Music Theory QuickThink: 

-          There are some ‘rules’ of counterpoint that you should not break, and there are other guidelines that have more leeway but result in stronger or weaker counterpoint

-          There is no PERFECT completed counterpoint exercise of all strengths.

-          In first species counterpoint the following rules should not be broken


-          In first species counterpoint, the following guidelines may be broken in some cases, but the result is a weaker sense of counterpoint.


-          In first species counterpoint, the presence of the following strengthens the counterpoint, but the absences of it is not considered a weakness.


-          NOTE: Why are we learning counterpoint?  - Some Theory texts do not cover counterpoint in the Theory 1 scope and sequence. Advanced counterpoint study is often offered at University as an entire separate one or two semester following Theory 4.  We are learning the topic because


(Laitz's The Complete Musician covers 1st and 2nd species counterpoint, Francoli's Harmony in Context covers 1st through 4th species, and Clendinning's The Musician's Guide covers 1st through 5th.  Kostka's Tonal Harmony does not formally introduce counterpoint).  

Objective 11.4: Examples in Music: YouTube

https://youtu.be/S_UjoKg5uag

Suggested Learning Resources

1) YFIO

2) Video Lesson: YouTube ArtOfCounterpoint Lesson http://youtu.be/Ur87i921IIw


3) Online Reading: UChicago.edu Lesson http://hum.uchicago.edu/classes/zbikowski/species.html

4) Interactive Lesson: EMusicTheory.com Counterpoint Exercise 

http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/counterpoint.html#.VKbgBNLF9Fp


Objective 11.4: Identify strengths and weaknesses of first species counterpoint