MUSA1100 · Music
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
An introductory music theory course designed for students with a strong interest in music. As a Core course it includes speculations on how musical discourse informs our perception and understanding of the world around us. Students learn to acquire skills in music notation and transcription. The following theoretical concepts will be extensively covered: notation of pitch and rhythm, scales, intervals, chords, and harmonic progression. Students leave the course prepared for upper-level study in music theory and will begin to question broader issues concerning the meaning and use of music. Training in Keyboard Skills is required in the accompanying Lab
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.5 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.4 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.6 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.6 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
~3.5
hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
Ratings below reflect only recovered evaluations connected to this course.
Part Time Faculty, Music Department
4.5 / 5
4.3 / 5
Part Time Faculty, Music Department
4.1 / 5
3.9 / 5
Part Time Faculty, Music Department
3.9 / 5
3.7 / 5
Part Time Faculty, Music Department
4.4 / 5
4.1 / 5
Part Time Faculty, Music Department
4.4 / 5
3.9 / 5
Part Time Faculty, Music Department
3.7 / 5
3.6 / 5
Associate Professor of the Practice, Music Department
4.6 / 5
4.7 / 5
Student perspective
Recovered and new anonymous comments are shown as written and may reflect different course formats.
May 14, 2026 · Historical comment
One of the best professors I have had at BC. She really makes the material easy to learn, and the coursework is extremely light and manageable. Overall, a great class to take for arts core and a great professor for an introductory music theory course.
Dec 17, 2025 · Historical comment
Great person, great professor, very passionate about music. Explains terms clearly, although you should do work outside of class to if you are new to music theory. Even if you came from a non-musical background this class is manageable.
Dec 8, 2025 · Historical comment
If you can read music then the class isn't that hard. If you can't read music then you 1000% should not take this class. She is a good professor who cares about the students and is incredibly knowledgeable in the topic, but it fully comes down to if you can read music or not.
Oct 23, 2025 · Historical comment
I had her for piano lab - I felt intimidated in her classroom and we were expected to perform on the spot to perfection for our grade, making it stressful. The other lab sections did not have this type of pressure or difficulty, so just take those.
May 12, 2025 · Historical comment
Nicest happiest lady ever but if you've never played piano - good luck
May 12, 2025 · Historical comment
Makes things seem harder than they are and classes feel slow, but she is very nice.
Mar 26, 2024 · Historical comment
Took Fundamentals of Music Theory with her. Her energy is contagious. She is always very positive and super passionate. She cares about her students.
Across time
Section-level results available in the recovered archive.
Spring 2025
8 sectionsFall 2024
9 sectionsSummer 2024
1 sectionSpring 2024
8 sectionsFall 2023
7 sectionsSummer 2023
2 sectionsSpring 2023
8 sectionsFall 2022
8 sectionsSummer 2022
2 sectionsSpring 2022
9 sectionsFall 2021
8 sectionsSummer 2021
1 section