
This is the course overview. It covers the course topics and plan.
Introduction to half and whole steps, what they are and how to distinguish between the two.
Introduction to intervals, what they are and how their name is derived.
This lecture defines the term "key signatures", what they mean and how the concept applies in music in a practical way.
An overview of the keys with flats in the key signature, the order of flats and how to find out the key of the song.
An overview of the keys with sharps in the key signature, the order of sharps and how to find out the key of the song.
This lecture addresses the term "tetrachord", and its structure, with examples.
Here we learn how to build ascending major scales, using the tetrachord structure.
This lecture helps us understand the "circle of keys", or the "circle of fifths", as it is sometimes called. Also addresses the term"enharmonic scales" and what that means.
In this lesson we learn about the sixteenth notes and rests and how to count them.
The dotted eight note is explained and how to count it. Also, the rule of the "dot" is reviewed.
The term "alla breve" is explained in this lesson, its usage and purpose.
Here the time signature with the eight note as the beat are explained. You learn the different time signatures and how to count the notes when the eight note is the beat.
The term "syncopation" is explained and how it is created by moving accents from one beat to another.
This is a review of all the subject covered in this course.
Have you ever wanted to understand the jargon of music? Or have you wished to understand the music that you are playing in the deeper and more meaningful way?
This intermediate music theory course will help the student understand how music is structured in relation to keys, intervals and rhythm. The course is built to provide step by step information in a logical and systematical way. Unlike many others, this is hands-on course.
Each lesson includes a video presentation, a PDF presentation that the student can print for review, a worksheet and the answer sheet. By the time you print all the documents, you will have a nice booklet with all the information that you can always refer back to and hands-on assignments that are invaluable since they help solidify the concepts learned in the video. The student should answer the question in the worksheet and check his/her work with the answer sheet. I highly recommend that the student does not skip the assignment sheets. Music theory is learned by doing it.
This course will cover:
Music theory is very important for a musician; it gives us a better understanding of the music we are performing and a structural platform for improvisation. It helps us to sight read, transpose, improvise, compose, and perform better. If you understand the theory behind the music, it will help you perform the piece with a deeper knowledge. Theory is the grammar of the musical language and we need to know it in order to speak the language of music correctly. It helps us understand how music fits together and why it sounds the way it does.
Prerequisites:
Be able to read music and play the piano.
Understand the staff, the clefs; know the letter names of all the notes, understand the measure and how to count the whole, half, quarter, eight notes and the dotted half and quarter notes and all the rests for these notes; understand the repeat signs, first and second endings; the tie and the slur; flats, sharps and accidentals.
I am looking forward to help you in any way I can. I have been a professional piano teacher for over 25 years and played the piano in many concerts, recitals, accompanying and conducting choirs over the year. I have written many pieces for choir and small ensemble and orchestrated and recorded many CDs. I will do my outmost to help you understand the topics in this course. Just ask if you need any help!
Enroll today and start learning music theory online! You will be empowered in your musicianship, performance and understanding of the language of music. Thank you for taking my course.