This practical and accessible guide to the basic principles of music takes you from point zero to a solid understanding of the elements of music and how they work.
The course is for everybody. Students do not need to read music (although they will learn) or play an instrument (although they may be inspired to take one up). Those who are learning to play an instrument or sing in an ensemble will find the course particularly useful.
Students with limited exposure to music theory will gain additional understanding of the basics and quickly find themselves challenged with new insights.
Although we teach the nuts and bolts, our approach is to provide more in-depth understanding—the why’s and not just the whats. We look closely at mathematical relationships and symmetry in music. We measure distances and chart paths from one musical element to another. Students will find a roadmap to understanding keys and harmonies and acquire a solid foundation for further study.
Module 1 | The Major Scale | |
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Unit 1 | Welcome | |
Unit 2 | Author's Introduction | |
Unit 3 | Overview | |
Unit 4 | Resources | |
Unit 5 | Module 1 Video - Preview | |
Unit 6 | Terms | |
Unit 7 | Module 1 Exercises | |
Unit 8 | Module 1 Quiz | |
Unit 9 | Additional Listening Exercises 1 | |
Unit 10 | Sight-Singing 1 | |
Module 2 | The Power of Tonic | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 2 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 2 Exercise | |
Unit 5 | Module 2 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Additional Listening Exercises 2 | |
Unit 7 | Sight-Singing 2 | |
Module 3 | Pitch Notation | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 3 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 3 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 3 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Additional Listening Exercises 3 | |
Unit 7 | Sight-Singing 3 | |
Module 4 | Moving Tonic | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 4 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 4 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 4 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Additional Listening Exercises 4 | |
Unit 7 | Sight-Singing 4 | |
Unit 8 | Progress Survey | |
Module 5 | The Sharp Keys | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 5 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 5 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 5 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Additional Listening Exercises 5 | |
Unit 7 | Sight-Singing 5 | |
Module 6 | The Flat Keys | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 6 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 6 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 6 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Additional Listening Exercises 6 | |
Unit 7 | Sight-Singing 6 | |
Module 7 | Key Relationships: The Circle of Fifths | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 7 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 7 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 7 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Additional Listening Exercises 7 | |
Unit 7 | Sight-Singing 7 | |
Module 8 | The Harmonic Series | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 8 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 8 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 8 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Sight-Singing 8 | |
Module 9 | Rhythm and Meter | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 9 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 9 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 9 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Sight-Singing 9 | |
Module 10 | Metrical Notation | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 10 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 10 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 10 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Sight-Singing 10 | |
Module 11 | Intervals and Their Inversions | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 11 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 11 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 11 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Additional Listening Exercises 11 | |
Unit 7 | Sight-Singing 11 | |
Module 12 | Building Diatonic Triads | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 12 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 12 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 12 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Additional Listening Exercises 12 | |
Unit 7 | Sight-Singing 12 | |
Module 13 | Progressions and Cadences | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 13 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 13 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 13 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Sight-Singing 13 | |
Module 14 | Progressions with Secondary Triads | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 14 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 14 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 14 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Sight-Singing 14 | |
Module 15 | Minor Keys | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 15 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 15 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 15 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Sight-Singing 15 | |
Module 16 | Chord Progressions in Minor | |
Unit 1 | Overview | |
Unit 2 | Module 16 Video | |
Unit 3 | Terms | |
Unit 4 | Module 16 Exercises | |
Unit 5 | Module 16 Quiz | |
Unit 6 | Sight-Singing 16 |