4: Music Theory
- Page ID
- 310485
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)This part of the book is designed for those that have made the decision to major in music and are needing to prepare for the next steps. In this part, we are going to provide you with information to help you prepare for college music program entrance and/or placement exams as well as some basic knowledge that will help you as you begin your program of study as a college music major.
Included in this part will be information about music theory, aural skills, piano skills, and music history. We will also discuss additional preparatory activities that you may want to consider while still in high school.
Music Theory
In this chapter, we will introduce you to the music theory skills and knowledge that you may want to become familiar with before taking your music entrance and placement exams and starting your music degree.
To experience the greatest success as a new music major, it will benefit you to know some basic music theory before you begin your collegiate program. What is meant by music theory? It is the systematic study of the musical elements including, but not limited to pitch, rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and notation.
To get your best start, you will want to be able to identify and understand the following
- Notation on the treble and bass clef
- The music alphabet and piano keyboard
- How to construct major and minor scales
- Key signatures
- Intervals
- Triads
- Symbols of duration (rhythm)
- Meter and time signatures
If this is all new to you, we have included a basic primer on these topics in this chapter and a list of websites and free online resources is provided in Section 5. In addition, your school music teacher, private lesson teacher, or other local musician can also likely help you prepare in these areas.
You should also keep in mind, if these topics seem too far out of your league or uninteresting to you, perhaps a majoring in music isn’t for you—but keep reading—there is much more information to follow.
- 4.1: Treble and Bass Clefs with Notation
- This page introduces basic music theory, focusing on the music staff???comprising five lines and four spaces for different pitches. A grand staff combines two staves, typically featuring a treble clef on top and a bass clef below. Musical notes range from A to G. The staff lines and spaces identify note names, with ledger lines used for notes beyond the staves. Middle C, the note between the staves, is highlighted as a key reference point.
- 4.2: The Music Alphabet and the Piano Keyboard
- The page explains the basics of musical notation, piano keys, scales, key signatures, and intervals. It describes how the musical alphabet and piano keys are arranged, detailing the significance of sharps and flats. It covers the structure of major and minor scales, including natural, harmonic, and melodic minors. The importance of key signatures and the Circle of Fifths is emphasized, along with strategies for identifying key signatures.
- 4.3: Identifying Interval Quality
- This text provides an overview of musical intervals, explaining how they are named based on their quality and number. Intervals can be perfect, major, minor, augmented, or diminished. The piece details the construction of a major scale and the types of intervals (perfect and major) present within it. It explains how intervals can be altered to become minor, augmented, or diminished and provides examples for better understanding. Additionally, it includes an interval chart for reference.
- 4.4: Triads
- A triad is a chord made of three notes stacked in consecutive thirds, forming the basis for other chords. The root is the lowest note, followed by the third and fifth. There are four types of triads: major, minor, augmented, and diminished, each defined by the intervals between the notes. Triads can be inverted, changing the order of notes such that the root, third, or fifth can be the lowest note, leading to root position, first inversion, and second inversion, respectively.