Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music [Paperback]

Jonathan Harnum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2001

A freindly, clearly explained primer for music theory. From what is a staff to basic chord progressions and everything in between, including key signatures, scales, modes, and much more.

Each chapter and section includes a comprehensive, cross-referenced review, specially designed for optimal memorization. In addition, practical use exercises reinforce what is learned.

Book contains a large glossary, index, blank staff paper, and a piano keyboard which doubles as a bookmark and is used with the reviews.

An excellent and friendly book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Loved it! Your sense of humor and ability to simplify sometimes convoluted information makes your book a pleasure to read. -- Kathy Settevendemie, Music Educator, Kodiak AK

an ideal, highly recommended text for anyone of any background wanting to become proficient reading, composing, and performing written music. -- Midwest Book Review, September 10, 2001

From the Publisher

This book is a unique and worthy addition to the library of anyone interested in music.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Questions Ink (June 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097075129X
• ISBN-13: 978-0970751294
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,492,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Welcome to my Amazon page. I'm a musician, writer and educator living and playing in Chicago. For the last five or six years I've focused on playing jazz and absolutely love exploring the unlimited possibilites of improvisation, in jazz or any other music. Vagaband is my current jazz combo; we play gypsy jazz. I also play regularly and with Meh!, a free improvisation group I started.

I'm at work on my next two books: Basic Jazz Theory volume 2 and another on music practice. I'm interviewing master musicians about practice and you can listen to some of the interviews on my podcast, The Practice of Practice (IntentionalPractice.wordpress.com). I'm about to earn a PhD in music education from Northwestern University and my dissertation research is on, you guessed it, practice.

My instruments are a Monette Bb trumpet (#504) with a B2 mouthpiece (also a B2SL); I also play a LeBlanc F357 flugelhorn, the Arturo Sandoval model. I love mutes. I also love to play guitar and own a Gretsch hollow-body electric and an acoutstic/electric Martin (EMP-1). I own and play four didgeridoos, one of bloodwood eucalyptus by the name of Blackwater, made and carved by an aboriginal artist; another cool-looking one made from fiberglass, a monster with deep bass made out of agave, and one of bamboo. My latest goal is to play nonstop (circular breathing) for an hour for the Worldwide Didj Meditation on the next solstice.

I love to play percussion, too. Small and large percussion instruments like conga, tabla, djembe, cabasa, shekere, one-shot, clave, triangle, agogo.... My dream instrument at the moment is a Hang drum. I love to mess around on my soprano trombone.

I have several degrees in music education: a bachelor's degree from University of Oregon, a Master's degree from Northwestern University, and I'm currently finishing off my PhD in music education, also at Northwestern, a leading institution in music performance, research and teacher education. My primary research interest is in practice, especially how masters learn to do it. Check my blog on the topic: The Practice of Practice.

I'm currently living in the U.S. in Chicago with my wife Michelle, and dog Skwirl and I can be found at music venues around the city as both listener and player.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is Very Basic Stuff, June 1, 2004

By 

Deidre Calarco (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music (Paperback)

As someone who studied an instrument through high school but had no formal training in music theory, this book didn't tell me much that I didn't already know. It's for people with no performance OR theory background. It doesn't cover anything that you'd expect to learn in a college level class. But, it would be a great for someone who's never learned an instrument or for a kid at the elementary or middle school level. It's very clearly written and easy to understand.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy and Completely Understandable!, February 13, 2002

By 

Ruben Tamayo (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music (Paperback)

Basic Music Theory by Jonathan Harnum, is an excellent book for people of all levels. Whether you are a beginner, or learned musician, this book is a very comprehensive source of material, that is both accessible,easy to read & understand, and very enjoyable. I have played various instruments over 24 years.And because of Harnum's matter of fact, conversational tone, this book has lent more to my understanding of basic music theory than all my private insturctors combined.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Do it Yourself for Music Theory, January 8, 2002

By 

Robin Giebelhausen (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music (Paperback)

Learning music theory on your own is not something to be tried by the faint of heart, simply because it seems like that for every rule there are fifty million execptions. Sorta like the English language. hmmmm... Anywho, Jonathan Harnum has taken an overly complicated subject matter and made it learable for anyone. And I do mean anyone!! As he explains early in the book, previous music theory books really lack in completely explaining WHY things are the way they are. Harnum de-cryptifies all that is involved with music theory for the non-musician. But this book is not just for the non-musician! I have been a student of music for over 13 years and a teacher for 3 and I found myself finding new and interesting (and humorous) facts about music theory. This book can teach anyone music theory and keep a smile on their face the entire time.