Music Theory Lessons
Music theory is the foundation of music, including the complex language that is interpreted to make melodious sounds. Understanding music theory involves reading music and the notations and phrases needed to write or play music. Although children need to spend time reading literature, working on math problems, and playing outside on playground equipment, a well-rounded education should also include music. Music education enhances language development and stimulates the brain to work harder, which often raises a student's IQ.
The Basics: Staff, Clefs, and Ledger Lines
The staff is a set of five lines and four spaces that serve as the foundation for musical notes. Every line and space on the staff represents a note. Two different clefs signify the assigned notes for the staff lines and spaces. The treble clef and the bass clef are the standard clefs, with the treble clef sitting above the bass clef. Together, the treble clef and bass clef form the grand staff. Treble clef notes are higher on the scale than bass clef notes. Ledger lines are small, individual lines added to notes when they appear above or below the staffs to show their position. Note Duration
Note duration is the specific length of time each note lasts. Note duration is determined by the note type, such as whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes. Measures and Time Signature
Vertical black lines divide the staff into separate measures. The time signature is a fraction that follows the clef and dictates the number of and type of notes in each measure. The denominator of the time signature defines the beats divided by a whole note, and the numerator defines the number of beats in each measure. Rest Duration
Rests show periods of silence. Different rest symbols dictate the duration of the silence, including whole rests, half rests, and quarter rests. Dots and Ties
A dot following a note increases the duration of the note by one-half. Notes tied together are merged to increase the duration across a measure. Steps and Accidentals
Steps indicate a whole tone distance between notes. A half-step is a half the distance of a step, moving to the next adjacent tone. Notes may be followed by accidental signs showing a half-step shift up or down from the note. Rhythm and Meter
Simple and Compound Meter
Time signatures are divided into specific meters depending on their rhythm. Simple meter indicates beats that can be divided into two notes. Compound meter indicates beats that can be divided into three notes. Odd Meter
Odd meters have simple and compound beats. The order of the beats can have either the simple or compound beat first. Scales and Key SignaturesMajor Scale
A scale includes notes that make up an octave. A major scale includes two whole steps, a half-step, three whole steps, and a final half-step. Minor Scale
Minor scales have a different configuration of notes in an octave. A natural minor scale includes one whole step, one half-step, two whole steps, one half-step, and two whole steps. Scale Degrees
Each note in a scale is called a scale degree. The first and last notes are the tonics, the fifth note is the dominant, and the fourth note is the subdominant. Key Signatures
The key signature follows the clef, indicating the accidentals occurring in the scale. The use of these accidentals will persist through the piece unless the key changes. Key Signature Calculation
With 30 different key signatures, it can be difficult to memorize the different configurations. Instead of memorizing, musicians can calculate key signatures by memorizing seven different signatures, assigning a value to each one. Then the process simply involves adding or subtracting values for additional accidentals. IntervalsGeneric Intervals
Generic intervals represent the distance between two notes on the staff, ignoring any accidentals. Intervals can be a first, which means that they sit on the same line or space. Intervals can also be seconds, thirds, and so on, which indicates the distance between them on the staff. Specific Intervals
Specific intervals show distances that include half-steps. For example, moving from C to D involves a half-step to D flat and then another half-step from D flat to D. Writing Intervals
When writing intervals, musicians should begin with a generic interval and then determine the number of half-steps included. After comparing and adding accidentals, it's easier to determine the precise interval. Interval Inversion
Inverting intervals involves moving the lowest note of an interval up one octave. For example, instead of a C-G fifth, you can invert it to a G-C fifth. ChordsIntroduction to Chords
A musical chord combines three or more notes. Chords have a single note as the foundation, known as the root.
Music theory is the foundation of music, including the complex language that is interpreted to make melodious sounds. Understanding music theory involves reading music and the notations and phrases needed to write or play music. Although children need to spend time reading literature, working on math problems, and playing outside on playground equipment, a well-rounded education should also include music. Music education enhances language development and stimulates the brain to work harder, which often raises a student's IQ.
The Basics: Staff, Clefs, and Ledger Lines
The staff is a set of five lines and four spaces that serve as the foundation for musical notes. Every line and space on the staff represents a note. Two different clefs signify the assigned notes for the staff lines and spaces. The treble clef and the bass clef are the standard clefs, with the treble clef sitting above the bass clef. Together, the treble clef and bass clef form the grand staff. Treble clef notes are higher on the scale than bass clef notes. Ledger lines are small, individual lines added to notes when they appear above or below the staffs to show their position. Note Duration
Note duration is the specific length of time each note lasts. Note duration is determined by the note type, such as whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes. Measures and Time Signature
Vertical black lines divide the staff into separate measures. The time signature is a fraction that follows the clef and dictates the number of and type of notes in each measure. The denominator of the time signature defines the beats divided by a whole note, and the numerator defines the number of beats in each measure. Rest Duration
Rests show periods of silence. Different rest symbols dictate the duration of the silence, including whole rests, half rests, and quarter rests. Dots and Ties
A dot following a note increases the duration of the note by one-half. Notes tied together are merged to increase the duration across a measure. Steps and Accidentals
Steps indicate a whole tone distance between notes. A half-step is a half the distance of a step, moving to the next adjacent tone. Notes may be followed by accidental signs showing a half-step shift up or down from the note. Rhythm and Meter
Simple and Compound Meter
Time signatures are divided into specific meters depending on their rhythm. Simple meter indicates beats that can be divided into two notes. Compound meter indicates beats that can be divided into three notes. Odd Meter
Odd meters have simple and compound beats. The order of the beats can have either the simple or compound beat first. Scales and Key SignaturesMajor Scale
A scale includes notes that make up an octave. A major scale includes two whole steps, a half-step, three whole steps, and a final half-step. Minor Scale
Minor scales have a different configuration of notes in an octave. A natural minor scale includes one whole step, one half-step, two whole steps, one half-step, and two whole steps. Scale Degrees
Each note in a scale is called a scale degree. The first and last notes are the tonics, the fifth note is the dominant, and the fourth note is the subdominant. Key Signatures
The key signature follows the clef, indicating the accidentals occurring in the scale. The use of these accidentals will persist through the piece unless the key changes. Key Signature Calculation
With 30 different key signatures, it can be difficult to memorize the different configurations. Instead of memorizing, musicians can calculate key signatures by memorizing seven different signatures, assigning a value to each one. Then the process simply involves adding or subtracting values for additional accidentals. IntervalsGeneric Intervals
Generic intervals represent the distance between two notes on the staff, ignoring any accidentals. Intervals can be a first, which means that they sit on the same line or space. Intervals can also be seconds, thirds, and so on, which indicates the distance between them on the staff. Specific Intervals
Specific intervals show distances that include half-steps. For example, moving from C to D involves a half-step to D flat and then another half-step from D flat to D. Writing Intervals
When writing intervals, musicians should begin with a generic interval and then determine the number of half-steps included. After comparing and adding accidentals, it's easier to determine the precise interval. Interval Inversion
Inverting intervals involves moving the lowest note of an interval up one octave. For example, instead of a C-G fifth, you can invert it to a G-C fifth. ChordsIntroduction to Chords
A musical chord combines three or more notes. Chords have a single note as the foundation, known as the root.
