
Explore core music theory concepts without focusing on traditional sight reading; learn that notes on the staff are pitches and receive practical tools for this class.
Practice music theory with downloadable worksheets (pdf) you can print or write on, identify gaps, revisit videos, and ask questions as you begin using scales and melodies.
Craft a melody in D major using steps, skips, and leaps, starting on the tonic, with varied rhythm and leading tone guiding back to the tonic.
Analyze a melody featuring a leap of a fifth, two leaps, and a pattern of steps, starting and ending on the tonic with a leading tone returning to it.
Explore what it means to be in key, identify tonic as home base, and use scale notes like D major or E major as clues for tonal centers.
Chords are multiple notes played together, including dyads (two-note) and triads (three-note). In pop, we focus on triads and learn which notes go in to build harmony.
Discover how the third shapes triads, transforming major to minor (and vice versa) by a half-step, with examples of major, minor, and augmented chords.
Explore how guitar chords work by layering triads within open chords, using C major and E major as examples, and understanding note order from low to high.
Explore how to use the circle of fifths beyond the diatonic chords to add color to your songs by borrowing chords from closely related keys in the key of D.
Design a verse melody in C major using steps, skips, and leaps, with chords C major, E minor, A minor, and G, and apply suspensions and tied notes.
Welcome to "Music Theory in a Zombie Apocalypse," a groundbreaking course that combines comprehensive music theory education with an unexpectedly thrilling backdrop. Led by Dr. J. Anthony Allen, a distinguished composer, producer, and educator with a Ph.D. in Music Composition, this course offers a unique journey through the essentials of music theory.
Dr. Allen, who has taught over 1 million students worldwide, brings his expertise and innovative teaching style to this course. As you progress through the lessons, you'll notice subtle changes in the teaching environment, reflecting a world in flux. However, the focus remains steadfastly on providing a solid foundation in music theory.
This course covers:
Scales and Keys: Understand the building blocks of music
Chromatic and Diatonic concepts: Explore the full spectrum of musical notes
Patterns in Major Scales: Uncover the structure behind melodies
Chord structures and types: Learn how harmony works
The Circle of Fifths: Master this powerful tool for understanding key relationships
Practical application: Apply theory to a real instrument
What sets this course apart:
Expert Instruction: Learn from a instructor with both academic credentials and real-world music industry experience.
Innovative Format: Experience a narrative arc that makes learning music theory more engaging than ever.
Comprehensive Content: From basic notation to advanced harmony, this course covers it all.
Practical Focus: Understand not just the 'what' of music theory, but the 'why' and 'how' to apply it.
Adaptive Learning: As the course progresses, see how music theory remains a constant in an ever-changing world.
Join Dr. J. Anthony Allen for an unforgettable journey through the world of music theory. Whether you're looking to enhance your songwriting, improve your instrument skills, or simply understand the music you love on a deeper level, this course provides the knowledge you need with an unexpected twist that will keep you engaged throughout.
Enroll now and learn to harmonize amidst the discord, compose in the face of chaos, and find the music in the madness!