Barron's AP Music Theory with Audio Compact Discs [Paperback]

Nancy Scoggin (Author), Mary Elizabeth (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2010 | ISBN-10: 0764196316 | ISBN-13: 978-0764196317 | Edition: Pap/Com

This brand-new addition to Barron's series of Advanced Placement test prep manuals presents a comprehensive review of music theory, followed by two full-length practice tests with all questions answered and explained. These practice tests include both aural and non-aural sections. The four audio CDs enclosed with the manual provide aural skill development prompts for both practice tests' aural sections, as well as material that complements exercises and examples in the subject review chapters. Topics covered in the review chapters include music fundamentals, harmonic organization, harmonic progression, melodic composition and dictation, relationship of key centers, harmonic dictation and composition, visual score analysis, contextual listening, strategies for harmonizing and sight-singing, and much more. Multiple-choice questions with strategies for test-taking success appear at the end of many chapters.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

(back cover)

Two full-length AP practice exams include both aural and non-aural sections

All questions answered and explained

Review topics include music fundamentals, harmonic organization, harmonic progression, melodic composition and dictation, relationship of key centers, harmonic dictation and composition, visual score analysis, contextual listening, strategies for harmonizing and sight-singing, and more

Four enclosed audio CDs provide aural skill development prompts for both practice tests' aural sections plus material to complement exercises and examples in the subject review chapters

About the Author

Nancy Scoggin has been teaching Instrumental music in Joshua, Texas for 27 years and AP Music Theory since 1996. Her degree in music education is from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She became a consultant for the College Board in 2001, was a contributing author of the Vertical Teams Guide for AP Music Theory in 2002, and a presenter at the AP National Conference in 2003.

Product Details

• Paperback: 648 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; Pap/Com edition (February 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764196316
• ISBN-13: 978-0764196317
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #43 in Books > Education & Reference > Education > Test Guides - College & University > Advanced Placement
  • #82 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Becoming a Thinking Musician, March 9, 2010

By 

Mark D. LaDue - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Barron's AP Music Theory with Audio Compact Discs (Paperback)

Until Barron's published Nancy Scoggin's book, preparing for the AP Music Theory exam was a seemingly impossible task. Trying to review everything in one of the standard texts such as Kostka and Payne or Aldwell and Schachter is infeasible. While it might be possible to use the College Board's Music Theory Course Description as an outline and their sample questions as a test, the amount of material that they provide is simply insufficient to assure success. The two previously published books from the National Learning Corp. and Mometrix Media LLC are utterly worthless. Thus I was really excited when I saw that Barron's was going to publish an AP Music Theory book, and I could hardly wait to get a copy and start preparing our homeschooled son for the exam.

Now that we've had a chance to use this book for a couple of weeks, I can tell you what a wonderful job the authors have done. In 22 chapters and 632 pages they masterfully cover every topic on the AP Music Theory course syllabus, every topic on the exam outline, and so much more. The review material that they provide in each chapter is very thorough, and the exercises are interesting and challenging. After every few chapters is an aural unit that presents additional multiple choice questions. The questions on the audio CDs are presented in the same style as the sample exam questions available from the College Board. The final 6 chapters of the book present sound strategies for each part of the exam. The two practice tests promise to offer the most realistic exams outside of those actually given by the College Board. I especially appreciate all of the information and exercises that this book has for the sight singing portion of the AP exam. It's impossible to find anything like that in any other source.

It's clear that Nancy Scoggin has a great deal of experience teaching AP Music Theory. It shows on every page of this book. Her co-author Mary Elizabeth has also done wonderful work in engraving the numerous musical examples and preparing the audio tracks for the CDs. It's a pleasure to use their book. I highly recommend it to anyone preparing for the AP Music Theory exam. With this book you'll be on your way to "becoming a thinking musician" and getting that 5.

Addendum (July, 2010)
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We spent about 30 to 45 minutes per day for about 2 months using Nancy Scoggin's book to review for the AP exam. In that time we were able to get through the entire book from cover to cover. Absolutely every topic that appeared on the exam was covered in this book, and the actual exam turned out to be almost exactly like the two practice tests included in this book. Thus there is no better way to prepare for the AP Music Theory exam than to use this book. Everyone who plans to take the exam should buy it. It helped us tremendously, and it will help you too. I'm very grateful to Nancy Scoggin for publishing the perfect review guide, and I highly recommend it to anyone who plans to take the exam.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! An AP Music Theory Study Guide, April 13, 2010

By 

Eric Mabrey (Chula Vista, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Barron's AP Music Theory with Audio Compact Discs (Paperback)

Finally, an AP Music Theory Study Guide. I've been teaching AP Music Theory for about 6 years and I have had incredible difficulty in finding well sequenced, appropriate material for preparing the students for the AP Music Theory exam, a most ear challenging adventure for many people. Most adopted textbooks tend to be college theory books that are designed for multiple-years of theory, and are not as user friendly for developing the skills that most high school students are in need of developing for this exam.

This study guide walks you through all the sections of the exam, with great aural examples. Every chapter is concluded with practice questions designed to the same flow and feel of the questions on the AP exam. Early chapters cover more introductory materials, but still use the AP format for questions. Each unit has an Aural Skills exam with the accompanying CDs. There are 2 full practice exams at the end of the book. Used in conjunction with released AP exams, your students can practice on 4 or 5 total AP style exams to be more prepared for the actual exam itself.

I have found it difficult to find materials that will help develop the aural skills necessary for exam success. In this book, you have a logical progression (no pun intended) of exercises to help develop both melodic and harmonic dictation skills. In addition, there are great examples and exercises for preparing for the sight-singing portion as well.

I have recommended to all my students that they purchase this book to help prepare for the exam. Next year, I hope to use it as a supplementary text book for the class starting in the beginning.

I would recommend this study guide to any student who is serious about being prepared for the AP Music Theory exam.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good value, March 30, 2011

By 

T. C. Peterson (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Barron's AP Music Theory with Audio Compact Discs (Paperback)

This book is very clearly written, and explains lots of complicated music theory concepts in easy-to-understand language. We had access to two other texts (Kostka and Ottman), and while those had their virtues, I believe that the Barron's was the most accessible work. It also had plenty of valuable test-taking tips.
Caveat: My daughters haven't taken the AP test itself, so we can't say if using this book will guarantee a good score.
While the four CDs add to the price, they're well worth it, given that the test has lots of audio portions. Two of the four CDs have tons of musical examples for the listening portion of the test (the other two CDs are used for the test itself).
We had not used the Barron's products prior to this year, but now that we have, we're definitely going to check out their other offerings. They're a lot cheaper than college tuition...