Music Theory Fundamentals   

Build a strong foundation in the language and structure of music through the study of notation, scales, chords, harmony, and musical analysis. This introductory course develops the written and aural skills needed to understand how music is organized and created. Students will explore the building blocks of music while learning how melody, rhythm, and harmony work together to shape musical expression. 

Through written exercises, listening activities, and practical application, participants will develop essential music theory skills that support performance, composition, songwriting, and continued musical study. 

This course is for: 

• Beginning music students seeking a foundation in music theory  

• Musicians interested in strengthening their understanding of musical structure  

• Singers and instrumentalists looking to improve reading and performance skills  

• Songwriters and composers developing their creative process  

• Anyone interested in understanding how music is created and analyzed  

What You'll Learn: 

• Fundamentals of music notation, including clefs, pitch, rhythm, meter, and tempo  

• Major and minor scales, key signatures, and basic scale structures  

• Diatonic and non-diatonic scales, including pentatonic, blues, and whole-tone scales  

• Identification and construction of melodic intervals  

• Building and analyzing chords, including major, minor, augmented, diminished, and dominant seventh chords  

• Diatonic harmony and basic chord progressions in major and minor keys  

• Reading and interpreting chord symbols and lead sheet notation  

• Beginning principles of harmonization and melody support  

• Basic melodic and rhythmic dictation skills  

• Sight-singing techniques using solfege and musical patterns