| Product: |
Eric Taylor: Music Theory In Practice - Grade 1 |
| Date: |
26/07/08 (125 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Easy to understand, good exercises.
Disadvantages: Can be a bit dull.
Music theory in Practice:
Grade 1.
~~~Background~~~
This book meets the requirements of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Grade 1 theory exam.
Now I am not gonna pretend otherwise, I find music theory dull, boring, and very difficult to understand, I just like to read the music and play. That being said, as the understanding of the theory becomes clearer, it does not always seem quite so dull (who am I kidding?).
To a certain extent you need not know any theory to begin playing, some musicians have never studied theory.
However, to get past a certain point you really must have some theoretical knowledge. I believe this as I know I am trying to do more, yet do not always know how. The ABRSM certainly believe this and as a result, one cannot progress past Grade 5 (on your instruments of choice) without first taking Grade 1 theory. Once you have passed Grade one theory you can happily move on to Grade 6 (instrument).
~~~The book~~~
There are 32 pages arranged into sections. Each section has a clear explanation of what is covered in the section then several exercises to do, such as; filling in the missing note, name the key signature, and so on.
~~~So, what is music theory~~~
Music theory is the 'rules' of music; what things mean, how to do certain things, the order of how things run. It is basically an understanding of how it is all put together so that when the player wants or needs to do something s/he understands why they are doing it. Reading music is not too difficult, feeling it, understanding it, making sense of the written instructions and numerous markings is quite complex.
The sections in this book give you a pretty good idea of the basics, and they apply to all instruments:
1. Elementary time values:
This is a chapter on the common notes you will see in any music; Semi Breve (whole note or 4 'beats'), Minim, two 'beats', Crotchet one 'beat and Quaver, half a 'beat'.
2. Bar lines and time signatures:
This is the start of understanding what makes a sheet of music look like it does and what timings such as 4:4 or 3:4 actually mean, essentially the foundations.
3. Notes on a stave:
The stave is the sheet music 'lines', notes go on or between the lines that you see there are five lines and dependent on whether one is working with Bass or Treble Clef (it does explain this) the notes go on or between lines, but conveniently for us: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. These are the 7 basic notes. Then of course they can be octaves higher or lower, or have sharp or flat signatures.
4. The Treble Clef:
The top half of the register, or every note above middle C (to the right) on a piano.
5. The Bass Clef:
The bottom half of the register or every note below (to the left on a piano).
6. More on Time Values.
7. Rests:
Music consists of playing notes and 'gaps' or rests between the notes, good exercises here.
8. Ties:
How notes (of the same sound) join together.
9. Dots:
How a half again of a note is represented by adding a dot.
10. Accidentals:
Notes that are outside of the key signature, or that follow a disruption to the key signature.
11. Semitones and tones:
This relates to the way the keys of a piano are set out and what notes or keys make up a tone and semi tone (important when learning key signatures).
12. The scales and key signatures of C, G, D and F major:
These are the most common key signatures that music is written in. We learn that each major key apart from C Major has a sharp or number of sharps, then we look at the first key signature with a 'flat'. This is really important so if someone was asked to play a piece in a certain key signature, say G Sharp, they would know that every F was played as F Sharp or F#.
13. Cancelling an accidental:
See 10.
14. Degrees of the scale and intervals:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G all represent a note, there are 7, which mean we go up (or down) a scale in 7ths, the next one, and 8th, would be the same key as we started on, but an octave higher (or lower), we also learn here about the intervals or 'gaps' between played notes.
15. The tonic triad:
Won't bore you too much here, it is basically another word for a chord, the first note on a scale starting with the key signature note, then third, then fifth. Tonic triad for C major for instance is C (first) E (third) and G (fifth).
16. Composing an answering rhythm.
How you follow a beat basically.
17. Performance directions.
This is a page and a half of instructions that one might see such as 'allegro' which means fast, though not if you ever owned an Austin Allegro.
18. General exercises.
Basically a recap page.
~~~~~Final Thoughts~~~~~
Using this book got me through the Grade 1 theory with my tutor (I won't take formal exams) and enabled her to assess me on my progress, thus now working with past Grade 5 pieces.
Using this book also helped me to start to understand some of the complexities that I need to progress with my favoured style of playing which is too improvise around a melody. What I mean by this is if I were playing a tune in say G Major, I would know that when I improvise, any note on the scale, as long as I use F# instead of F natural, will play okay and 'fit' the Key signature.
The exercises are good, but quite tough sometimes, but actually writing in the book helps the memory process, as the act of writing down has been shown to help things 'stick' in the brain.
How I used this was to basically complete a few exercises each week then take them to my music teacher for marking.
You will not be able to go past Grade 5 on your instrument without passing Grade 1 theory, so it is a worthwhile investment at about £3-5.
Summary: Grade 1 Music theory.
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jupiter28 - 28/07/08 I love the sound of treble clef. you're right, reading music is easy, it's playing it that takes time |
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