The Rudiments of Music Theory

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
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