Product Description

The most complete music theory course ever! This all-in-one series includes concise lessons with short exercises, ear training activities and reviews. Available in three separate volumes or as a complete set, Essentials of Music Theory also includes Ear Training CDs (performed by acoustic instruments), a Teacher's Answer Key Book, reproducible Teacher's Activity Kits, Bingo Games, Flash Cards and Computer Software.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30881 in Books
• Brand: Alfred
• Published on: 1999-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Spiral-bound
• 120 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780882848976
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

Alfred's Essentials of Musical Theory
This is a very good book for those who have little knowledge of musical theory, and those who have none. It contains three books which can also be bought seperatly. This book was used as a textbook for me for my voice lessons. It proved to help me a great deal since I am going to be studying music in college this fall. It's best to buy the CDs so you can do the ear trianing as well. You have no way of checking your answers unless you also purchase the teacher's answer key. I gave it a three just because you have to buy the CDs and teacher's answer key to get the most out of the book.

Learning Basic Theory
This is a terrific book for any age. I teach theory to students who are all under the age of 12, the youngest is 6, and it makes sense to all of them, but I would also reccomend it to adults who know nothing about Theory, or a small amount, because it covers everything clearly and the excercises are great for anyone.

Easy to understand; Good solid exercises
I just used this book to teach an introductory music theory class for adults (primarily community members with a recreational interest in playing/knowing more about music). I must say I was very pleased with this book in general. It offers straghtforward theory lessons with appropriate drills for getting a grip on the content. This is not an in-depth tome by any means, but it worked out well for my purposes.

I have the following minor gripes:
-This is really three books spiral bound together as one. A combined table of contents would have been most welcome.
-The CDs with the listening examples are not included and it seems the only way to acquire them is to buy the answer key book at almost $40. Phooey. How about offering the CDs with the student book for an extra $10?
-I don't care for the way this book teaches the compound meters 3/8 & 6/8. The method used is very practical and straghtforward, however, so it works out okay. It just never mentions 'compound' or 'simple' in presenting meters.
-9/8 & 12/8 are not presented. Ever.
-No asymmetric meters are presented. Ever.

With all of that out of the way, I'm happy to recommend this book for your middle school level band kids or even high school students looking to pick up some written theory, and of course as I used it for your bare-bones beginning adults with an interest in the subject.

A motivated student with the listening CDs could run through the course on his or her own, but I think you really still need a teacher for best results. Particularly as this book lacks the depth of background and explanations that an engadged student will inevitably be curious about.