Customer Reviews

Practical Theory Complete: A Self-Instruction Music Theory Course

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book serves as an excellent introduction to very basic but important concepts in music theory and gives a small introduction for composition. Being spiral bound and with each lesson being in a worksheet format, I have used this book with my private lesson students (junior high school and high school students) with much success. All the material is easy enough to be self taught or does well in reinforcing review material.

With such a good review, why only 4 stars you ask? If you are looking for a book to learn the details of basic music theory and all the extra tidbits (i.e. why duple time is preferred for particular compositions; what is duple time; what would compound time be good for?) then this will leave you displeased. Consider what you are trying to get out of the book before purchasing this one. This book would come no where close to an academic level theory class. I would recommend :: Steinke - Basic Materials in Music Theory :: for a thorough examination of basic music theory if that is your intended goal.

If you are a self taught musician, but are having a hard time communicating technically with other musicians during rehearsal, this book is a must. This workbook start of at the very basic and elevates to reveal every delicate aspect of the wonderful language of muisc.

Eighty-four lessons total, spiral bound, you will transform yourself into a confident musician with in a season!

Thorough but concise intro to (or review of) music theory. As an adult music student, I found this book easy to follow, & helpful in clarifying the general principles of music theory. My music teacher, who has seen all manner of texts, was very impressed by its layout & content. Great value for the price--I recommend it without hesitation. My preteen is finding it helpful as well.

As a music educator with over 30 years of experience and who has taught well over five thousand persons the joys of making their own music, I am still having some of my students purchase this small (and inadequate) workbook, but only after having studied all the basics using a book I'll mention in a moment. In other words, if you are starting out, do NOT purchase this book. I have been so discouraged with the current music theory "workbooks" which claim to be "easy" but NEVER explain anything. This book is unorganized, certainly not comprehensive in chord content (and that's important). But, this book does offers a certain value for the average keyboard student who needs a review. I know the reader is now asking, "well, what IS the best book to purchase?" Currently, there is only ONE "non-aligned" (that is, written to be used independently from method books like Bastien or Thompson) theory workbook---but it is dated. I would advise the reader to purchase the "John Brimhall Theory Workbook (Complete)". It's published by Hansen House. This workbook is certainly the best organized I've seen (although it STILL does not explain much, it simple "tells" the reader the facts (so do all the other workbooks). It also---like every other theory book I've used---come with errors: such as having all major chords abbreviated using a capitol "M" after the chord---which has not been used since the 1850s. Also, most music theory workbooks never reveal the "mystery" of what is a "double sharp" or "double flat" (neither does Feldstein OR Brimhall). I have been working on producing a new comprehensive music theory workbook, but don't look for it until 2006. Lastly, a bit of advice: all authors of music theory books "assume" that the reader understands "something" about playing the keyboard. After teaching beginners of all ages for many years, that assumption is false. My best advice? Purchase the Brimhall for basics and then---find a GOOD teacher (and that means not going to the neighbor down the street who gives lessons so they can have some extra money!). Ask questions; find someone who takes time to explain; remember, this is supposed to be more fun than "root canal" (with apologies to my dentist!).

Sandy Feldstein's PRACTICAL THEORY COMPLETE is a well-organized book on music theory. It has exercises that are excellently designed and effectively reinforce the material in the lesson. Each lesson is short and can be learned in a matter of minutes. This feature allows for anyone to tackle the ideas and material at their own pace regardless of how busy their life may be.

Unfortunately, there is one downfall to this book. It is very, very basic and never reaches some of the more sophisticated topics which I had hoped to learn. For those with just a little experience playing a musical instrument or with vocal music, the entire first half of the book should be review. PRACTICAL THEORY COMPLETE stops after teaching the most simple ideas behind harmony, chords, and music composition. Its title is thus a little misleading. That's my only caveat, however, as the style of presentation and method of teaching are both excellent.

I would highly recommend purchasing this book if you have no music experience whatsoever and are interested in picking up some basic ideas. For those who already know some music, please look elsewhere. You will probably be a bit disappointed by the lack of depth.

I am using this book with some of the members of the Choral Society I sing with. Many of our members can sing, but don't know how to read music. This book has been an excellent reference and workbook for the students. When I have covered a subject, I assign the associated lessons from the workbook as homework to reinforce their learning. There have been marked improvements in the performances of some of these singers. It is a pleasure to have such a great, fun book to use with non-professionals and non-students who just love to sing and want to sing better!

I'm a music teacher and this is the best single volume music theory text that I have used and recommended to others. The lessons are clear and easy to understand, and progress in a thoughtful manner. After every three lessons there is a review lesson of the concepts. It is a consumable programmed text which means that you write your answers in the book as you follow the sequence of learning - very smart! If you get stuck, the answers are in the back of the book - also very smart! Plus, the cost of the book is under [$$$] - A very good investment for the music student who wants to learn the nuts and bolts of musical concepts and composition!

Since the degradation (and downfall in some states) of music teaching in public schools since the 1960's it has been somewhat difficult to find good theory texts which are not overwhelming to the student. Feldstein introduces an approach in 84 short lessons one can take at his/her own pace. It is not meant to be exhaustive, but can give the teacher of beginners in music training or the self-motivated an excellent place to springboard.

I have been using this book for my beginning adult voice students, or rather my "I took piano when I was 10" students, in conjunction with good explanation of the topics as well as a beginning piano book.

The lessons are a good length for my adult students to tackle, the explanations of the concepts are clear and the repeated drilling of concepts/notes/rhythms in the exercises is just right for these students.

Of course, my more observant students ask questions to fill in the blanks left by some of the lessons. The section on keys and accidentals comes to mind. My students also find themselves, as they first begin actually reading music for the first time, encountering 8th and 16th notes in their practical music long before the book discusses them. I'd like to see the rhythmic lessons moved up a bit in the book.

Please know that this not a 'complete' theory book, however, it is an excellent, inexpensive, non-threatening, acessible tool for the beginner looking to learn to read music. I recommend it.

I am a voice and basic piano teacher. This book is good for adults who start out with no previous experience in music. The problem is though that they can easily fill out all the exercises correctly without having the faintest idea of what anything sounds like. I had one adult voice student who did fine with this book, but still was very baffled by the SOUND of intervals, could not tell a third, from a fourth, from a fifth. If students are doing this WITH a keyboard, they are in better shape, but they do need a teacher for that and then it isnt a self-instruction course. Having a CD with illustration in sound of what some of the exercises sound like would be good.