Description
This book is the second in a series of three theory books revised in 2023 for the undergraduate college music student. The first book in the series, titled Music Fundamentals, focuses on the introduction of basic music skills. Starting with an introduction to notes of the grand staff, the book goes on to explain key signatures, building major and minor scales, accurately counting rhythm in both simple and compound time, and finally writing and identifying intervals and triads.
The second book of the series, Practical Music Theory – Part 1, (this book) is meant to cover two semesters of theory concepts for the first-year music major. After a brief review of the concepts from Music Fundamentals, this book discusses building 4-part chords, the rules of voice leading, an introduction to figured bass, cadence figures, procedures for harmonic analysis, first species counterpoint, embellishments, and writing simple 4-part harmonic progressions.
The third book, titled Practical Music Theory – Part 2, is due for publication in August 2023. It is for the college sophomore music major and focuses harmonic analysis, modulation, Bach two-part invention and Fugues, application of Secondary Dominants, Borrowed Chords, Neapolitan 6th chords, Augmented 6th chords, modes, transposition, and a discussion of longer musical forms like Variation, Rondo, and Sonata-Allegro. 20th Century compositional techniques, as well as Jazz and contemporary music styles will also be a focus.
