Theory: Levels 5-8 Comprehensive

OVERVIEW

This in-person instructor-led course covers the entirety of Intermediate Theory including Levels 5, 6, 7, and 8. The course is designed to prepare students to write the Level 8 Theory Examination. Students should be at least 14 years old as of the start of the course.

Students will continue to expand musical literacy and build analytical skills developed in the Elementary levels (Preparatory to Level 4). It is recommended that students complete RCM Level 5 Theory before registering for this course. Please see Course Outline below for more details.

Tuition includes:

• Weekly classes:
  • one class per week September to June (Full Year or Fall/Winter Term)
  • three classes per week for Summer Intensive
• 28 hours of live in-person classes taught by an RCM Examiner (27 hours for Summer Intensive)
• Moodle Account to access instructor handouts and upload assignments

Students must purchase course textbooks prior to the first class. Required textbooks are Celebrate Theory workbooks Levels 5, 6, 7 and 8. Tuition does not include exam. 

COURSE OUTLINE

Level 5

• major and minor keys up to four sharps and flats
• triad inversions and dominant 7th chords
• 6/8 time
• expanded melody writing
• analysis through repertoire exploration

Level 6

• double sharp and flat
• transposition of major key melodies
• compound meter
• augmented and diminished intervals
• identification of half and authentic cadences
• introduction of Baroque and Classical style

Level 7

• transposition to any key, up or down
• inversion of intervals
• chromatic, whole-tone, octatonic, pentatonic, blues scales
• diminished, augmented triads; diminished 7th chord
• melody writing in minor keys
• introduction to Romantic and Modern eras

Level 8

• alto and tenor clefs
• transposition to concert pitch
• hybrid meters
• compound intervals
• triads built on any scale degree
• cluster, quartal, and polychords
• introduction to Medieval, Renaissance, and world music