Basic Music Theory

The following pages provide brief instruction and exercises to aid prospective students in learning basic music theory. Being able to read music is a prerequisite for advancement in the music curriculum at the college level. If you do not have any formal training in music it is recommended that you get the help of your band director, choir director, or other music educator in learning the basics of reading music and understanding music theory.

1. Terms 2. Pitch Notation             Pitch Identification (Elementary)             Pitch Identification 3. Sharps and Flats 4. Major Scales             Notating Major Scales             Pitch ID (Aural-Major-Up)             Pitch ID (Aural-Major-Down) 5. Minor Scales             Notating Minor Scales             Pitch ID (Aural-Minor-Up)             Pitch ID (Aural-Minor-Dn)             Aural Scale Identification 6. Key Signatures             Elementary Key Signature ID             Key Signature Identification

7. Note Durations             Note Duration Equivalence 8. Dotted Notes             Note Duration Equivalence (Dots) 9. Ties 10. Time Signatures 11. Rest Durations 12. Rhythm Examples             Rhythm Identification 3/4 Time             Rhythm Identification 4/4 Time             Rhythm Identification 6/8 Time             Rhythm Identification 9/8 Time 13. Melody Examples 1             Melody Identification (Diatonic)             Melody Identification 1             Melody Identification 2 14. Melody Examples 2

The following pages give an introduction to some of the concepts which will be covered in the freshman level music theory course at Alcorn State University.