Fundamentals of Music Theory

Course image
man teaching music theory online with guitar next to him
Medium description

This course, revised in 2022, will introduce you to the theory of music, providing you with the skills needed to read and write Western music notation, as well as to understand, analyse, and listen informedly.

You will cover:

  • pitches and scales
  • intervals and clefs
  • rhythm and form
  • metre phrases and cadences
  • basic functional harmony.

Covering the fundamentals of Western music theory, this is an in-depth but rewarding course for musicians of all levels.

The learning materials from this course are also available as a free and open e-book. The resources in this e-book include video lectures and their transcripts, as well as supporting text explanations, examples and illustrations.

Fundamentals of Music Theory (E-Book)

External platform sentence

This course is hosted on an external learning platform.

Learner reviews
A very challenging course, particularly in the last couple of weeks, but very rewarding. The instructors have produced an excellent set of video lessons, plus supporting materials.
Summary
  • Type of course
    Short course: Study a subject through videos, articles, discussions or quizzes.
  • Cost and certification
    Free, with option to upgrade for a certificate
  • Duration
    6 weeks
  • Weekly effort
    2-3 hours
  • Difficulty level
    Introductory: No previous knowledge required
  • Learning platform
    Coursera
    Platform image
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