This text introduces fundamentals of music theory not as a series of rules but as a process of sonic discovery. Each chapter builds a musical concept around a simple, familiar song, so that students begin with the sound in mind, associate the concept or label to that sound, and finally, apply
that concept to new situations through listening, analysis, and composition.
Each chapter ends with Drills to Go, Classroom Activities, Written Exercises, Composition exercises, and Chapter Goals Revisited
Preface
List of Informed Listening Pieces and Source Recordings
1.
Introduction to Music Notation
Chapter Goals
Elements of Music
The Staff
and the Treble Clef
The Bass Clef
Rhythm and Meter
--Elements of Rhythm
--Quadruple Meter and Basic Durations
--Metric Accents
--The Dotted Half Note and Eighth Notes
--Triple Meter
--Duple Meter
--Meter Categories
--Summary of Durations
The Repeat
Sign
Notation
Memorization Strategies
Singing and Hearing Exercises
Informed Listening: Examples for Study
Informed Listening: Interesting Examples
Informed Listening: Examples with Questions
2.
Pitch: The Piano Keyboard
Rhythm: Rests, Ties, and
Syncopation
Chapter Goals
The Keyboard
Accidentals
Octave Designation
Rhythm
--Rests
--Ties
--Dotted Quarter Notes and Syncopation
--The Anacrusis (Pickup)
Notation
Memorization Strategies
Singing Exercises
Hearing Exercises
Informed Listening:
Examples for Study
Informed Listening: Examples with Questions
3.
Pitch: Major Keys 1
Rhythm: Beat Subdivisions
Chapter Goals
The Major Scale
Major Key Signatures up to Four Sharps or Flats
Summary of Major Key Signatures and Scales
Rhythm
--Sixteenth
Notes
--Dotted Eighth Notes
Notation
Memorization Strategies
Keyboard and Singing Exercises
Hearing Exercises
Informed Listening: Examples for Study
Informed Listening: Examples with Questions
4.
Pitch: Major Keys 2
Rhythm: Triplets
Chapter Goals
More
Major Scales
The Tonic Triad and Tendency Tones
Rhythm
--Triplets
Notation
Memorization Strategies
Practice Strategies
Keyboard and Singing Exercises
Hearing Exercises
Informed Listening: Examples for Study
Informed Listening: Examples with
Questions
Informed Listening: Tendency Tones in the Music of the Beatles
5.
Pitch: Minor Keys 1
Rhyhm: Eight- and Two-Based Simple Meter
Chapter Goals
The Natural Minor Scale
Minor Scales and Solfege
Rhythm
--Eight-based Simple Meter
--Two-based Simple
Meter
Notation
Memorization Strategies
Practice Strategies
Keyboard and Singing Exercises
Hearing Exercises
Informed Listening: Examples for Study
Informed Listening: Examples with Questions
6.
Pitch: Introduction to Compound Meter
Rhythm: Minor Keys
2
Compound Meter
The Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales
The Tonic Triad and Tendency Tones in Minor Keys
Notation
Keyboard and Singing Exercises
Hearing Exercises
Informed Listening: Examples for Study
Informed Listening: Examples with Questions
7.
Pitch:
Intervals
Rhythm: Compound Meter Review
Chapter Goals
Interval Number and Quality
Major, Minor, and Perfect Intervals
Melodic and Harmonic Intervals
Recognizing Major, Minor, and Perfect Intervals
Building Major, Minor, and Perfect Intervals
Augmented and Diminished
Intervals
Summary of Interval Qualities
Doubly-augmented and Doubly-diminished Intervals
Inversion
Enharmonic Intervals
Compound Intervals
Other Interval Patterns
Memorization Strategies
Identifying Intervals in a Musical Context
Keyboard and Singing
Exercises
Hearing Exercises
Informed Listening: Examples for Study
Informed Listening: Examples with Questions
8.
Pitch: Triads
Rhythm: Four- and Sixteen-based Compound Meter
Triad Structure and Quality
Triad Inversions
Identifying Triads in a Musical
Context
Sixteen- and Four-based Compound Meter
Summary of Common Meter Types
Memorization Strategies
Keyboard and Singing Exercises
Hearing Exercises
Informed Listening: Examples for Study
Informed Listening: Examples with Questions
9. (Postlude)
Pitch: Diatonic
Triads
Rhythm: Advanced Rhythmic Concepts
Chapter Goals
Diatonic Triads in Major Keys
Diatonic Triads in Minor Keys
Harmony
Labeling Triads in Music
Diatonic Triad Functions
Advanced Rhythmic Concepts
--Irregular Meter
--Sub-triplets and
Super-triplets
--Irregular Tuplets
--Duplets and Quadruplets
--Hemiola
Singing Exercises
Hearing Exercises
Informed Listening: Examples for Rhythm Study
Informed Listening: Classroom Activity
Glossary
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix
D
Appendix E
Index
Music Theory Skill Builder Access Card
(ISBN 9780199354337)
- Provides hundreds of exercises in an online environment where students can practice and master the core concepts that they need to succeed
in Music Fundamentals
Companion Website
- Animated interactive demonstrations of key concepts
- Additional exercises and assignments
Jena Root is Associate Professor and Music Theory Coordinator for the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. She has also taught at St. Olaf College, Syracuse University, the National University of Singapore, and Shenandoah Conservatory.
Principles of Music - Philip Lambert
From Sound to Symbol - Micheal Houlahan and Philip Tacka
Making Sense - Margot Northey and Joan McKibbin
