Melissa Livings

College Board Endorsed Consultant for AP Music Theory

This session is offered during Event 1 June 20-23, 2023

Melissa Livings is a native Texan who began her musical study in the Paris ISD band program. She later served in the US Military on goodwill missions as a member of the 531^st Texas Air National Guard Band (US Air Force).

Mrs. Livings graduated cum laude from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with an emphasis on string pedagogy and orchestral studies. She completed her Master’s Degree in Music Education from UTA with a focus on Music Theory Pedagogy. 

Mrs. Livings has been the Head Director of Orchestras and AP Music Theory at Pearce High School in Richardson, TX since 2000. In the summer, she serves as a Reader and Table Leader for the College Board AP Music Theory Exam and regularly works as a Consultant for AP Music Theory workshops around the country. 

Mrs. Livings is a member of the Texas Music Educator’s Association (TMEA), Texas Orchestra Director’s Association (TODA) and Texas Adjudicator’s Association (TMAA) where she serves as Vice President of Orchestra.

Mrs. Livings resides in Richardson, TX with her husband, Forrest, and daughter, Echo, three dogs and a bearded dragon. When not working, she enjoys finding new music, reading and endurance cycling.

APSI Music Theory Agenda:

• • Day 1                                            Description                                                               Topic

    8:00-8:30 AM           30m      Getting Acquainted                                                                —

    8:30-9:00 AM           30m      Overview of the Music Theory Exam and Course Goal        1

    9:00-10:30 AM         90m      Pitch Fundamentals: Teaching Music Like a Language        3

    10:30-12:00 PM       90m      Rhythm Fundamentals: Rhythm, Meter and Organization    3                                                                                                                                                    

    12:30-1:00 PM         30m      What is AP to you? Diversity and Inclusion & Equity and Access    2        

    1:00-2:30 PM           90m      AP Exam Topic—Sightsinging (SS 1&2) Strategies            3 & 5   

    2:30-3:00 PM           30m      AP Classroom Resources                                                       4 & 5   

    3:00-3:30 PM           30m      CED–Course and Exam Description                                     1                                                                                                                                                           

    3:30-4:00 PM           30m      Model for Class and Quarterly Structure                               1          

    Day 2                                                                                           

    8:00-10:00 AM         90m      Scales, Keys and Modes                                                        3          

    10:00-11:30 AM       90m      Intervals, Chords and Inversions                                           3          

    11:30-12:00 PM

12:30-1:30 PM         90m      AP Exam Topic—Melodic Dictation (FR 1&2) Strategies   3 & 5   

1:30-2:30 PM           60m      Chords in Diatonic Context                                                   3          

2:30-4:00 PM           90m      Harmonic Composition (Partwriting) and Chord Realization            3        

Day 3                                                                                           

8:00-10:00 AM         120m    AP Exam Topic—Partwriting (FR 5&6) Strategies              3          

10:00AM-12:00 PM 120m    Function and Cadences                                                          3          

12:30-2:30 PM         120m    AP Exam Topic—Harmonic Dictation (FR 3&4) Strategies 3 & 5   

2:30-4:00 PM           90m      Melodic Composition and Non Chord Tones                        3          

Day 4                                                                                           

8:00-9:30 AM           90m      Six Four Chord Types                                                            3          

9:30-11:15 AM         105m    Key Relationships and Secondary Harmony                         3          

12:00-1:30 PM         90m      AP Exam Topic—Melodic Harmonization (FR7) Strategies             3        

1:30-2:15 PM           45m      Reading and Using Instructional Planning Report Data        5          

2:15-3:15 PM           60m      AP Exam Topic—Strategies for Multiple Choice                 3          

3:15-3:45 PM           30m      Choice Topics (Time Permitting) and/or Free Response Review       

3:45-4:00 PM           30m      Wrapping up                                                                                      

Choice Topics (Time Permitting)