Music Theory Handbook

Charlie Leadon

Description

Music
Theory
Nonfiction

Music Theory Handbook is a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to mastering music theory for different instruments, providing a ready reference to terminology, sight reading, ear training, directives, and sound.



Charlie Leadon, a classical piano child prodigy, wrote the handbook at age ten to help others discover the stimulating, always interesting world of music theory. Learning music theory can improve coordination with the arts and other subjects. As the great philosopher, Plato, said: “I could teach philosophy, science, mathematics, and art, but most of all, I would teach music, for music is all of them.”



Highlights of the handbook include a chapter on frequency and decibels, a complete dictionary of musical terms, a complete dictionary of musical directives, and a table of music mastery. In short, this handbook has it all!

Whether you’re just getting started playing the piano or need a refresher as you continue your journey, you’ll find this handbook to be an essential resource.

Sujets

• Musique
• Musique
• Music
• Non-fiction
• Theory

Informations

• Publié par: Archway Publishing
• Date de parution: 13 décembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 4
• EAN13: 9781665734233
• Langue: English

Extrait

MUSIC THEORY HANDBOOK
A concise handbook for aspiring musicians.
 

 
CHARLIE LEADON
 
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2022 Charlie Leadon.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.archwaypublishing.com
844-669-3957
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6657-3422-6 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-3423-3 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022922478
 
Archway Publishing rev. date: 12/12/2022
CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter 1Tempo Directions and Indications
Chapter 2Scales and Warm-up Exercises
Chapter 3Chords and Arpeggios–Broken or Rolled
Chapter 4Key Signatures with the Circle of Fifths
Chapter 5The Reading and Writing of Notes, Notation, and Ornaments
Chapter 6The Basic Staff and Clefs
Chapter 7Intervals, Distance and Vocal/Instrumental Range
Chapter 8Dynamic Symbols and Directions
Chapter 9Chords with Roman Numerals
Chapter 10Frequency and Decibels
Chapter 11Instruments and How They Work
Chapter 12Time Periods of Music: Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern, and Their Composers
Chapter 13Time Signatures
Appendix AA Dictionary of Musical Terms
Appendix BLevels of Music Mastery
Conclusion
Bibliography
INTRODUCTION
Music Theory Handbook is a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to mastering music theory for many different instruments, providing a ready reference to terminology, sight reading, ear training, directives, and sound.
Intellectually stimulating, always interesting, music theory has been proven to improve coordination with all other arts and subjects. As the great philosopher, Plato, said: “I could teach philosophy, science, mathematics, and art, but most of all, I would teach music, for music is all of them.”
Highlights of Music Theory Handbook include:
• A chapter on frequency and decibels.
• A complete dictionary of musical terms
• A complete dictionary of musical directives
• A table of music mastery.
This book has it all!
CHAPTER ONE
Tempo Directions and Indications
Tempo is the speed in which we play songs in music. Below are the names and the speed of all common tempos found in music. The speed of a tempo is measured in Beats Per Minute (BPM)–the number of beats in one minute’s time. All of the tempos listed below are only approximations.
Figure 1 -1. Tempos and Sp eeds
Speed
Tempo
BPM
Description
No. 1
Larghissimo
Approx. 28 or less
Extremely slow
No. 2
Grave
Approx. 28-40
Mournful; extremely slow
No. 3
Largo
40-55
Very slow
No. 4
Lento
45-60
Very slow; faster than Largo
No. 5
Larghetto
60-65
Very slow; faster than Lento
No. 6
Adagissimo
65-70
Slow; slower than Adagio
No. 7
Adagio
70-80
Slow
No. 8
Adagietto
80-85
Slow; faster than Adagio
No. 9
Andante
85-90
Medium slow; walking tempo
No. 10
Poco Moto
90-100
With a bit of motion
No.11
Moto
100-103
With motion
No.12
Andantino
103-105
Medium slow; faster than Andante
No. 13
Marcia Moderato
105-115
Marching speed
No. 14
Andante Moderato
115-118
Between Andante and Moderato
No. 15
Moderato
118-120
Moderate tempo
No. 16
Allegretto
120-130
Medium fast; slower than Allegro
No. 17
Allegro Moderato
130-133
Moderately fast
No. 18
Allegro
133--140
Fast and lively
No. 19
Vivace
140-150
Vivacious; fast
No. 20
Vivacissimo
150-160
Vivacious; faster than Vivace
No. 21
Allegrissimo
160-165
Very Fast; faster than Allegro
No. 22
Presto
165-208
Extremely fast
No. 23
Prestissimo
208 or more
Extremely fast; faster than Presto
 
Figure 1-2 provides a complete list of musical tempo directions. The tempo indications listed above are only indications because they indicate how slow or fast to play the piece. The tempo directions listed below are directions because they give a command regarding the speed of the song. “Slow down” or “speed up” are good examples.
Figure 1 -2. Complete Tempo Direct ives.
Tempo Directives
1. ritardando
With a gradual decrease of speed.
2. ritenuto
With an immediate reduction of speed.
3. ravvivando
With a quickening pace.
4. doppio movimento
With double the original speed.
5. Accelerando
With a gradual increase of speed.
 
CHAPTER TWO
Scales and Warm-up Exercises
When you play a scale, you are playing all the notes of a certain key signature in succession. Studying scales helps sharpen your knowledge of theory, practicing them aids in finger dexterity on any instrument, and playing them is an excellent warm-up exercise. Read, study and play!
Figure 2 -1. Major Sc ales
Scale
Starting Note
Ending Note
Key Signature
Played
C major
C
C
C major
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
G major
G
G
G major
G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G
D major
D
D
D major
D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D
A major
A
A
A major
A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A
E major
E
E
E major
E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E
B/Cb major
B/Cb
B/Cb
B/Cb major
B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb
F#/Gb major
F#/Gb
F#Gb
F