How Music Works – Volume 1: a Course in Music Theory

Do you want a simple guide to melodies, rhythms, chords, and how music is put together? Do you want to read music by sight, master an instrument faster, or write music of your own? How Music Works is a fun, richly illustrated course in music theory for children and curious readers of any age. No prior knowledge of music is required. In volume 1 (ages 7 +), playful illustrations and exercises guide you to: Read and perform rhythms and melodies Understand key signatures, clefs, time signatures, scales Perform fun, challenging music with others or by yourself Master your instrument faster Begin composing music of your own Enjoy music of all kinds Volume 2 (ages 11 +), sold separately, continues with more advanced topics of harmony and musical form. How Music Works moves at a careful pace developed and tested in actual theory classes for student comprehension. Each chapter ends with exercises that apply new information and skills, ensuring steady progress. Ensemble pieces YOU perform are included that apply new theory skills to real music at every step. Responding to reader feedback, How Music Works is now in its expanded 2nd Edition with enlarged musical text for ease of use. No reader is left behind! Soon you will read and play music by sight, understand rhythms, registers, tone color, chords, musical forms, and how they all work together in music of others and your own! The author draws upon four decades as a classical music teacher and performer. 435 musical examples tests end each chapter to ensure comprehension exercise answer key available free online now in enlarged and improved 2nd Edition! blank space and staves included for student writing (no need for separate composition book or staff papers) 21 ensemble pieces of progressing difficulty apply theory skills to real music (12 singing studies and 9 rhythm studies for individuals or ensembles) 49 delightful and engaging drawings by renowned artist Nancy Jackson 15 original pieces never before published Index-Glossary at the back of each volume explains unfamiliar terms Whether you play an instrument, sing, take music classes, or are just curious, you will enjoy learning how music works! “…very clever and fun at guiding readers through topics that are boring and confusing in other texts. Bravo!” Cynthia Price-Glynn, Professor of Harp – Boston Conservatory of Music