Music Theory Fundamentals: Exploring Classical & Commercial Music
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2024
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A quarter of the way into the 21st century, many college music programs are no longer modeled after the conservatories of the previous centuries. Instead, music majors can pursue specializations in commercial songwriting, audio production, music education, instrumental or vocal performance, or arts administration, to name just a few.
Many schools are now offering multiple tracks, splitting the music majors between commercial music interests and more classically oriented music interest. At large institutions, the two degrees may require entirely different core classes for which there are separate textbooks. In a smaller program, teaching faculty are at a premium and splitting a music theory course into 2 smaller courses is not a practical solution.
Classical and commercial music share the core elements of music theory. Furthermore, the students benefit from the rich learning environment created by the diverse musical backgrounds and skillsets present in their peers. They are able to partner on projects, learn to work with others in the music industry, share different practical applications, and experience a broader selection of musical styles.
Music Theory Fundamentals: Exploring Classical & Commercial Music bridges the gap for students who are not yet proficient in reading music, introducing the fundamentals of music theory such as pitches, scales, intervals, rhythm, meter, key, and chords on the piano keyboard, in Western music staff notation, and in MIDI notation (in Avid ProTools), demonstrating the connection between these core elements of music and both streams of modern music students.
1. What is Sound? What is music?
2. Visual Representations of Pitch – (MIDI, Staff, Piano)
3. Rhythm & Simple Meter
4. Major Scales & Keys
5. Compound Meter
6. Minor Scales
7. Intervals & Inversion
8. Triads & Sus Chords
9. Seventh Chords
10. Progressions & Loops
Lauren Hartburg Crosby is an Assistant Professor of Music (Music Theory) at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. She holds a Ph.D. in music theory from Florida State University, a M.M. in music theory from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a B.M. in choral and keyboard studies from Liberty University. Her research interests include music and television, transformational and neo-Riemannian theories, and music theory pedagogy. She has presented her dissertation research on geometric representations of voice-leading spaces and the music of Alfred Schnittke at the annual meeting of the Society for Music Theory and numerous regional music theory conferences. Her more recent work—forthcoming in the academic journals Émergences and ReS Futurae— focuses on music and sound design in the Disney+ Star Wars streaming television shows The Book of Boba Fett and Andor. Beyond her academic and pedagogic interests in music, Lauren enjoys participating in church and community choirs and playing the Celtic harp in folk music ensembles.