Fundamentals of Music Theory

The University of Edinburgh

About this Course

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This course will introduce students to the theory of music, providing them with the skills needed to read and write Western music notation, as well as to understand, analyse, and listen informedly. It will cover material such as pitches and scales, intervals, clefs, rhythm, form, meter, phrases and cadences, and basic harmony.
This course covers the fundamentals of Western music theory, from the absolute basics to some more advanced concepts and, as such, is the perfect course for beginners and more experienced musicians alike.

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Learner Career Outcomes

33%

started a new career after completing these courses

26%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

15%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English, Catalan, Italian, Spanish

Skills you will gain

MusicChordNotationScales

Learner Career Outcomes

33%

started a new career after completing these courses

26%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

15%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English, Catalan, Italian, Spanish

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.34/5 (84 Ratings)

Offered by

The University of Edinburgh

Influencing the world since 1583, The University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked as one of the world's top 50 universities. Today, we are an established and global leader in online learning, providing degree-level education to 3,000 online students in addition to 36,000 students on-campus. We also offer a wide range of free online courses in a variety of subjects. To find out more about studying for one of our online degrees, search for ‘Edinburgh online’ or visit www.ed.ac.uk/studying/online-learning/postgraduate

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating95%(38,077 ratings)

Week

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Pitches, Scales, Modes and Chords

1 hour to complete

6 videos (Total 42 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz

6 videos

Introduction1m

Musical Notes10m

Octaves10m

Week 2

1 hour to complete

Keys, Minor Scales, Intervals and Clefs

1 hour to complete

6 videos (Total 40 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

6 videos

Introduction32s

Sharps & Flats6m

Keys and Key Signatures12m

Minor Keys9m

Intervals6m

Ledger Lines and Clefs4m

5 readings

Sharps and Flats

Keys and Key Signatures

Minor Keys

Intervals

Ledger Lines and Clefs

1 practice exercise

Lecture Two30m

Week

Week 3

1 hour to complete

Rhythm and Form

1 hour to complete

7 videos (Total 21 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Introduction30s

Rhythmic Duration3m

Tuplets2m

Ties & Dots3m

Meter4m

Anacrusis, Phrases and Structure5m

Form2m

6 readings

Rhythmic Duration

Tuplets

Ties and Dots

Meter

Anacrusis, Phrases, and Structure

Form

1 practice exercise

Lecture Three30m

Week

Week 4

1 hour to complete

Harmony 1: Functional Harmony

1 hour to complete

6 videos (Total 40 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

6 videos

Introduction19s

Listening6m

Elaborating6m

Building6m

Harmonising12m

Summary7m

5 readings

Listening to Triads and Hearing the Key Note

Elaborating

Building Triads

Harmonising

Summary

1 practice exercise

Lecture Four30m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You’ll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. Learn more.

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Fundamentals of Music Theory