Description

Book Synopsis

Music Theory Essentials offers an antidote to music theory textbooks that are overly long and dense. Focusing on the essentials, this text provides a clear-cut guide to the key concepts of music theory. Beginning with no assumptions about music theory knowledge, the book covers the core elements of music fundamentals, diatonic and chromatic harmony, post-tonal theory, and popular music in a single concise volume. Emphasizing critical thinking skills, this book guides students through conceptualizing musical concepts and mastering analytic techniques.

Each chapter concludes with a selection of applications designed to enhance engagement:

  • Exercises allow students to apply and practice the skills and techniques addressed in the chapter.
  • Brain Teasers challenge students to expand their musical understanding by thinking outside the box.
  • Exploring Music offers strategies for students to apply le

    Table of Contents

    Table of Contents

    Preface

    Acknowledgements

    Part I: Fundamentals

    Chapter 1: Pitch and Notation

    Chapter 2: Intervals

    Chapter 3: Scales and Melody

    Chapter 4: Keys

    Chapter 5: Chords

    Chapter 6: Musical Time

    Chapter 7: Introduction to Voice Leading and Counterpoint

    Part II: Diatonic Harmony

    Chapter 8: Four-Part Voice Leading

    Chapter 9: Nonchord Tones

    Chapter 10: Tonal Function, Syntax, and Prolongation

    Chapter 11: Triad Inversions

    Chapter 12: Seventh Chords

    Chapter 13: Motive, Phrase, Cadence, and Period Structure

    Chapter 14: Harmonic Sequences

    Part III: Chromatic Harmony

    Chapter 15: Secondary Dominants and Tonicization

    Chapter 16: Modulation I: Phrase Modulation and Diatonic Pivot Chords

    Chapter 17: Modal Mixture

    Chapter 18: The Neapolitan and Augmented Sixth Chords

    Chapter 19: Modulation II: Chromatic Pivot Chords, Enharmonic Reinterpretation, and Common-Tone Modulation

    Chapter 20: Dominant Ninth Chords, Altered Dominants, and Embellishing Chords

    Part IV: Post-Tonal and Popular Materials

    Chapter 21: The Dissolution of the Tonal System

    Chapter 22: New Pitch Collections

    Chapter 23: Centricity and Harmony

    Chapter 24: Set Theory

    Chapter 25: Serialism

    Chapter 26: Introduction to Jazz and Pop Harmony

    Appendix: List of Set Classes

    Credits

    Index of Musical Examples

    Index of Terms and Concepts

Music Theory Essentials

    Product form

    £58.99

    Includes FREE delivery

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Fri 26 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback by Jason W. Solomon

    15 in stock


      View other formats and editions of Music Theory Essentials by Jason W. Solomon

      Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      Publication Date: 4/8/2019 12:00:00 AM
      ISBN13: 9781138052536, 978-1138052536
      ISBN10: 1138052531

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Music Theory Essentials offers an antidote to music theory textbooks that are overly long and dense. Focusing on the essentials, this text provides a clear-cut guide to the key concepts of music theory. Beginning with no assumptions about music theory knowledge, the book covers the core elements of music fundamentals, diatonic and chromatic harmony, post-tonal theory, and popular music in a single concise volume. Emphasizing critical thinking skills, this book guides students through conceptualizing musical concepts and mastering analytic techniques.

      Each chapter concludes with a selection of applications designed to enhance engagement:

      • Exercises allow students to apply and practice the skills and techniques addressed in the chapter.
      • Brain Teasers challenge students to expand their musical understanding by thinking outside the box.
      • Exploring Music offers strategies for students to apply le

        Table of Contents

        Table of Contents

        Preface

        Acknowledgements

        Part I: Fundamentals

        Chapter 1: Pitch and Notation

        Chapter 2: Intervals

        Chapter 3: Scales and Melody

        Chapter 4: Keys

        Chapter 5: Chords

        Chapter 6: Musical Time

        Chapter 7: Introduction to Voice Leading and Counterpoint

        Part II: Diatonic Harmony

        Chapter 8: Four-Part Voice Leading

        Chapter 9: Nonchord Tones

        Chapter 10: Tonal Function, Syntax, and Prolongation

        Chapter 11: Triad Inversions

        Chapter 12: Seventh Chords

        Chapter 13: Motive, Phrase, Cadence, and Period Structure

        Chapter 14: Harmonic Sequences

        Part III: Chromatic Harmony

        Chapter 15: Secondary Dominants and Tonicization

        Chapter 16: Modulation I: Phrase Modulation and Diatonic Pivot Chords

        Chapter 17: Modal Mixture

        Chapter 18: The Neapolitan and Augmented Sixth Chords

        Chapter 19: Modulation II: Chromatic Pivot Chords, Enharmonic Reinterpretation, and Common-Tone Modulation

        Chapter 20: Dominant Ninth Chords, Altered Dominants, and Embellishing Chords

        Part IV: Post-Tonal and Popular Materials

        Chapter 21: The Dissolution of the Tonal System

        Chapter 22: New Pitch Collections

        Chapter 23: Centricity and Harmony

        Chapter 24: Set Theory

        Chapter 25: Serialism

        Chapter 26: Introduction to Jazz and Pop Harmony

        Appendix: List of Set Classes

        Credits

        Index of Musical Examples

        Index of Terms and Concepts

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