Acknowledgements

This textbook is based on what I have learned as a professor, having taught music theory for over 20 years at six universities (University of California at Santa Barbara, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory at The National University of Singapore, Northeastern University, University of Denver, University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, and Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi). I am thankful to all my students, past and present.

I am also grateful to the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Bell Library, to the iCreate Lab for allowing me to create the video lectures in their wonderful space, to Lisa Louis, who supported me every step of the way, and to Alexa Hight, Joseph Doan, and Karole Schroeder.

I am grateful to Steve Laitz, who guided me for years through the process of writing a textbook. I also want to thank Jonathon Garcia for his work on musical notation, Andrew Mount for his help with coding, Sophie Sweet and Allison Maruschak for their assistance with video editing, James Morgan for composing the funky music for the introduction of the video lectures, Courtney Anderson for the beautiful photograph used for the front cover, and Lucero León for designing the brilliant logo and animation for the introduction of the video lectures.

Writing a book is not possible without the support of friends and family. I would like to thank Sean Christiansen, Courtney Anderson, John Weber, and Beatriz Ruggero for being my pillars. I also thank Devin Tau for his generosity in supporting this project. Finally, I am forever grateful for the love of my family—Mom, Dad, John, Kim, Cameron, and Kaden—for whom I dedicate this book.