OMT provides not only the material for a complete traditional core undergraduate music theory sequence (fundamentals, diatonic harmony, chromatic harmony, form, 20th-century techniques), but also several other units for instructors who have diversified their curriculum, such as jazz, popular music, counterpoint, and orchestration.”This text features accessibility-focused design elements such as screen reader-friendly terminology for major and …
Category: MUS 110
“The main purpose of the course… is to explore basic music theory so thoroughly that the interested student will then be able to easily pick up whatever further theory is wanted. Music history and the physics of sound are included to the extent that they shed light on music theory.“ The text focuses on core …
Understanding Basic Music Theory (Schmidt-Jones, 2013) (CC BY)Read More »
This comprehensive four-semester interactive online textbook emphasizes phrase-based harmonic analysis rather than traditional four-part voice-leading, focusing on motivic development, phrase structure, and melodic construction techniques including inversion, augmentation, diminution, and ornamentation. “This text differs from other music theory textbooks by focusing less on four–part (SATB) voiceleading [sic] and more on relating harmony to the phrase.“ …
This text employs British note-naming conventions which may render it largely unusable as a general text. However, it contains many examples and linked videos which may be very useful as supplementary material.
This comprehensive five-volume series covers fundamental Western music theory concepts through separate modules: Pitch and Major Scales and Keys; Rhythm and Meter; Minor Scales and Keys; Intervals; Triads, Chords, Introduction to Roman Numerals. Each volume includes exercises however, some embedded links seemed to be broken. Roman numerals are introduced in final chapter of the last …
Music Fundamentals (Ewell, Schmidt-Jones, 2013) (CC BY)Read More »
This OER provides a more comprehensive symbiosis of musicianship and music theory learning than can be found in existing textbooks, including engaging and progressive video demonstrations and interactive listening and vocal exercises that integrate musical knowledge with foundational musical skills. This text provides thorough coverage of foundational topics designed for diverse student populations. However, it …
This text provides readers with a comprehensive study of the theory and analysis of tonal Western art music. Author Andre Mount begins by building a strong foundation in the understanding of rhythm, meter, and pitch as well as the notational conventions associated with each. From there, he guides the reader through an exploration of polyphony—the …
This method encourages student composers to write short model pieces through an exploration of a variety of styles, genres, and forms. Driven by newly-created examples and accompanied by audio samples, it is intended to develop the student’s inherent expressive capabilities through the acquisition of basic compositional technique. As many chapters assume pre-existing theoretical knowledge, this …
Music Composition and Theory (Rubin, 2024) (CC BY)Read More »