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Music Theory Fundamentals in Four Weeks

Module 1: Pitch

Lesson 1.1: Pitch notation

Staff and clef
Pitch and pitch class
Division of musical space: the interval
Accidentals

Lesson 1.2: Scales

Scale-degree numbers and names
Specific scale types: major
Key signatures and circle of fifths

Lesson 1.3: The minor mode

Building scales in the monir mode: Natural, harmonic, and melodic
Relative and parallel relations

Module 2: Intervals

Lesson 2.1: Generic intervals

Contour, melodic and harmonic, simple and compound

Lesson 2.2: Specific intervals

Quality, perfect, major and minor, diatonic

Lesson 2.3: Transforming intervals

Augmented and diminished intervals
Interval inversion
Consonant and dissonant intervals

Module 3: Rhythm and Meter

Lesson 3.1: Pulse, beat, and rhythm

Durational symbols; standard notation

Lesson 3.2: Meter

Accents
Beat division
Simple and compound meters
The meter signature

Lesson 3.3: More rhythmic procedures

Clarifying meter
Borrowed divisions
Conducting patterns

Module 4: Melody: Characteristics, Writing, and Listening

Lesson 4.1: Characteristics

Phrase, cadence, contour and climax
Guidelines for writing melodies
Melodic dictation

Lesson 4.2: The role of rhythm and meter

Consonant leap, passing tone, neighbor note
Structural importance of pitches

Module 5: Introduction to Two-Voice Counterpoint

Lesson 5.1: First species counterpoint

Contrapuntal motions
Voice leading
Hearing two voices

Lesson 5.2: Second species counterpoint

Oblique motion, neighbor tone, and passing tone
Voice leading

Module 6: Triads, Inversions, Figured Bass, and Harmonic Analysis

Lesson 6.1: Triads

Types, components
Voicing triads: spacing and doubling
Triad inversion

Lesson 6.2: Figured bass

Analysis and realization
Chromatic alterations
Abbreviations

Lesson 6.3: Triads and the scale: harmonic analysis

Roman numerals and analytical procedure
Keyboard and chorale style

Module 7: Seventh Chords and Musical Texture

Lesson 7.1: Seventh chords

Types, inversion, and labeling

Lesson 7.2: Musical texture

Monophonic, polyphonic, homophonic

Module 8: Phrase & Cadence, Tonic & Dominant, and Connecting Chords

Lesson 8.1: Phrase and cadence

Types (authentic, half)
Tendency tones
Phrase model and period

Lesson 8.2: Introduction to connecting harmonies

Harmonic progression and voice leading
Texture and register, range and tessitura
Spacing
Voice-leading rules and guidelines for triads

Lesson 8.3: Chordal dissonance: V7

Voice leading and dissonance treatment