The main textbook used in the class is The Elements of Music: Concepts and Applications, Vol. 1, and the Workbook for The Elements of Music: Concepts and Applications, Vol. 1, both by Ralph Turek. The textbook costs about $78.00 and the workbook costs bout $45.00. Both can be purchased at Amazon.com. The textbook and workbook are not required but are highly recommended.

For now you should get very familiar with scales and intervals. You need to know ALL major and minor (natural, harmonic, and melodic) scales. You also need to know your intervals by sight, by sound, and by recall. By "sight" means that you should be able to look at two notes and know the precise distance between them, expressed in terms of minor, major, diminished, or augmented. By "sound" means you should be able name the precise distance between two notes being played either together or one at a time. By "recall" means that you should be able to name two notes and know their intervallic relationships.

Click to enter the dictation folder, where you'll find plenty of exercises. Do some every day. Before long it will be easy.



Check out this vocal warmup. It was originally made by my son Aaron and me for use with the rock bands he produces, but the interval training is great for anyone.

Click here for staff paper:
single staff
grand staff

For training in listening to intervals try some of the exercises below.

Intervals
Ascending Intervals
Descending Intervals
m2, M2,m3,M3,P4,TT,P5,m6,M6,m7,M7
You must be able to recognize all the above intervals by sound.
Now take an Interval Quiz.

Dictation
Each dictation example starts with a two-measure countoff, followed by the example. The example is played a total of three times, with a 30 second pause between playings. Open the audio first and do your best. then check your work by opening up either the *.pdf file or the *.mus file. Here is given information for the dictation examples:
Dictation #1: Treble clef, four measures, common time, key of C Major, starting pitch is middle C.
Dictation #2: Treble clef, four measures, common time, key of G Major,starting pitch is G above middle C.
Dictation #3: Bass clef, four measures, common time, key of F Major, starting pitch is A below middle C.
Dictation #4: Treble clef, four measures, common time, key of D Minor, starting pitch is D above middle C.
Now go to the Dictation page.

Check out the four part dication. Notate only the treble and bass parts, then analyze. Key signature:two flats, time:4/4, treble pitch: G above middle C, bass: G second octave below middle C. Now go to the Dictation directory to download the answer.

Listen to some cadences. Take a cadence quiz.

OK, it's time for more dictation. These are using simulated instruments, just to make it more fun. They are all in 4/4/ time. Here are the keys and starting pitches for each one:
Bassoon - A Major, A1
Bass Clarinet - G Minor, G1
Cello - D Minor, D2
French Horn - B Minor, B2
Flute - D Major, D4
Oboe - C Major, C3 (Middle C)
Trombone - Bb Major, Bb2
Trumpet - D Major, D3
Write the notes in concert pitch, not transposed pitch. There are no rests. There may be some accidentals.
Click here to go to the simulated instruments dictation directory.

The information below is from the 04-05 school year but most of it will apply for the current year.

Check here for homework, examples, and other important information.
Homework - listed by date. Use either Finale Notepad (*.mus)or (*.pdf) Adobe Acrobat reader to print homework.


Some great internet resources for music theory:

music department of Southern Methodist University.