AP Music Theory is a year-long course which roughly parallels the content of a college freshman theory course and prepares the student to take the national AP Music Theory Exam in May. The material is covered very rapidly so that it can all be fit into the time our school year allots. Significant critical/analytical/creative thinking skills are fostered in most parts of the course while broadening the students’ understanding of the courses’ overarching big ideas of pitch, rhythm, form, and musical design. AP Examination questions emphasize the understanding and application of musical knowledge into usable musical competency; the ability to analyze performed music, analyze notated music, convert between performed and notated music and completing music based on cues. Upon completion of this course, students’ understanding of the language of music will have advanced leading to lifelong musical engagement and practice.