Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory Complete (Books 1-3) [Spiral-bound]

Andrew Surmani (Author), Karen Farnum Surmani (Author), Morton Manus (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0882848976 | ISBN-13: 978-0882848976 | Publication Date: June 1999

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory is designed for students of any age, whether listeners or performers, who want to have a better understanding of the language of music. In this all-in-one theory course, you will learn the essentials of music through concise lessons, practice your music reading and writing skills in the exercises, improve your listening skills with the available ear-training CDs (sold separately), and test your knowledge with a review that completes each unit.

The Student Complete Book includes Books 1-3 in a spiral-bound format.

Book 1 (Lessons 1-25):
Staff, Notes and Pitches
Treble & Bass Clefs
Grad Staff & Ledger Lines
Note Values
Measure, Bar Line and Double Bar
2/4, 3/4 & 4/4 Time Signatures
Whole, Half & Quarter Notes/Rests
Dotted Half & Quarter Notes
Ties & Slurs
Repeat Sign, 1st & 2nd Endings
Eighth Notes & Rests
Dynamic Signs, Tempo Marks & Articulation
D.C., D.S., Coda & Fine
Flats, Sharps & Naturals
Book 2 (Lessons 25-50):
Tetrachords & Major Scales
Key Signatures
Chromatic Scale
Intervals, Circle of Fifths
Perfect, Major & Minor Intervals
Augmented & Diminished Intervals
Solf?ge & Transposition
Sixteenth Notes & Rests
Dotted Eighth Notes & Eighth Note Triplets
Common Time & Cut Time
3/8 & 6/8 Time Signatures
Pick-up Notes & Syncopation
Primary & Major Triads
Scale Degree Names
Dominant 7th Chord

Book 3 (Lessons 51-75):
1st & 2nd Inversions of Triads
Inversions of V7 Chords
Figured Bass
Major Chord Progressions
Minor Scales, Minor Triads
Augmented & Diminished Triads
Primary Triads in Minor Keys
Minor Chord Progressions
Modes
Harmonizing a Melody in Major and Minor Keys
Broken Chords & Arpeggiated Accompaniments
Passing and Neighboring Tones
Composing a Melody in Major and Minor Keys
12-Bar Blues Chord Progression & Blues Scale<br>Basic Fo

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 120 pages
• Publisher: Alfred Pub Co (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882848976
• ISBN-13: 978-0882848976
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #43 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Alfred's Essentials of Musical Theory, June 24, 2002

By 

Melissa Chapple "Charmed fan" (Ohio, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essentials of Music Theory: Complete (Book & 2 CDs) (Spiral-bound)

This is a very good book for those who have little knowledge of musical theory, and those who have none. It contains three books which can also be bought seperatly. This book was used as a textbook for me for my voice lessons. It proved to help me a great deal since I am going to be studying music in college this fall. It's best to buy the CDs so you can do the ear trianing as well. You have no way of checking your answers unless you also purchase the teacher's answer key. I gave it a three just because you have to buy the CDs and teacher's answer key to get the most out of the book.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy to understand; Good solid exercises, March 20, 2006

By 

G. Sigman (Athens, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory Complete (Books 1-3) (Spiral-bound)

I just used this book to teach an introductory music theory class for adults (primarily community members with a recreational interest in playing/knowing more about music). I must say I was very pleased with this book in general. It offers straghtforward theory lessons with appropriate drills for getting a grip on the content. This is not an in-depth tome by any means, but it worked out well for my purposes.

I have the following minor gripes:
-This is really three books spiral bound together as one. A combined table of contents would have been most welcome.
-The CDs with the listening examples are not included and it seems the only way to acquire them is to buy the answer key book at almost $40. Phooey. How about offering the CDs with the student book for an extra $10?
-I don't care for the way this book teaches the compound meters 3/8 & 6/8. The method used is very practical and straghtforward, however, so it works out okay. It just never mentions 'compound' or 'simple' in presenting meters.
-9/8 & 12/8 are not presented. Ever.
-No asymmetric meters are presented. Ever.

With all of that out of the way, I'm happy to recommend this book for your middle school level band kids or even high school students looking to pick up some written theory, and of course as I used it for your bare-bones beginning adults with an interest in the subject.

A motivated student with the listening CDs could run through the course on his or her own, but I think you really still need a teacher for best results. Particularly as this book lacks the depth of background and explanations that an engadged student will inevitably be curious about.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Learning Basic Theory, February 9, 2003

By 

Jenny Durelin (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essentials of Music Theory: Complete (Book & 2 CDs) (Spiral-bound)

This is a terrific book for any age. I teach theory to students who are all under the age of 12, the youngest is 6, and it makes sense to all of them, but I would also reccomend it to adults who know nothing about Theory, or a small amount, because it covers everything clearly and the excercises are great for anyone.