Music Theory Course

Maximize your performance, writing, arranging, improvisation, and music comprehension skills by developing your foundational knowledge in the areas of music theory, arranging, harmony, and ear training. Through interactive activities, hands-on lessons, and transcription exercises, you'll acquire a firm understanding of the inner workings of these principal concepts and become well versed in applying this knowledge to your own music.

You’ll gain a professional command of the mechanics of contemporary music, and learn to write effective jazz, pop, and rock-influenced pentatonic and modal melodies as well as master anticipations and articulations that will give your music the necessary sound and "character" to fit these styles. You’ll develop your knowledge of scales, intervals, chords, and arranging techniques, learn how to hear things in music that you never have before, and transfer these techniques and skills into your own projects and performances.

The Master Theory, Harmony, and Ear Training certificate also offers three elective courses in areas including production, songwriting, and arranging that will allow you to apply your theory, harmony, and ear training background to a number of different music making disciplines.

Pitch. Rhythm. Scales. Intervals. Chords. Harmony. If you're serious about music, these are fundamental concepts you need to understand and master. Music Theory will set you on your way based of musical knowledge. And he'll do the same for you, supported by class discussions, interactive tools, and personalized feedback that will help you put these theories into practice every day. Join our community of beginning learners for engaging, hands-on activities that will help you read, write, and truly hear the elements of music like never before. Enroll today!

By the end of this course, you will:

• Read and write musical notation

• Play notes on a piano keyboard

• Use scales, intervals, and chords

• Write a melody

Music Theory Content

Lesson 1: Rhythm Part I

• Pulse

• Meter

• Notes

• Rhythmic Notation Activities

Lesson 2: Rhythm Part II

• Eighth Notes

• Beaming, Dots, and Ties

• Rhythmic Notation Tips

• Rhythmic Dictation Activity

• Rhythmic Notation Activity

Lesson 3: Pitch Notation

• ABCs of Pitch Notation

• Treble Clef Notes

• Bass Clef Notes

• Grand Staff

• Octaves

• Accidentals: Sharps, Flats, and Naturals

• Enharmonics

Lesson 4: Major Scales

• Half Steps and Whole Steps

• Chromatic Scales

• Whole Tone Scales

• Major Scales

• Other Major Scales

• Key Signatures

• Scales and Key Signatures

Lesson 5: Minor Scales

• The Minor Scale Sound

• The Relative Major/Minor Relationship

• Parallel Minor

• Harmonic Minor

• Melodic Minor

• The Descending Melodic Minor Scale

• The Real Melodic Minor Scale

• Minor Scale Key Signatures

Lesson 6: Intervals

• Interval Number Names

• Interval Sound

• Unison

• Perfect and Major Intervals

• Major vs. Minor Intervals

• Perfect/Major vs Diminished

• Perfect/Major vs Augmented

• Compound Intervals

Lesson 7: Chords I: Triads

• Major Triads

• Minor Triads

• Diminished and Augmented Triads

• Chord Symbols

Lesson 8: Triad Inversions

• Triad Inversions

• Bass/Chord Theory

• Voice Leading

• Parallel and Contrary Motion

Lesson 9: Chords II: Basic Seventh Chords

• The Major Seventh Chord

• The Dominant Seventh Chord

• The Minor Seventh Chord

• The Minor 7

• The Diminished Seventh Chord

• Chord Symbols and Review

Lesson 10: Inversions and Voice: Leading of Seventh Chords

• Inversions of Basic Seventh Chords

• Positions of Basic Seventh Chords

• Voice Leading Seventh Chords

• Voice Leading: Two Ways

Lesson 11: Using the Lead Sheet

• Harmonizing the Melody

• Creating Harmonic Accompaniments

• Voice Doublings

• Increasing Activity in the Bass

Lesson 12: Melody Writing

• Making Melodic Connections

• Repeating Phrases

• Sequences

  nderstand the fundamental knowledge essential to the beginning studies of harmony.

By the end of this course, you will:

• Understand rhythmic anticipation and articulations

• Understand diatonic triads and seventh chords in major and harmonic minor

• Understand the II V I chord progression

• Understand the melodic and harmonic use of tensions

• Understand the blues form and st

Lesson 1: The Imaginary Bar Line

• The Imaginary Bar Line

• Note Values Smaller than the Half Note

• Rest Values and the Imaginary Bar Line

Lesson 2: Diatonic Triads and Seventh Chords in Major

• The Construction of Diatonic Triads

• Diatonic Seventh Chords

Lesson 3: The Harmonic Function of Diatonic Chords

• The Terms Tonic, Subdominant, and Dominant

• Harmonic Cadences

• The IImin7 V7 IMaj7 Progression

Lesson 4: Additional Chord Types

• Two Additional Dominant 7 Chords

• Two Additional Major Chords

• Two Additional Minor Chords

Lesson 5: Harmonic Function and Voice Leading of Additional Chord Types

• The Major and Minor 6th Chords

• The Minor and Augmented Major 7th Chords

• The Augmented 7th and Dominant 7(sus4)

Lesson 6: Diatonic Chords in Harmonic Minor

• Diatonic Chords in Harmonic Minor

• Diatonic Function in Harmonic Minor

• The II V7 I Progression in Minor

Lesson 7: The Upper Structures of Harmony/Tensions

• The Theory of Tensions

• Altered Tensions

• The Melodic Use of Tensions

Lesson 8: The Harmonic Use of Tensions

• Substituting the 9th for the Root

• Substituting the 13th for the 5th

• Using Altered Tensions

• Using the 11th

Lesson 9: The Rhythmic Anticipation and Articulations

• The Rhythmic Anticipation

• Short Durational Value Anticipations

• Articulation Markings

Lesson 10: Simple Binary Song Form

• Examples of Simple Binary Form

• Other Types of Variation and Contrast

Lesson 11: The Blues Form and Style

• The Blues Form

• The Blues Style and Its Effect on Harmony

• The Blues Style and Its Effect on Melody

Lesson 12: A Closer Look at the Dominant Seventh Chord

• Voice Leading Dominant Seventh Chords with Tensions

• Stripping the Dominant Seventh

• Chord down to the Basics

• Adding a Third Voice to the Dominant Seventh Chord

no barriers between you and the music you want to create.

By the end of this course, you will:

• Read and write rhythms that include triplets and swing eighth notes

• Write and analyze diatonic chord progressions in minor

• Read and write rhythms that include sixteenth notes in a double time feel

• Construct modal scales and identify by sound

• Construct pentatonic scales and identify by sound

• Write a pentatonic melody over a basic blues progression

• Understand and use slash chords and bass pedal points

Lesson 1: Triplets and Swing vs. Straight Eighths

• Eighth and Quarter Note Triplets - Theory / Notation

• Eighth Note Triplets as Basis for Swing Eighths

• Swing Eighths vs. Straight Eighths - Musical Application

Lesson 2: Open Position Chords/Drop 2 Voicings

• The II V I Progression in Two Positions of Drop 2

• Extended Progressions Using Alternating Positions

• Variations on the V7 Chord

Lesson 3: I VI II V I Progression; Root Motion/Bass Lines

• The I VI II V I Chord Pattern

• Voice Leading the I VI II V I Chord Pattern

• Root Motion and the Bass Line

Lesson 4: Modal Scales

• Lydian and Mixolydian - Comparison to Major

• Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian - Comparison to Natural Minor

• Writing Modal Melodies

Lesson 5: Chord Scales in Major Keys

• Chord Scales as Chord Tones Plus Passing Tones from Key

• Theory of Avoid Notes

• Writing/Analyzing Melodies Using Chord Scales

Lesson 6: Approach Note Theory

• Theory of Diatonic and Chromatic Approach Notes

• Writing/Analyzing Melodies Using Approach Notes

• Ear Training

Lesson 7: Diatonic Chords in Natural/Melodic Minors

• Construction of Diatonic Chords in Melodic Minor

• Construction of Diatonic Chords in Natural Minor

• Recognition/Analysis/Ear Training

Lesson 8: II V I and I VI II V I in Minor - Mixing and Matching Scale Types

• Theory of Minor Scale Type on Each Chord

• Application of Theory in Variety of Keys

• Recognition/Analysis/Ear Training

Lesson 9: Sixteenth Notes

• The Sixteenth Note

• Sixteenth-Note Anticipations

• Double-Time Feel

Lesson 10: Pentatonic Scales

• Constructing Pentatonic Scales

• Fitting Pentatonic Scales over Chords

• Writing Pentatonic Scale Melodies

Lesson 11: Slash Chords

• The Dominant (sus4) as Slash Chord

• Other Chord Types Written as Slash Chords

• Recognition/Analysis/Ear Training

Lesson 12: Bass Pedals

• The Tonic Pedal - Common Applications

• The Dominant Pedal - Common Applications

• Recognition/Analysis/Ear Training

Dolce Music Institute

Dolce Music Institute is a premier western music school in Hyderabad, India. Founded by a skilled musician Alexander in 1999,it caters over 400 students every year and is regarded as one of the best music institutes in Hyderabad with a highly experienced and qualified faculty.The emphasis is not just on individual performance but also on ensemble playing, aural development and musical appreciation. Courses for Western classical instrumental training, Piano, Keyboard, Acoustic/Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Violin, Music Theory, Songwriting and specialized courses like Flamenco,Jazz and Blues Guitar outlines are catered. Classes are generally held on a one to one basis. The students can also give Certification exams for Classical music from The Trinity college of London, The London college of Music and The Associate Board of Royal School of Music.

As each day dawns, new challenges await. In this changing scenario, it is quite imperative for us to train our youth to stand aloft in this age of cut-throat competition. Within a short period,the institute has been successful in spreading its wings. This would not have been possible without the incredible support of students, staff members & other generous members of the society. Apart from the regular classes, several workshops by visiting artists and other musicians are also regularly conducted which provide musical interaction for the students. Periodic pupil’s concerts and other events help to develop the performance skills of the students.

The school has put a special focus on its website by providing many add on services through it. Students and other visitors can now interact with each other and share information on the website. People can request for chords or tabs of particular songs which are posted in due time. Students and visitors can also sell and buy music instruments (brand new and second hand) on the website. The website also gives latest happening events in and around Hyderabad. Also the school regularly posts new informational articles on music (general and technical) to help young musicians. The website also helps the budding musicians by providing them a platform to promote their music by uploading songs on the website.

Our Mission

• To provide a platform for musically inclined people to get formal but personalized training in western music.

• To constantly innovate in our methods of teaching.

• To become the one stop solution for any service related to music in the country.

• To nurture talents, give them professional skills and develop their creative potential for successful careers in music.

• To promote values and well being through music.