Open Educational Resources and Music

This text collects essays by composers, performers, academics, journalists, and arts administrators. Authors include Alex Ross, Ara Guzelimian and Unsuk Chin. Part I addresses issues in nonprofit arts organizations. Part II presents case studies. Because of the high profile of many of its authors, essays from this collection are suitable for supplementary reading.

This short course focuses exclusively on Schubert’s settings of Goethe’s poems for solo voice and piano.  The original German texts with parallel English translations, scores for four songs, and recordings of all discussed works are provided in the unit. Its narrow focus makes it unsuitable as a standalone text. However, it could be used as supplementary material for a module on German Lieder or art song more broadly. While scores are supplied, literacy in music notation is not required.

This text examines the connections between the Bible and music across three parts: a historical survey; an analysis of the interpretation of texts through musical setting; a section on composers from the Middle Ages to the present day. Musical examples are embedded throughout. Its utility for a general music appreciation course is limited by its theological focus, though Parts I (History) and III (People and Genres) offer possibly strong supplementary reading material.

Text is organized thematically according to the social function: storytelling, political expression, spirituality, dance, domestic entertainment, and more. The chapters can be taught in any order. A complete set of PowerPoint slides and learning objectives is included. Some chapters arrive at interpretive conclusions that are not the only defensible readings, which may support critical discussion activities. Section covering the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Text explores music as a mobile art shaped by human movement and technological transmission, employing a case-study methodology to develop broader conceptual themes including “colonialism, migration, diaspora, copyright, and hybridity.” Musical examples span Western and non-Western traditions across several genres. Organized in three thematic parts: Migration, Mediation, and Mashup. Part 1 explores three different groups and their musical traditions. Part 2 looks at recording and propaganda. Part 3 Combines elements of the previous sections.

A music appreciation textbook that features musical examples and photographs that represent the demographics of our students today. Special attention has been paid in choosing to represent women and minorities.” The online version features embedded interactive timelines and numerous video examples. Chapter introductions are well-written. Instructors should note that the units on Medieval and Renaissance music are comparatively brief, several quotes throughout the text lack attribution, and Chapter 2 mistakenly conflates Chinese and Japanese music in a way that requires clarification.

The text covers the fundamentals of music and the physics of sound, a survey of music from the Middle Ages to the present, and a concluding chapter on popular music in the United States. Each chapter includes learning objectives, key terms, an end-of-chapter overview, and listening guides; a glossary is included. The text is available only as a PDF or hard copy. Translation of titles into English is inconsistent. Not all links meet accessibility best practices. Possible factual inaccuracies make this unsuitable as a standalone replacement text, though individual sections may serve effectively as supplementary readings.

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 minor chord qualities, and integration with MuseScore for accessible score reading. The text also includes an ear training appendix covering sight singing and rhythm using moveable do. OMT is available in multiple format options.

“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 fundamentals with limited exercises: “…The main premise of this course is that a better understanding of where the basics come from will lead to better and faster comprehension of more complex ideas.” The text includes brief introductions making it accessible for students beginning their study of fundamental theoretical elements.

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.“ The text progresses from fundamental concepts through twentieth-century techniques  with a deep exploration of set theory. “Whenever possible, examples from popular music and music from film and musical theater are included to illustrate melodic and harmonic concepts, usually within the context of the phrase.” Instructors should note that the twentieth-century section may be not cover their complete curricula, as concepts such as symmetrical pitch sets and combinatorial rows are not covered.

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 volume. Volume 3 includes a chapter on ear training.

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 does not cover secondary function or chromatic harmony. Introductions to theory concepts are followed by musicianship exercises linked in the online text. Includes chapters on melodic form and counterpoint, and a chapter dedicated to part writing.

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 simultaneous sounding of multiple independent melodies—and an increasingly rich array of different sonorities that grow out of this practice. The book culminates with a discussion of musical form, engaging with artistic works in their entirety by considering the interaction of harmonic and thematic elements, but also such other musical dimensions as rhythm, meter, texture, and expression. The text includes exercises with hints and provided answers. Four part voice leading is the foundational practice used to explore musical concepts.

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 text may best be used as a tool to introduce students to the creation of original work based models presented in the text. It includes very useful chapters on 20th Century and Modern Techniques (II) that are not as well covered in other texts. Also includes a chapter (III) on Techniques of Orchestration.

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 minor chord qualities, and integration with MuseScore for accessible score reading. The text also includes an ear training appendix covering sight singing and rhythm using moveable do. OMT is available in multiple format options.

“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 fundamentals with limited exercises: “…The main premise of this course is that a better understanding of where the basics come from will lead to better and faster comprehension of more complex ideas.” The text includes brief introductions making it accessible for students beginning their study of fundamental theoretical elements.

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.“ The text progresses from fundamental concepts through twentieth-century techniques  with a deep exploration of set theory. “Whenever possible, examples from popular music and music from film and musical theater are included to illustrate melodic and harmonic concepts, usually within the context of the phrase.” Instructors should note that the twentieth-century section may be not cover their complete curricula, as concepts such as symmetrical pitch sets and combinatorial rows are not covered.

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 volume. Volume 3 includes a chapter on ear training.

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 does not cover secondary function or chromatic harmony. Introductions to theory concepts are followed by musicianship exercises linked in the online text. Includes chapters on melodic form and counterpoint, and a chapter dedicated to part writing.

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 simultaneous sounding of multiple independent melodies—and an increasingly rich array of different sonorities that grow out of this practice. The book culminates with a discussion of musical form, engaging with artistic works in their entirety by considering the interaction of harmonic and thematic elements, but also such other musical dimensions as rhythm, meter, texture, and expression. The text includes exercises with hints and provided answers. Four part voice leading is the foundational practice used to explore musical concepts.

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 text may best be used as a tool to introduce students to the creation of original work based models presented in the text. It includes very useful chapters on 20th Century and Modern Techniques (II) that are not as well covered in other texts. Also includes a chapter (III) on Techniques of Orchestration.

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 does not cover secondary function or chromatic harmony. Introductions to theory concepts are followed by musicianship exercises linked in the online text. Includes chapters on melodic form and counterpoint, and a chapter dedicated to part writing.

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 minor chord qualities, and integration with MuseScore for accessible score reading. The text also includes an ear training appendix covering sight singing and rhythm using moveable do. OMT is available in multiple format options.

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.“ The text progresses from fundamental concepts through twentieth-century techniques  with a deep exploration of set theory. “Whenever possible, examples from popular music and music from film and musical theater are included to illustrate melodic and harmonic concepts, usually within the context of the phrase.” Instructors should note that the twentieth-century section may be not cover their complete curricula, as concepts such as symmetrical pitch sets and combinatorial rows are not covered.

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 simultaneous sounding of multiple independent melodies—and an increasingly rich array of different sonorities that grow out of this practice. The book culminates with a discussion of musical form, engaging with artistic works in their entirety by considering the interaction of harmonic and thematic elements, but also such other musical dimensions as rhythm, meter, texture, and expression. The text includes exercises with hints and provided answers. Four part voice leading is the foundational practice used to explore musical concepts.

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 text may best be used as a tool to introduce students to the creation of original work based models presented in the text. It includes very useful chapters on 20th Century and Modern Techniques (II) that are not as well covered in other texts. Also includes a chapter (III) on Techniques of Orchestration.

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 minor chord qualities, and integration with MuseScore for accessible score reading. The text also includes an ear training appendix covering sight singing and rhythm using moveable do. OMT is available in multiple format options.

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.“ The text progresses from fundamental concepts through twentieth-century techniques  with a deep exploration of set theory. “Whenever possible, examples from popular music and music from film and musical theater are included to illustrate melodic and harmonic concepts, usually within the context of the phrase.” Instructors should note that the twentieth-century section may be not cover their complete curricula, as concepts such as symmetrical pitch sets and combinatorial rows are not covered.

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 simultaneous sounding of multiple independent melodies—and an increasingly rich array of different sonorities that grow out of this practice. The book culminates with a discussion of musical form, engaging with artistic works in their entirety by considering the interaction of harmonic and thematic elements, but also such other musical dimensions as rhythm, meter, texture, and expression. The text includes exercises with hints and provided answers. Four part voice leading is the foundational practice used to explore musical concepts.

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 text may best be used as a tool to introduce students to the creation of original work based models presented in the text. It includes very useful chapters on 20th Century and Modern Techniques (II) that are not as well covered in other texts. Also includes a chapter (III) on Techniques of Orchestration.

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 minor chord qualities, and integration with MuseScore for accessible score reading. The text also includes an ear training appendix covering sight singing and rhythm using moveable do. OMT is available in multiple format options.

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.“ The text progresses from fundamental concepts through twentieth-century techniques  with a deep exploration of set theory. “Whenever possible, examples from popular music and music from film and musical theater are included to illustrate melodic and harmonic concepts, usually within the context of the phrase.” Instructors should note that the twentieth-century section may be not cover their complete curricula, as concepts such as symmetrical pitch sets and combinatorial rows are not covered.

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 text may best be used as a tool to introduce students to the creation of original work based models presented in the text. It includes very useful chapters on 20th Century and Modern Techniques (II) that are not as well covered in other texts. Also includes a chapter (III) on Techniques of Orchestration.