How to Use This Book
After teaching at five different universities, I noticed that most students were dissatisfied with their music theory textbook. Many did not read the textbook, although they wanted some type of resource to refer to. Conversely, some students criticized the current textbook for lacking sufficient examples and exercises. In response to these concerns, I aimed to create a textbook that could function both as a concise reference guide and as a comprehensive, in-depth resource. Steps to Music Theory is designed to be versatile, accommodating the needs of diverse student populations.
FOR STUDENTS
Minimal textbook involvement:
Students may refer to the chapter summary at the end of each chapter. The summary lists the key points of each chapter and the sections where they can be found. If a student has questions about an item in the summary, they can refer to a specific section. For instance, if the summary states, “Parallel keys share the same tonic but differ by three accidentals [6.8],” and the student is unfamiliar with parallel keys, they can refer to Chapter 6, Section 8, where four pages are devoted to parallel keys in detail. Summary boxes within each section also provide quick reference, making it easy to skim the chapter for the main ideas.
Moderate textbook involvement:
Each chapter contains five to twelve sections, with nearly every section including one to six practice exercises. Students might start by answering just one question from each exercise, then check their answers using the provided online key. If they miss a question, they can revisit the section, review the concept, and try the remaining exercises. For instance, Chapter 3, Section 4 covers whole rests. In Practice 3.4, students add rests to complete measures. If they miss the first problem, they should then read Section 4, which explains whole rests through text, real musical examples, and illustrations of both correct and incorrect usage of whole rests. The students should then complete the rest of the exercises in Practice 3.4 and check their answers.
Maximum textbook involvement:
Students can read all assigned sections, complete every practice exercise, and watch the companion videos, which walk through each answer step-by-step. What makes Steps to Music Theory unique is the abundance of practice exercises paired with instructional videos. For instance, the section on major key signatures spans three sections, twenty pages, and thirteen practice exercises dedicated to helping a student learn and master major key signatures.
