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.
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.
Intermediate textbook involvement:
Each chapter is divided into 5 to 12 sections, with nearly every section containing between one and six practice exercises. Students may complete one question from each section and verify their answers using the provided online link. Should a student be unsure of an answer or respond incorrectly, they can then review the specific section and complete the remaining exercises. For example, Chapter 3, Section 4 addresses whole rests. Practice 3.4 requires students to add rests to complete measures. If a student incorrectly answers the initial question, 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.
Maximum textbook involvement:
Students can read the assigned sections and complete every practice exercise. They can then watch the corresponding videos, which provide a detailed review of each answer. What makes Steps to Music Theory unique is the numerous practice exercises with accompanying lectures. For instance, when studying major key signatures, students will find three sections, twenty pages, and thirteen practice exercises dedicated to helping a student learn and master major key signatures.
