What you will learn

When I first started crafting this course, I really wanted to make sure it hit the right note for someone just like you, eager to dive deep into the world of music theory without getting bogged down by overly complex jargon.

You know, it's kind of like learning a new language - you've got to start with the basics before you can write poetry, right? So, I've meticulously organized this course to build on the fundamentals you might already know, guiding you step by step into more intricate concepts.

And I promise it's laid out in a way that's super digestible and engaging – think of it as setting you up with a map and compass to explore the exciting terrains of harmony, melody, and rhythm.

By the end, not only will you be able to read and compose music with a newfound ease and confidence, but you'll also get why certain songs stick in your head or tug at your heart, all because you'll understand the science behind the art!

FAQ

How do I use this course?

There are 75 separate "lectures" which contain assignments such as reading in the textbook, watching the video lesson, doing written exercises, practicing ear training, etc.

The course is self-paced so you can use it however you'd like, but is written to be used for a full school year (about 36 weeks long) for about 30 minutes to an hour a day. As you work on the course, it automatically keeps track of where you are. When finished with a lesson, click "Complete and Continue" to move on. You can always come back to past lessons, though.

How does a student earn high school credit with this course?

Complete the course in full with a good grade to earn a full high school credit.

Prerequisites:

Before you can study Advanced music theory, you need to know Basic music theory! This course is meant for high school students who have spent a significant amount of time in private music lessons, band, orchestra, and/or choir. The student should know the following before beginning the Advanced Music Theory course.

Learn or review:

• The notes of the lines and spaces on the staff
• What each note and rest is called
• Music symbols and what they're called
• Basic music terms and what they mean
• Key signatures
• Instruments of the orchestra
• The music time periods and major composers of each

**If you don't feel confident in your knowledge of the above, please do the Beginning Music Theory for Teens course first.

Getting Extra Help/Leaving Comments:

If you ever have any questions, you can leave a comment right there at the lesson. If you'd like to send me a video to review and it doesn't allow you to upload it as a comment, you can upload to Google Drive and then share the link with [email protected]. Also, send me an email so I can be looking out for it.

Grading the Course:

Your student is expected to do all work and achieve an "A" before continuing to the next lesson. Therefore, he or she will get an "A" in the course when it's completed.

What prep work should be done before beginning the course?

1. Order your textbook here. AP Music Theory: with 2 Practice Tests (Barron's Test Prep) Fifth Edition by Scoggin

2. Acquire a piano or keyboard. (An inexpensive keyboard with at least 3 octaves will work for this class. Check a local resale or pawn shop. Or, get one from here.

3. Acquire a church hymnal. (Check with friends, a resale shop like Goodwill, or order from a site such as AbeBooks or Half-Price Books.) There is also a printable hymnal included in the course with 10 hymns that you can print or use online as well.

4. Print out the printables and/or worksheets that will help you learn or review the concepts that you'll learn in the lessons.

5. Download the app Flashnote Derby and practice identifying quickly the notes of the treble and bass clefs, including the ledger lines above and below the staffs.

6. You'll need a college-level music theory textbook if you're planning on taking the AP Music Theory exam to get college-level credit. If you aren't going to take the exam, you don't need this resource. Here's a good choice: Tonal Harmony: With an Introduction to Twentieth-Century Music by Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne at AbeBooks. It doesn't matter which edition. You'll just use it as a reference.

What exactly will the student do for the course?

• Watch/listen to video lessons
• Read the textbook
• Take notes
• Practice the concepts on worksheets, flashcards, ear training exercises, and apps.
• Practice the concepts by playing on a piano keyboard and singing.
• Do the online ear training exercises
• Check your answers with the included answer sheets. Re-do any lessons where the student didn't get 100% correct.
• Tests included in the textbook (and grade them)
  

Can I try out a lesson for free?

Yes! Here are the free preview lessons:

• Pre-Lesson: Staff, Clefs, Note Names
• Lesson #1: Aspects of Sound

How many copies can I make?

Photocopies of lessons and notebooking pages may be made for only one household or classroom of students.

Can I use the course to teach at a school or co-op?

Purchase of the course is only for one classroom at a school or one family in a household. To obtain a license to use in multiple classes at school or a homeschool co-op, purchase it here or contact Gena Mayo at [email protected].

Another option is to purchase the School/Co-op Tier of the Music in Our Homeschool Plus membership.

Can more than one of my own teens use it at the same time?

The upside is that the course does automatically keep track of the quiz scores for a student. The downside is that it can only do it for one student at a time.

So, the first option is to have one student complete the course, and then I can reset everything for the next student.

Or, if you'd like them to take it at the same time:

1) You purchase the course with a second account so that each student has his or her own login/account, and the online quiz grades will keep track specifically for each student. (I'll give a coupon code to get the second course 50% off).

or

2) Both students each use the same login/account, but they will need to keep track of where they left off so they each know where to start the next time they log in. And, you'll need to contact me to reset the quizzes often, since they are set to only allow two tries for one student. The students will also need to keep track of their own quiz grades since resetting them will delete older scores.