AP Music Theory Reviews

Excellent class!

Two of my children have now taken AP Music Theory with Ms. Jackson, and we 100% recomend this class. Ms. Jackson is experienced, organized and effective in her teaching.  The content is top-notch, the communication with the instructor is timely, and the overall experience was excellent for both of my kids.  They gained so much theory knowledge to add to the musicianship they had already cultivated through years of Suzuki training, and they are well prepared for both college study and general music enjoyment.

On of my most favorite classes ever!

• Did you feel this class prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes! While we didn't dive right into exam-related "prep" at the beginning of the year (which is completely understandable because of the amount of material required to actually do the exam), by the time the exam was approaching, I felt pretty confident in my abilities through what Miss Jackson taught us. The course's main focus was on the topics of the class with more exam prep woven in as the exam approached, which I found really helpful. It didn't feel like the purpose of the class was to succeed on the exam but to enjoy and explore music theory and prepare for the exam. This helped me learn the material a lot better, so it wasn't terribly difficult to study for the exam. Miss Jackson also offered several "boot camp" sessions in the couple of weeks leading up to the exam, which were also super helpful!

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into this class?

I'd say I put in about an hour to two and a half hours per day on the class. This included things like reading the textbook or a powerpoint, taking notes, watching videos, and completing homework. Some of that time also went into the lab sessions, where Miss Jackson met with assigned groups of students to cover other material related to that week's topic, practice singing and, once we covered enough topics, practice different elements of the exam like dictations, part-writing, and sight-singing. On the days I had lab, I didn't do other work for the class except for turning in homework or finishing up any assignments I needed to. I think overall, I spent anywhere from 6-12 (with an average of 8) hours on the class per week. It really depended on what topics were covered within that week and if there were any special projects or tests/exams coming up. All that time went purely learning and practicing the material; Miss Jackson never assigned any "busy-work." She chose the exact assignments that were helpful, so it was almost easier to grasp the concepts because I had practiced exactly what I needed to know.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I started the year moving through the homework very slowly, but I actually enjoyed those workbook assignments a lot towards the end of the year! I think those were really valuable to me. It sounds pretty boring, but I really liked the textbook we read. I bookmarked many, many pages, and I think there are more tabs than pages in the book at this point, but the book was so helpful to refer back to whenever I needed to! I also enjoyed the videos that Miss Jackson created that dove into real-world examples of the topics we were currently learning about. It's so easy to learn a lot of terms and musical elements and then never think about how they were actually "real." Miss Jackson provided us with a lot of "real-world" examples early on in the year, so it was never hard to notice new elements of music when not in class. I should also mention sight-singing! I signed up for this class not realizing that there was singing involved in the lab sessions AND on the exam and immediately started dreading it before the school year had even started. I would not recommend doing that. If you like music and singing, take this class! If you like music but definitely not singing, take this class!!! No matter where you are on your singing journey, even if you haven't "started" yet, Miss Jackson makes the singing elements so easy to tackle and become more comfortable with. Yes, you will have to sing in front of her and some of your classmates, but she makes the environment as comfortable as possible, so it's not quite as bad. Plus, you get some great practice before you have to sing for the actual exam :)

• Did this class enhance your interest in the subject?

Oh yeah. I learned SO much from this class. I came in as a piano player who couldn't tell you what key a piece was in for the life of her, much less how to divide the beats in a measure. Through this class, I not only learned about those topics, but so much more. I have a much better understanding and sense of music now, which has really helped me improve my musical skills. I never realized just how much there is to music and how it's put together! I definitely struggled in the beginning of the year with some of the more basic concepts, but it was so worth it because my love for music has grown tremendously.

• What sort of student would do well in this class? Would you recommend this class to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

I think some sort of musical background is sort of a must. Basic piano, guitar, or other instrument skills, like knowing the names of the different notes and being able to find your way around at least a C-major scale, are pretty helpful, since practicing and reinforcing concepts with a keyboard is recommended quite often throughout the class. But honestly, if you just love music and really want to know more about it, then this class will be a blast. This class would be pretty hard if a student came into it without a strong interest in the subject. There are going to be topics you might not really enjoy or not like at all, but it's all helpful and extremely rewarding at the end of the year.

AP Music Theory: 10/10 would recommend :)

• Did you feel this class prepared you for the AP exam?

I really enjoyed this class. I learned a significant amount of information that helped me prepare for the questions on the AP exam. I was not surprised by any of the questions on the AP exam and did not feel as if I did not know some of the concepts, as I have with previous exams. I have to admit that I was not prepared for the little amount of time I had for the free-response questions—I was not ready for the short amount of time I had of each listening. We did cover that in class, but I was still caught off guard. Otherwise, I would say that this class was very helpful in preparing me for the exam. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into this class?

I have to be honest: I underestimated the exam and did not put as much time into the homework as I should have. I put in about an hour per day, with an average of about 4-5 hours per week. I wish I had put that little extra bit of time into studying/homework, as it most likely would have helped me a little more on the exam. If I could take this class again, I would put in at least 8 hours a week.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I really, really appreciated the dictation exercises, as well as the sight-singing exercises. The dictation was a struggle for me in the beginning, but I eventually began to pick out the intervals between notes, the key, the accidentals, etc. This also was because of the solfège Ms. Jackson was constantly referring to. Before taking the class, I never sang in solfège, and I was terrible at sight-singing any sheet music. Now, whenever I am presented with sheet music, whether it be for choir or any songs I find lying about, I immediately pick out the tune using the solfège syllables I learned in the class. I am incredibly grateful that Ms. Jackson stressed upon using this technique, it was definitely beneficial.

• Did this class enhance your interest in the subject?

The AP Music Theory class certainly further piqued my interest in the subject. I do not think that I would pursue a degree in music theory, but I am definitely open to exploring the subject more in depth on my own. 

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

I did not really communicate with my fellow classmates, other than the discussion board assignments. I did enjoy reading through other students’ posts on the discussion boards and getting the different viewpoints of everyone. 

• What sort of student would do well in this class? Would you recommend this class to other students (if they are willing to work hard)?

Anyone with a passion for music and a desire to deepen their knowledge of music would do well in this class. I definitely think you have to have a solid musical background, and at least a few years seriously taking lessons with a primary instrument. I have been taking piano lessons for about 10 years now, and have participated in a music theory program since I started. When I started the class, I thought I had a pretty good grasp of music theory and had no trouble understanding it. I did not struggle with most of the concepts, but I did notice that there was a significant number of students who grasped the concepts more easily than I did. While I believe that anyone can do well in this class with the right dedication, work ethic, and perseverance, I would recommend this class especially to students with a musical background. 

Ms. Jackson is an amazing teacher. She is patient, responsive, and willing to work one-on-one with her students. She is eager to help her students understand the concepts she teaches and presents the concepts in a way that kept my attention and that was easy to follow. I would definitely recommend taking her class!

Favorite AP class ever! (DO NOT worry about the singing) - Caleb C, HS sophomore

Did you feel this class prepared you for the AP exam?

This class definitely prepared me very well for the exam: Ms. Jackson does a fantastic job giving practice exam assignments and reviewing difficult sections/material, so I not only knew what to expect on exam day, but also felt prepared to accurately and easily demonstrate my knowledge of the subject.

The only thing I would recommend to future students preparing for the exam is practicing bonus melodic and harmonic dictations in the months as the test approaches.  Ms. Jackson gave a lot of these dictations in-class and on assignments and tests (and also does a great job "building up" to these over the year, so you never feel overwhelmed); however, since I have only had limited experiences in the past doing melodic dications, and no previous introduction to harmonic dictations, completing extra prompts from the College Board Past FRQs was a very valuable tool for me to apply the skills we learned in class, and I would urge other students to take advantage of this resource.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into this class?

I probably spent 2.5 to 3 hours per week doing homework for this class (this estimate doesn't include the weekly lab time, which is 1.5 hrs), though I would have to put in more work if there was a big test or assignment.  Some of the theory concepts we learned in class I had already covered as part of the piano testing I do, though so this helped me go through a number of homework assignments faster.  If you haven't had any music theory before, don't worry - Ms. Jackson explains everything quite well and layers from the ground up very nicely, but it might take a bit longer to go through the homework.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

My favorite assignments were definitely the composition projects (my only wish is that there were more of them!) - I felt like these really helped me creatively apply the concepts I was learning as well as seeing the interesting ideas my classmates came up with.  I took this class largely to improve my musical composition abilities through music theory, and these assignments and Ms. Jackson's resulting feedback aided me in uniting these skills.

Did this class enhance your interest in the subject?

I enjoyed this class so much (definitely my favorite AP course ever) and it definitely furthered my interest in music theory.  I knew that what fascinated me most about music was more "logical" side (e.g. chords, songform, tonality, etc. rather than expression, interpretation, history, and so on), but I wasn't exactly sure when I signed up for this class what that was even called or how to develop that interest.  This year, I was able to find out that music theory is exactly what I've been looking for - I learned so much, and more importantly, have found out about so much more that I want to learn!  I wish there were multiple years of APMT like there are for Calculus, but I am excited to continue studying the subject through online music theory classes for high schoolers offered by the Juilliard school of music.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

I found communication with other students, particularly those in my lab group, to be quite valuable.  Especially helpful were discussing various strategies and tricks for sections of the exam, as I was able to test other students' ideas and figure out which methods resulted helped me most to succeed.

Also helpful was the "random questions" discussion board Abby, the TA, posted: not only were she and Ms. Jackson able to help if I had any homework questions or general music theory ideas, but I was also able to hear my classmates' thoughts on the subjects, I was very glad for the new perspectives they shared through explanations and further links.

Hands down one of the best theory courses!!!

I walked into AP Music Theory with what I felt was a very solid foundation in the basics and construction of music, and wow did this course not only strengthen those roots, but further introduced various other concepts, all layered and built upon one another. I registered for APMT just out of love for music and theory from when I was a small toddler. I play piano, cello, organ, clarinet, and now viola, which inspired my initiation to enroll in this course. I don't regret that decision one bit. The course itself is organized in a very thorough manner, and the teacher, Ms. Jackson, is beyond incredible in teaching kids to recognize the nuances of music. As a rising senior for the 2023-2024 school year, my aspirations ahead of my entail applying for medical school -- likely neurology or cardiology. Even though it's not a core class, it's well worth the time and effort. Please take it! You will learn so much and your understanding of Music Theory will sky rocket!! Ms. Jackson's TA was also incredibly helpful in making sure to answer our questions, hold optional sessions for review, and be on 24/7 support to help guide us through a confusing unit or topic of APMT. No complaints. Combined, I really would rate APMT as one of my top classes of the year, hands down. Required or not, the instruction entitled in this class is more than anyone could ask for!

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into this class?

Typically, the student will generally spend about 8-10 hours per week on course materials and instruction. Ms. Jackson holds weekly lab sessions to hone in on aural skills and gradually work to recognize contextual listening at a college level. These sessions are generally 1 1/2 hours, leaving the student with about 6-8 hours left of homework and studying throughout the week. Seriously, though, if you put the time and effort into learning this subject, it pays off!!! Even listening to music as I write this review, I subconsciously recognize different elements of the music without thinking about it, because Ms. Jackson has helped me and each other student to work on the skills in the best way possible! Generally, a week in APMT will consist of reading from the textbook, watching personal lectures designed by Ms. J herself or watching guest lectures from college professors. In addition, homework will generally be taken from the workbook or a given worksheet to demonstrate understanding and recognition of specific topics and nuances of music. There are also little mini quizzes and contextual listening assignments provided on Canvas that provide various examples of genre to really help students hear concepts across time periods. Overall, though, the material is well worth it and as long as you put the time into the subject, because it is still an AP, Ms. Jackson's instruction will lead you a long way!!!

Did you feel this class prepared you for the AP exam?

No question about it!! Words cannot express how encouraging and preparing the instructor is throughout the year. At the end of the year Ms. Jackson provides option "Boot Camp" sessions which go over all the concepts you will see on the AP Exam, and you will go over little nuances just to make sure you really understand and soak up the music. Boot Camp helps someone to recognize where they might have the biggest struggles and Ms. Jackson is the best in making sure you are comfortable and confident in your abilities!! The homework throughout the year is also very preparing and I never felt like this class was busy work. Each assignment has a purpose and they will all help you succeed!

Did this class enhance your interest in the subject?

YES! The units of AP Music Theory were new territory for me, and I walked away from each one with a great appreciation for music. Miss Jackson really strengthened the love I have for music in demonstrating that music is more than notes on a page. There is thought, purpose, and meaning behind each passage and note on the sheet music, and she helps students recognize those roots of music through her love and passion for music. Every time I put headphones in I always find myself repeating songs over and over, listening for those components that Ms. Jackson has instilled in me to recognize! I walked into this class with what I thought was a very strong childhood foundation in music, and wow, I walked away with more knowledge that I would've thought possible!

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Definitely! In the spring semester, Ms. Jackson assigns a final project for all of her students to complete, and it has been quite enlightening! She is very accommodating for students to pick a specific topic or choose a specific excerpt they liked. They can choose to center their projects around writing, listening/analysis, or a digital component of making a podcast episode about a concept (which I did), and it is one of the best assignments! It really provokes students to remember concepts from the beginning and later portions of the class and helps them review for the AP Exam! Absolutely incredible.

What sort of student would do well in this class? Would you recommend this class to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

If you are a driven student who really loves music, then go right ahead! While there is minimal background knowledge required for the course, it certainly helped having more than needed. It will certainly make the beginning building blocks of the course a lot easier! But, regardless, I would just say if you are ready to learn each week, have a natural curiosity to deepen your learning, and really truly want to grow in the fundamentals of music, why not take this course. While yes, it *is* an AP course and it isn't necessarily required, the information derived from this course combined with the superb instruction is MOST CERTAINLY WORTH IT!!  Please take this course -- you will not regret it, I can assure you!

I cannot recommend Ms. Jackson's class enough. The workload and commitment required is enormous but she balances it with patience and an emphasis on the students understanding the material. The class greatly increased my interest in theory and I was gratefully able to pass the exam with a 5, which I totally credit Ms. Jackson's class with preparing me for. 

Definitely recommend!

I can say without a doubt that this course was very well made. Mrs. Jackson is an amazing teacher. She is really patient and put a lot of effort into providing sufficient and extremely varied materials. On almost all occasions when I emailed her for help, she responded efficiently and thoroughly. Honestly, the sheer amount of music we went through was a great experience.

My greatest weakness when I came to this class was aural theory and by the end of it I was much stronger than before. Mrs. Jackson provided a lot of practice for both aural and non aural training throughout the year, during live classes and in homework. The tests and little quizzes were actually relevant to the material taught, which is a huge plus. If you actually do all the assignments on time and pay attention in live classes, there is almost no doubt that you will be well prepared for the AP exam.

Fantastic Teacher, Fascinating Course!

I really enjoyed this class; it opened up a whole new world of information and ideas to me. Though I felt well prepared for the AP test at the end (eventually scoring a 5), the class never felt exam-focused. Instead, exam prep felt like a secondary aim compared with the overall goal of learning to enjoy, love, and appreciate music. 

The class itself was not easy, and I'd have found it considerably more difficult if I didn't already have a fairly strong musical background going in. Don't take this class for an easy A! Regardless, the workload never felt unattainable, and Ms. Jackson was always there to help us, whether by email, or in our weekly lab sessions. She also gave detailed feedback on our homework, which was a great help when I was studying for the exams and ultimately the AP test, because I knew where my weaknesses were and how I could improve.

Don't take this class if you're lazy or disinterested. But if you're committed to work hard and want to develop you musical understanding in any way, this class is for you. You won't be disappointed!

Ms. Jackson's course was one of the best classes I've ever taken!  The assignments and classes were fun and informative, I found that the class prepared me very well for the AP exam.  I found that I generally spent between 8-10hrs on homework, which usually was composed of book work, audio and score analysis, dictation, etc... Some of my favorite assignments were the listening assignments, I really enjoyed hearing and analyzing different styles of music.  I would definitely suggest this class!  It would be helpful to have had some musical exposure before taking the course- learning to play an instrument/sing or how to read music for example.  But students who are new to music could definitely catch up pretty quickly.  Overall, I loved taking this course and would strongly suggest this class!

Incredible teacher, incredible class, incredible experience

Ms. Jackson is one of the best, if not the best, teachers I have had; she is super passionate about all of the material, and it shows through her thorough and enthusiastic video lectures she provides each week, her responding to emails within minutes, the weekly lab sessions - the list goes on and on.  The material was always super fun to complete, though it was never busy-work; clearly, Ms. Jackson had put a lot of thought into what to include in the homework and how to teach the material.  On average, I spent probably around 4-6 hours per week total on the work.  I think the labs, though, were my favorite part of the class.  At the start of each lab, which occurred on Zoom, Ms. Jackson would students enthusiastically. She was always 100% prepared, with a well thought-out schedule for each lab; there was never any dead-time. Our labs often consisted of preparation for the AP Exam, but this was done in ways that were really enjoyable; we often listened to music and answered questions, composed counterpoint together, or sometimes practiced singing melodies or clapping out rhythms.  I would say that by the time it was January or February, I already felt confident about taking the AP exam; in the end, I scored a 5.  BUT, I would not have been able to do this without this class; this was due to Ms. Jackson's incredible teaching.    

Most of our work was geared towards the AP Exam, though not to the extent that it was solely exam preparation.  It was the perfect balance between learning for the sake of learning and preparing for the exam.  Coming out of the class, I now can confidently say that I have a solid foundation in music theory, and I often subconsciously pick out the chord progressions or cadences of a random song playing in a store.  But even if you aren't super passionate about music, a foundation in music theory will serve you well in other subjects; I am pretty sure that learning the complex components of part-writing or analyzing scores have made it easier for me to grasp other tricky topics in other subject areas.  

All in all, I would 100% recommend this class to anyone with even the slightest curiosity about music; Ms. Jackson will eagerly help you along the road, and I can assure you that you will come out glad that you went on this journey.  

Excellent Teacher - Take this Class!

I took Ms. Jackson's AP Music Theory class in my junior year, and I went in with little theory knowledge. This class turned out to be my favorite! Not only is Ms. Jackson an engaging teacher, but she did an excellent job preparing me for the AP exam, especially in sight-singing (which I was terrible at when I started the class). The most beneficial part of the class was the live weekly lab sessions when students listened to music samples, discussed music theory, practiced aural skills, and asked homework questions. Ms. Jackson also led optional review sessions leading up to the exam, which were incredibly helpful! Ms. Jackson truly cared about my progress in her class, and I know that she is the reason I scored a 4 on my AP exam. I would recommend this class to anyone who has an interest in going in-depth into music theory!

AP Music Theory with Hannah Jackson

As a parent, I found Hannah Jackson to be an exceptional teacher.  Her music theory class is thorough and well-planned.  She is highly knowledgeable and communicates well.  She seems to connect with her students.  The instructions for assignments are clearly articulated.  Responses to student questions are prompt and clear.  I highly recommend this class.  Thank you!

Awesome Experience, Would Recommend!

AP Music Theory was easily one of my favorite classes this year! It was so much fun. The presentation of information makes it easy to retain. I found that I was never tired of doing Music Theory work both because it was enjoyable and because I never felt overloaded. The bulk of learning happens in videoed lectures that allow you to move through the material at your own pace. The labs each week were the place where that information was applied to activities, projects, and pieces of music. I always felt just challenged enough to be learning from my mistakes but never too much to make me want to give up. I have a feeling I will be remembering and applying principles I learned in this class to random music I listen to for the rest of my life.

Ms. Jackson is a fantastic teacher who really puts her all into her students, with fantastic results. She is very dedicated to making the class a fun and comprehensive experience for everyone. She's also a super nice, thoughtful person, and I am happy to have had her as a teacher. Future students are definitely getting the best of the best!

Overall, I would definitely recommend AP Music Theory with Ms. Jackson. You won't be disappointed!

Totally worth it

Taking this class was probably the best decision I have made so far in high school. If you have a good foundation in music (ex. play an instrument at an intermediate to advanced level), enjoy listening to music, and love music theory, then definitely take this class. I would not recommend this class to those who don't like theory in the first place; one of the best parts about this course is the fact that all the other students, and the teacher, are very enthusiastic and eager. To be clear, I don't think a burning passion for theory is necessary--just a genuine spark of interest.

To start off, Ms. Jackson is a great teacher. She is excellent in every way--from detailed feedback, to responding to emails quickly, to offering plenty of opportunities for students to learn a bit more or get a bit more help. She is very patient and encouraging. I found her lectures particularly helpful as she would boil down complicated topics and make them easier to understand. She also provides plenty of AP exam practice so that you will for sure feel extra ready going into the exam. (Not to mention that she's skilled with technology and teaching through Zoom!) Since Ms. Jackson provides so many ways to learn, it is really up to the student to take full advantage of her teaching and really thrive.

My favorite parts of this course were learning about counterpoint and harmonies. I love seeing how stringing intervals together can create chord progressions and movement. It's helpful in both part-writing and listening analysis. I think this knowledge will help me far into the future as I study music on my own and perhaps in college.

I'd say I spent around 5-6 hours a week (more or less, including lab session time) on work, but none of it was monotonous or boring. There is no filler homework / busywork. All the assignments are purposeful and require full engagement from the student. It feels fast-paced, especially after the first quarter, but at the same time slow enough to absorb everything. If you take notes during lectures and do the worksheets and other assignments throughout the year, there is little cramming or last-minute review to do before the AP exam.

Most importantly, this class made me want to pursue music theory further instead of tiring me out. I had so much fun in the class and enjoyed it immensely.

Motivational, informative, and constructive

I believe that if a teacher loves what they teach, the students will gain that love too. Miss Jackson is one of those teachers. Her passion for the subject inspired me and gave me more interest and drive. Throughout this course, I felt supported, heard, and allowed to explore the subject on my own. There is room for curiosity and questioning, all within the framework of traditional musical practices. I felt encouraged to gain independence while always having Miss Jackson and the TA's waiting to answer any and all questions I might have. During labs, Miss Jackson is always attentive, concise, and caring while pushing us to strive for success. She is very quick to respond to questions at odd hours and is always understanding and empathetic.

This is not a throw away class. It is challenging, invigorating, and at times difficult. But it is always rewarding if you put in the time and commit. I wholeheartedly recommend this to other students who love music and are interested in the analytical and consistently beautiful aspects of it. This has been my favorite class this year.

Music Theory and More!

About the course

1. Coming from someone who had never taken an AP test before and had no idea what I was getting myself into.. YES I was well prepared! Ms Jackson helps stimulate parts of the test all throughout the year. 
2. The lectures are great, rely on those, labs, taking notes, and asking questions! I will say, the book we use is great! But they usually format their chapters by using an actual piece and explaining the new topic by pointing an example out IN the piece, just bear with it because that honestly was confusing for me.. After that, use their summaries and charts and that was the most helpful! Also I would suggest buying their online access to the listening examples, I hadn't done that and it seems nice!
3. Second semester was my favorite and the extra things we got to learn at the end were so interesting!! But the first semester really helps build a foundation. Don't neglect those sol-fege handouts! Lol 

About Ms Jackson

Ok, firstly you will love her! She is on top of answering emails and being proactive when there's something extra we need help with. She's very involved, and truly cares to help you understand something. she's passionate about music and music theory. The things she put together or suggested we do like the discussion boards, various assignments, outside resources, extra credit and extra lectures were all very helpful and well thought out!

Personal Tips

1. Take notes of the lectures! This way you have something you can easily go to for reviewing something. (I must brag for a second, I have a colorful notebook filled with every single last lecture and some of the labs. It was really nice to see graphs, charts, drawings, and bullet point notes at the end of the year that I could review!)
2. You'll learn where your weak spots are early on, so work a little bit every week on those things!! Don't put it off to the end!!
3. Ask questions! Either email Ms Jackson or the discussion board for questions, don't stay stuck!
4. Use college board!! I hadn't actually cared/worked out how to use it until the end. There are resources and more videos galore!!
5. Yes you will get plenty of resources and all the help you need. But YOU have to do the work! 

Great class, great teacher

This class was by far my favorite this year. I feel like I have a much better understanding of and appreciation for classical music now. Ms. Jackson is such a fun and encouraging teacher, and I have really enjoyed her instruction. 

The workload is hefty, but not unmanageable. If you really enjoy the class then the workload will not feel like too much of a burden. This course, I would say, is one of the best out there if you want to feel really well prepared to take the AP exam. 

AP Music Theory with Ms. Jackson

This was a good music theory course - if you really take advantage of all the course has to offer, you will be amply prepared for the AP exam and for music theory courses in a university or precollege program. 

The course has a mandatory weekly live session component (somewhat rare for PAH courses in my experience), so you should be aware that you have to make that commitment. Also, knowledge of an instrument and theory background is very helpful, even though you can definitely still succeed in the class without prerequisite knowledge. The amount of time put into the class is really up to you - if you are very motivated to delve into music theory and want to go the extra mile, you are welcome to do that, but you can stick to the essentials and still learn a lot. Also, if you have music background (especially music theory), you may be able to cut some of the work time, especially in the first semester. 

An excellent class and an excellent teacher

AP Music Theory taught by Ms. Hannah Jackson was an excellent course. It added a whole new level of music understanding and appreciation for my cello-playing daughter. Ms. Jackson teaches with enthusiasm and expert knowledge. She makes the material interesting and clear. Her dedication to the students was commendable. In this unusual year with COVID-19-forced on-line exams, Ms. Jackson went above and beyond to prepare the students. Aristotle says that a good teacher loves their students. I believe that Ms. Jackson achieves this point of excellence with her students. Ms. Jackson encourages and inspires her students. My daughter learned a lot and enjoyed this course.

Ms. Jackson's class is an enjoyable route to valuable music theory knowlege

This music theory course greatly enhanced my appreciation and understanding of classical music. Ms. Jackson is a generous, enthusiastic, and hardworking teacher, and I highly recommend this class for anyone interested in rigorous and fun preparation for the AP Music Theory exam.

Wonderful experience!

I loved taking AP Music Theory with Ms. Jackson! One thing I love about this class is you never feel alone in learning the material, even with challenging concepts or when you're struggling with something. Ms. Jackson is so supportive of her students--she truly goes above and beyond to guide them through both the class material and the AP exam process, and she's always open to student feedback and questions. Ms. Jackson gets to know all of her students personally, so it often feels like a real-life classroom environment; she genuinely cares about you as an individual and wants you to succeed.

I felt very well prepared for the AP exam after taking this course. In general, I put in about 5 to 7 hours per week studying, including a weekly lab session that's about an hour and a half. The final project assignment was one of the most valuable assignments for me; for the project, students get to choose between analyzing an existing piece or composing their own, and it's a great way to exercise the music theory skills accumulated throughout the year by putting them into practice. There's also a lot of really fun extra credit and discussion board opportunities throughout the year that let students engage with the material by applying concepts to their own favorite pieces; for instance, I chose to analyze songs like "Bennie and the Jets" and "Bohemian Rhapsody," but we had students choose everything from Chopin to Guns N' Roses, depending on their personal interests.

This course definitely enhanced my interest in the subject. I would say that AP Music Theory would be easiest to enjoy for students who have a particular interest in classical music, but even for me, someone who has relatively little, it was still very interesting to apply the concepts to my personal affinities for other musical styles like rock and soul. I also found that taking this course significantly helped me develop both my ability to sight-read and play music by ear, which I've really enjoyed exercising even after finishing the class.

I think any student with a specific interest or passion for music can do well in this course, especially those interested in classical music in particular. It's also extremely helpful if students already play an instrument, but the course is generally really welcoming to students of all experiences. I definitely recommend this course to other students, particularly for those considering pursuing a music degree in college or just interested in gaining a strong familiarity with music theory principles. Although the material, especially learning the many rules of music theory part-writing, can take time to master, Ms. Jackson provides a great amount of practice and amazing support throughout the whole learning process. She's fantastic!

AP Music Theory with Ms. Jackson is Fantastic!

I have had two sons take AP Music Theory with Ms. Jackson, and they were both highly prepared for the exam.  The work load is appropriate without too much busy work.  My older son in now a music major in college, and he was able to receive credit for an entire year (4 classes) of music theory.  He learned so much he was able to step right into independent study as a freshman working on the graduate level with one of his professors.  While taking the class, they never once complained about the coursework that was assigned, and that is unusual indeed.  My youngest will be taking this class in a couple of years.  I would highly recommend Ms. Jackson's Music Theory.  I wish we had found it when my oldest was still at home.

Great AP Music Theory Class!

This is definitely the best music theory course I have ever taken, and it was one of my favorite courses this year. Miss Jackson is an amazing teacher and is very communicative, making sure we always knew the exact requirements for assignments and reminding us of the material that would be on the AP Exam. Miss Jackson was also very on top of the changes made to the exam this year, and she made sure we were ready and able to take the online version of the exam. 

This course definitely prepared me for the AP exam. A lot of the work we did on counterpoint in the fall semester was not on the AP exam, but it was definitely relevant to some of the FRQs that are on the exam. At the start of the year we were divided into small groups of five or six students to meet with Miss Jackson for lab every week. These lab sessions were extremely helpful, and because of the small group size Miss Jackson was able to give one-on-one attention to everyone in the group and answer questions and give feedback on aural skills and singing. The boot camp sessions at the end of the year before the AP exam were also extremely helpful in focusing in on exam material. 

I generally spent about 5-6 hours a week on music theory work, not counting the hour and a half lab sessions once a week. The course load is very manageable, and the TA's and Miss Jackson were always very willing to answer any questions.

The course definitely enhanced my interest in music. It's very fun to see things that you have learned about in the class in the pieces that you are working on. I found the subject matter to be very applicable to the pieces of music I have been working on. 

I think any student who plays an instrument and has a love for music will enjoy this course. If this describes you, take this class! You won't regret it!

AP Music Theory

I just wanted to preface this review by saying that this class was one of the best, if not the best, that I've ever taken. The course really prepared me well for the exam and Ms. Jackson is probably the best teacher I've ever had. I generally put around 6-8 hours per week into the course, though it was more during the weeks before the exam (obviously). My favorite assignment was definitely the final project, in which we were able to either write a piece based on something we learned in the class, or analyze a piece. I chose to compose a piece, and found that it really helped solidify my understanding of the concepts upon which it was based. The course also gave me a much greater understanding and interest in piano, something that I was already doing before the class. It helped add context to what I was doing and allowed me to understand the framework that the pieces I played and are playing were set up around. My favorite part of our week-to-week routine was our lab sessions. I had a really good group and we had a lot of fun during class, also aided by the fact that Ms. Jackson is such an awesome teacher! In summary, I really liked this course, Ms. Jackson is great, and I think that everyone who has an interest and music and is willing to work hard will do very well.

AP Music Theory was just right!

My son took AP Music Theory with Ms. Jackson. As a parent, I felt that the course prepared students well for the exam.  I felt he put in a lot of time in the course, but that is expected from an AP class.  He learned well and enjoyed the class very much.  The course further enhanced his interest in music theory and learning to compose music!  I would strongly recommend this course and Ms. Jackson to any serious AP student.  Ms. Jackson was a great teacher for this course!  He would easily take another year with Ms. Jackson if he could!

AP Music Theory, 2018-2019

AP Music Theory with Ms. Jackson was my favorite class this year! I already love music, and it was fascinating to learn about the mechanics behind it. Taking the class has made me a more informed music listener and has improved my ability to interpret pieces for performance. Ms. Jackson not only chose interesting and valuable content to cover this year but also thoroughly prepared the class for the AP Music Theory exam. In addition, she was very knowledgeable in the subject matter, efficient and timely in communication, and generally a lovely person. I cannot recommend this class enough to any musicians looking to pursue careers in music or just become more proficient at their craft.

My Favorite Class This Year

I really, really enjoyed this class--I think it's my favorite of the ones I took this year! Ms. Jackson is a great teacher who communicates the topics covered clearly. I put 3 to 4 hours of work per day, on average (but some students may need less time than I needed), into the course. I felt that all of the assignments were valuable, as I very much wanted to learn to write music, but I felt these assignments were especially valuable and enjoyable: Rhythm and Meter Notation Worksheet, Listening & Analysis: Modal and Pentatonic Scales in Film Soundtracks, Week 12 Dictation Video Assignment, Week 17 Discussion Board Assignment: Cadence Games, Harmonic Progression Listening Workshop, Week 26 Score Analysis Worksheet, Week 27 Listening Assignment: Fugue and Variation Form, Dictation Workshop Assignment, Practice AP Exam: Aural-Stimulus MCQs, Practice AP Exam: Non-Aural Stimulus MCQs, the FRQ worksheets, and the Final Project. This course definitely enhanced my interest in music theory—among other things, it was very interesting to see the subjects we were learning at work in real music, which made me appreciate how complex music is! I found my communications with other students to be both interesting and valuable. A student with an interest in music and how it works, especially a student who is detail-oriented, would do well in this course. I would definitely recommend this course to other students! I loved it!

Marvelous class and stupendous teacher

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Absolutely. The homework problems were designed in a way to mimic the FRQ on the AP exam and were oftentimes harder than AP FRQ, which made them seem easier. Also, the lab sessions (every week) and the boot camp sessions(5 in the last two weeks) were extremely helpful in preparation for the aural section of the exam, as Ms. Jackson taught us how to approach the aural section of the exam and gave us many invaluable tips.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I put in about 6-8 hours of work a week for this class.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I found the boot camp sessions to be extremely valuable. Also, the weekly labs were sensational. I never would have been able to succeed in the aural section without these sessions.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes, it did.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

I did. I made quite a few friends in the class this year from the live sessions. We also set up a G-chat to discuss difficult homework problems. Of course, Ms. Jackson was EXTREMELY quick in responding time, as she would usually respond across any medium (discussion board, email, chat) within 15 minutes.

• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

To succeed in this course, a student needs to be hard-working. Also, it is best that students entering the class brings some previous basic theory knowledge with them, as this makes the class much simpler.

Awesome Class, Amazing Teacher!

AP Music Theory has been my favorite AP class yet. And I don't think it would have been the same without the lovely Ms. Jackson. My first week of class was stressful because I didn't understand what in the world was going on, but when I emailed Ms. Jackson she helped me understand the assignment and even gave me a "grace" grade. Throughout the semester, I felt comfortable shooting her an email for help and she would respond with feedback within two hours. She is a very understanding teacher and I'm so blessed to have had her to develop my love for music.

My favorite part of this class was the lab, where a group of students met over Zoom with Ms. Jackson. In lab, we did sight-singing, rhthyms, worksheets, and went over assignment questions. The scariest part was singing in front of the group (over Zoom) but it definitely prepared me to sing confidently in the exam. My lab experience was truly amazing, and defintely different than all my other AP classes especially since I got to interact with some of my fellow classmates face-to-face and make new friends.

I would definitely recommend taking this class with Ms. Jackson. She is such an understanding teacher and always gives constructive criticism. She never fails to encourage everyone and she always looks for new ways to help students with specific problems. Through her, I have found a new appreciation for the music I listen to and the music I have yet to listen to (esp classical). The only downside to having this kind of listening skill is that whenever I watch movies now, I hear the solfege to the music...lol :P

This course definitely prepared me for the AP exam, especially since we focused on the exam for several weeks leading up to it. I had to take ownership for what was difficult for me throughout the year, but with ownership, I was able to master most of the material we covered. There were definitely some weeks in which Music Theory took up more time because of the concepts being covered that week, but for the most part, I probably averaged about 5 hours per week on work. Ms. Jackson did an especially good job of focusing on aural skills, which is a significant portion of the exam. If someone is interested in AP Music Theory, I would say that this course will adequately prepare them for the exam, and the foundations of Music Theory will be solidly constructed and can be built upon. 

Music Theory AP class

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
•      - Definately
• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
•      - 7 hours give or take a couple
• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
•      - The optional live preperation sessions leading up to the AP Exam
• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
•      - I already loved music and this helped me understand various fine naunces.
• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
•      - I made a few friends from the course!
• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other  students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
•      - I think this course will only be benificial to driven students who want to succeed in this field.

A brilliant class and a wonderful teacher!

What an extraordinary teacher and an extraordinary class! I have always felt complete joy and utter relief after coming out of an AP exam, but Music Theory was the only exam where I actually felt sadness afterwards. Miss Jackson ignited such a love of music in me I never knew I had. I was absolutely terrified coming into this class - my brother had struck a goodly amount of holy fear into me of sight-singing and dictation, but Miss Jackson encouraged us and led us through those scary things with us barely knowing we were doing them! Although Miss Jackson left the exam prep till the very end of the year, I found that this independence helped me personalize my own review and focus on what I needed to practice. There was not a single aspect of this course I didn't enjoy - Miss Jackson's lectures were clear and entertaining, the homework (though plentiful) reinforced the concepts learned, and the weekly lab sessions offered an invaluable opportunity to meet my fellow classmates and learn from them and alongside them. You will not regret signing up for this class!

Wonderful Class and Teacher!

I am a sophmore with no AP experience, and I was surprised at how fun this class was! I learned so much, and I was able to understand everything. The homework was challenging but doable, and it was a good opportunity for me to learn how to plan my time well. Miss Jackson was an expert teacher, who made the class enjoyable and instructive. She left most of the scheduling for the students to figure out, which I liked because it helped us to become more responsible with our time, and it gave us more flexibility if we had other priorities. She was always ready to answer our questions, and she was careful in her responses to our posts on the discussion board. 

I put about 4 hours per week into the course, but sometimes more on exam weeks. The work was challenging, but I love a challenge! I think I had the most trouble with harmonic dictation exercises, so I think those were particularly valuable for me, especially because they were good practice for the exam. I learned so much about music theory, and the class made me love and appreciate music even more than I already did! I loved how it exposed us to many different styles and time periods of music. I definitely recommend this course to those who play an instrument, and those who are especially interested in the form and structure of music. 

Great Course

This was a great class. I entered this class as a sophomore with some AP experience, so I was prepared with what to expect. This class prepared me very well for the AP exam, both with sight-singing and written theory. I had very little singing experience when I started, and now I can sight-sing many melodies with decent pitch accuracy. I did have a strong piano background when I started which gave me a head start with melodic and harmonic dictation. Throughout this course, you'll learn a lot about how music works, and if you're like me and are interested in creating your own music, this is a great place to start.

As far as the workload is concerned, it was a lot more than I expected. The hours I put into this course is easily 10-12 hours a week, sometimes more. If you're taking other AP courses in addition to this one, be prepared for long days and weeks of hard work.

If you are interested in majoring or minoring in music in college, I strongly recommend this course. If you just want to know more about music and how it works, this would still be a great course to take, and you would have to be ready to make the time commitment.

Anyways, at the end of the school year, I'm glad I took this course. Miss Jackson is a very good teacher and she finds a way to help each student with any trouble their having. I now know more about music than I ever thought possible! Literally! There are topics that we learned about that I didn't even know existed! :) This is a great course.

Positive Parent Review

I am so thankful that my daughter was able to take the AP Music Theory class with Hannah Jackson.  While the class prepared her very well for the AP exam, it also gave her a much richer understanding of the beautiful inner workings of music theory. 

Amazing Class

I had a great experience in this class. I went into this class as a sophomore with no AP experience (though I do have a good music background), and I didn't really know what to expect. But the class was great! The homework was challenging, but not overwhelming. Ms. Jackson did a great job explaining the concepts in her lectures, and the live aspect of the labs was extremely helpful for AP practice (dictation, sight-singing, interval recognition, etc.). We spent the last few weeks solely preparing for the AP exam, and I felt very prepared for the test. Ms. Jackson is also a great communicator, and she is very clear in her emails and instructions. You can also tell she is very invested in the class and her students and wants everyone to do well. I would definitely suggest this class for other students interested in music theory because I had an excellent time. 

Great Class

I felt that this class prepared me very well for the exam, with a minimal (at least compared to most horror stories I've heard about AP classes) amount of homework.  Ms. Jackson did a great job teaching, and was excellent at remaining in the middle ground of being flexible and not too flexible.  The lectures were all very helpful, as were the worksheets.  I also enjoyed Office Hours a lot.  Most of the problems I had with the class were with the textbook, so there isn't too much to improve, other than maybe using more of her own worksheets (as she started to do towards the end).  Overall, I truly enjoyed this class, and felt that it enriched my musical knowledge to a great extent.

Great Experience

As a freshman, this was my son's first AP class.  Since he is very interested in and focused on music I figured that Music Theory would be a good first AP experience.  I was right!  This was a perfect intro for my son.  Ms. Jackson clearly laid out the expectations and assignments.  She was amazingly accessible and gave thorough feedback on the homework.  The workload was manageable.  My son spent about 8-10 hours per week, including lecture time, music lab, homework, office hours, aural skills, review and study prep.  Ms. Jackson was flexible with her timeline if warranted, but firm if her generosity was taken for granted.  My son enjoyed the class and learned an incredible amount of music theory.  He felt prepared for the AP exam and feels he did well.  More importantly, he practiced study skills and time management that will help him break down college classes or other outside classes.  One thing that I appreciated was Ms. Jackson's availability for office hours.  My son didn't often have specific questions, but he did "attend" sessions when he was available.  For me, this was critical because I wanted him to feel comfortable chatting with a "professor" and discussing the material so that he is more inclined to do so in college.  He enjoyed the casual nature of the office hours and the supportive enivronment and I know that he will remember this when he goes off to college and not be intimidated by office hours.