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.
Follow us on twitter
@musictheorymooc
#edmusictheory
Fundamentals of Music Theory
Offered By
The University of Edinburgh
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
1Pitches, Scales, Modes and Chords
6 videos (Total 42 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz
6 videos
Musical Notes10m
Octaves10m
More on Scales6m
Introduction to Chords9m
Primary Chords4m
6 readings
Meet the Team0
Musical Notes0
Octaves0
More on Scales0
Introduction to Chords0
Primary Chords0
1 practice exercise
Lecture One22m
Week
2Keys, Minor Scales, Intervals and Clefs
6 videos (Total 40 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz
6 videos
Sharps & Flats6m
Keys and Key Signatures12m
Minor Keys9m
Intervals6m
Ledger Lines and Clefs4m
5 readings
Sharps and Flats0
Keys and Key Signatures0
Minor Keys0
Intervals0
Ledger Lines and Clefs0
1 practice exercise
Lecture Two20m
Week
3Rhythm and Form
7 videos (Total 21 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz
7 videos
Rhythmic Duration3m
Tuplets2m
Ties & Dots3m
Meter4m
Anacrusis, Phrases and Structure5m
Form2m
6 readings
Rhythmic Duration0
Tuplets0
Ties and Dots0
Meter0
Anacrusis, Phrases, and Structure0
Form0
1 practice exercise
Lecture Three24m
Week
4Harmony 1: Functional Harmony
6 videos (Total 40 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz
5 readings
Listening to Triads and Hearing the Key Note0
Elaborating0
Building Triads0
Harmonising0
Summary0
1 practice exercise
Lecture Four20m
4.6
206 Reviews33%
started a new career after completing these courses
83%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
29%
got a pay increase or promotion
Top Reviews
By SS•Aug 23rd 2017
It was a very nice course. We were able to understand the basics of music theory and how the notations and chords work. Thank you so much to the entire staff of Edinburgh University and Coursera..:-)
By M•Nov 22nd 2016
If you don't know much about music theory, it's going to be pretty challenging, and still is reachable. You learn as much as you want with this courses. I'm glad I could finish it.
Instructors
Dr Michael Edwards
Reid School of Music, ECA
Dr Zack Moir
Teaching FellowReid School of Music, Edinburgh College of Art
Richard Worth
Edinburgh College of Art
Dr Nikki Moran
Reid School of Music, ECA
Dr John Philip Kitchen, MA BMus PhD FRCO LRAM
Reid School of Music
Eli Appleby-Donald
Edinburgh College of Art
About 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
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
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.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education,
partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.
© 2018 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
