College Music Theory I: Foundations of Notation and Harmony

Stepping into college-level music theory can feel like learning a completely new language. This text-based companion course breaks down complex academic concepts into clear, digestible explanations to help you succeed in your studies or personal musical journey. By working through these chapters, you will transition from basic note-reading to analyzing harmonic progressions, giving you the theoretical framework needed to compose, perform, and analyze music with confidence. What you'll learn: Understand the fundamentals of pitch, rhythm, meter, and standard staff notation; Build and identify major and minor scales, keys, and the circle of fifths; Analyze intervals, triads, and seventh chords in root position and inversions; Apply the principles of voice leading and basic four-part writing; Practice Roman numeral analysis to decode harmonic progressions in classical and modern contexts. The course begins with foundational definitions and key terminology before moving step-by-step through scales, intervals, and chord structures. Through written explanations and practical text-based exercises, you will gradually build the analytical skills expected in a standard academic curriculum. This course is designed for beginners, aspiring music majors, and self-taught musicians looking for a structured, academic approach to music theory with no prior formal training required. Start reading today to unlock the core principles of musical structure and harmony.