.