<p>Next year will be my sophomore year…my APs are Computer Science and Music Theory.</p>
<p>Do you have any tips for these 2 classes? How hard are they on a scale of 1 (easiest) to 10 (hardest)? How hard were the AP exams?</p>
<p>I’ve been playing piano for 8-ish years now…I’ve been doing theory as well.</p>
<p>Also, do you think my sophomore year will be easier than my freshman year? (this year I took AP chem…it was difficult)</p>
<p>Ap computer science is a class that you really need to spend time studying by yourself. Rewriting programs and tweaking them helps you learn how to program. This is what I’ve heard at least. I’m taking ap computer science for my sophmore year as well. I’ve already taken a programming class for my freshman year. At least try to get the basics before you go into ap computer though. </p>
<p>You took AP Chem as a freshman?? My school doesn’t even let freshman take AP classes. That’s awesome! </p>
<p>Good background in theory will help with AP Music Theory, but I keep hearing how the aural part of AP Music Theory is a killer. (I will also be taking the AP Music Theory test as a sophomore, but IDK yet if I’ll have a teacher or not…)</p>
<p>I took AP Music Theory as a freshman. The class is pretty easy. The test, if you have a strong background in music and a decent teacher, is not difficult. If you don’t have strong music training, the test would be a nightmare.</p>
<p>AP Music Theory: On a scale of 1-10, this ranked a 4 for me. I got a 5, with sub-scores of 5 and 5 in the aural/non-aural sections. </p>
<p>Books used: Norton’s Introduction to Music Theory, Barron’s AP Music Study Guide</p>
<p>Aural Training: MacGamut (lifesaver; this, along with the practice problems in Barron’s, completely prepared me for the aural part)</p>
<p>Class: Online (basically, self-study with someone grading my work) </p>
<p>If you have questions, ask them early on. Music Theory builds on itself, so you’ve got to get the basics down really well! </p>
<p>Remember: Practice makes perfect. Practice counterpoint and SATB composition (if you can easily do this, you’re in good shape). Sing daily. Try to hear pieces in your head. Analyze all your piano pieces as thoroughly as possible. Just do a little a day and you’ll be fine. You only need ~67% to get a five, so your aural part doesn’t have to be perfect. </p>
<p>I’m going to be a sophomore in AP Computer Science as well; how do you practice writing code at home for tests and the like?</p>
<p>I found the AP Music Theory exam to be one of the hardest tests I’ve taken (got a 3). Though I don’t have the best ear…</p>
<p>I self-studied AP Music Theory because my school doesn’t offer it. As long as you know compositional lingo and such, it should be very manageable. I found the aural parts to be easier than expected because I’ve been trained to hear intervals since I started piano lessons. </p>
<p>If aural isn’t your thing, then I recommend just sitting down at the piano:</p>
<p>-playing intervals and singing them after
-looking away, playing an interval, and identifying what it is
-picking an interval and singing it without help from the piano</p>
<p>This should help you train your ear. </p>
<p>inb4 OP does 12 APs</p>
<p>Inb4 he does 13, I’m guessing</p>
<p>@cocoapuffs212 you’ll be fine with such an extensive background in piano/music theory. Also, AP Comp Sci at our school shouldn’t be too bad if you’ve taken an introductory class for programming.</p>