Description
This course is part 1 of a two-part course in basic music theory and includes elements of notation and musicianship.
Part 1 is made up of 21 lessons of about 30 minutes duration (less for the first two). This amounts to one semester at one lesson per week or a 6-week course at one lesson every two days.
The lessons are grouped into modules of a few lessons each, providing some intermediate goals. Each module looks at a particular aspect of music theory and only takes 2-3 hours to complete.
Most lessons include a few quick exercises as well as suggestions for further exploration.
Although each lesson is self-contained, the lessons and modules are designed to run in numerical order.
Lessons include links to related lessons and tips as well as to deeper explanations of some of the principles discussed in the course.
Requirements
This course assumes no prior music theory or notation knowledge. However it is strongly recommended that the student has at least beginner level of playing ability on an instrument or a basic singing ability within a vocal range of 1 octave, so that they can explore what’s taught in each lesson.
Outcomes
An Understanding Of The Following Musical Concepts
- Beats
- Counting beats
- Tempo
- Timing
- Note length
- Bars
- Time signature
- Strong and weak notes
- Simple Time
- Note names
- Clef
- Sharpen and flatten
- Interval
- Octave
- Semitone
- Root note
- Mode
- Scale
- Key
- Key signature
- Accidental
- Key relationships
- The cycle/circle of 5ths
- Relative major/minor
- Parallel major/minor
- Major intervals
- Minor intervals
- Perfect intervals
- Rhythm
Musicianship Skills
- Count in time
- Divide a beat into halves
- Count bars and beats in simple time
- Recognise whether a piece has 3 or 4-beat bars
- Sing a major scale
- Sing major, minor and perfect intervals above a note
- Recognise and name major, minor and perfect intervals
- Tap or play basic rhythms in simple time down to semiquavers
Notation
- Stave, great stave
- Treble and bass clefs
- Note names and ledger lines
- Note values including dotted notes
- Ties
- Time signatures (simple time)
- Beaming in simple time
- Key signatures
- Major/minor scales in various key signatures
- Major/minor/perfect intervals above a note
- Notate short rhythms
- Follow-up links to navigation markings, repeat bars and tempo ranges
Practice Technique
How to zoom in: slow down the tempo and count twice as often.
Recommended Additional Resources
This is primarily a music theory course. The notation exercises included are far from comprehensive and may be supplemented by music reading, beginner music theory workbooks and transcription exercises.
Musicianship, too, is a subject in its own right. There are many excellent musicianship workbooks and courses available to develop these skills. Ensemble work is also a great way to develop musicianship. Play with other musicians at every opportunity!
Start Here
Part 1 Contents
Feature: How To Practise A Piece Efficiently
A detailed expose on practice technique. Click here to visit.
Coming in Part 2 of this course…
- Triplets
- Compound time
- Syncopation
- Augmented and diminished intervals
- Harmonic and melodic minor
- Major, minor and modal chords
- Diminished and augmented triads
- Seventh chords
- Relative chord names
- Chord relationships
- and more…
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See a list of all posts here