first aid for struggling theory students

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first aid for struggling theory students

Many undergraduate and graduate students struggle with the subject of music theory. While there are a few websites that offer music theory "lessons" and "tutorials" for free, they provide only basic information and some gimmicky help. Music Theory Resources offers three categories of help for the music student. First Aid for Struggling Theory Students contains basic explanations on all subjects of theory from the Baroque to the present day. These chapters present strategies for thinking and understanding each concept of music theory listed below in the Table of Contents. The materials are not intended to be comprehensive treatises about music theory, but quick helps to set you on the road to understanding. The materials used here have been effective in the university classroom where quotes like "I finally understand secondary dominants" abound. Click here to see a sample chapter. If you still have difficulty with the subject after using the First Aid section, you have two more categories of help: Instructional Papers and Online tutors.

table of contents

Basic assumptions in music theory of the common practice era

Section 1: Tonal Music Theory

Rhythm
Intervals
Key and Scale
Triads and key
Seventh chords
Non-harmonic tones
Roman numeral and figured bass 1
Dominant-tonic function
Secondary dominants
Modulation
Augmented Sixth Chords
Neapolitan Sixth Chords

Section 2: Chromatic Harmony

Borrowed chords
Mediants
Special uses of diminished sevenths
Chromatic non-harmonic tones
Roman numeral and figured bass 2
The end of functional tonality

Section 3: The 20th Century*

Introduction to set theory
The rhythm/form approach
Twelve tone theory
   The matrix or array, permutations
    In practice
Rhythmic issues
    Polyrhythm
    Metric modulation
    Meter

Section 4: Form

Basic Assumptions concerning form
Phrase/Period
Cadence
Binary form
Ternary form
Rounded binary form
Sonata form
Rondo form
Theme and variation
Dance forms
Moment form

Section 5: Analysis*

Basic assumptions and procedures
Harmony
Form and rhythm
Melody
Timbre

Section 6: Bibliography*

*In process of being written

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