Fundamentals of Music Theory

Fundamentals of Music Theory

Instructors: Dr Thomas Butler

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399,213 already enrolled

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,852 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,852 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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Assessments

6 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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There are 6 modules in this course

This course, revised in 2022, will introduce you to the theory of music, providing you 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, metre and time signatures, phrases and cadences, and basic harmony. This course covers the fundamentals of Western music theory, from the absolute basics to some more advanced concepts. As such, it delivers material for beginners and offers much to experienced musicians alike. Learners can apply for Financial Aid directly with Coursera to assist with the cost of accessing the full course and gaining a certificate for successfully completing the course.

What's included

7 videos10 readings1 assignment

7 videos Total 50 minutes

Introduction to Week 1 2 minutes
Musical Notes 10 minutes
Octaves 11 minutes
More on Scales 6 minutes
Introduction to Chords 9 minutes
Primary Chords 4 minutes
Rudiments of Duration Notation 8 minutes

10 readings Total 67 minutes

Licence Statement 1 minute
Music Theory in Critical and Global Context 11 minutes
Meet the Team 5 minutes
Introduce yourself 10 minutes
Musical Notes 5 minutes
Octaves 5 minutes
More on Scales 10 minutes
Introduction to Chords 5 minutes
Primary Chords 10 minutes
Rudiments of Duration Notation 5 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Week 1 30 minutes

What's included

6 videos5 readings1 assignment

6 videos Total 41 minutes

Introduction to Week 2 1 minute
Sharps & Flats 6 minutes
Keys and Key Signatures 13 minutes
Minor Keys 10 minutes
Intervals 6 minutes
Ledger Lines and Clefs 5 minutes

5 readings Total 60 minutes

Sharps and Flats 5 minutes
Keys and Key Signatures 15 minutes
Minor Keys and Minor Scales 15 minutes
Intervals 15 minutes
Ledger Lines and Clefs 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Week 2 30 minutes

What's included

8 videos6 readings1 assignment

8 videos Total 33 minutes

Introduction to Week 3 1 minute
Musical Time: How We Feel It 6 minutes
Musical Time: Some Concepts 5 minutes
Notating Rhythm 4 minutes
Counting with Subdivisions 3 minutes
Dots and Ties 3 minutes
Metre and Time Signatures 10 minutes
Phrase and Form 3 minutes

6 readings Total 28 minutes

Introduction to Musical Time 1 minute
Notating Rhythm 1 minute
Counting with Subdivisions 1 minute
Dots and Ties 5 minutes
Metre and Time Signatures 10 minutes
Phrase and Form 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Week 3 30 minutes

What's included

6 videos5 readings1 assignment

6 videos Total 41 minutes

Introduction to Week 4 1 minute
Listening to triads 6 minutes
Elaborating Key: Triads and Scales 6 minutes
Building Triads 7 minutes
Harmonising a Melody 13 minutes
Seventh Chords 7 minutes

5 readings Total 15 minutes

Listening to Triads 5 minutes
Perfect and Imperfect Cadences 5 minutes
Building Triads 2 minutes
Harmonising 1 minute
Seventh Chords 2 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Week 4 30 minutes

What's included

6 videos5 readings1 assignment

6 videos Total 33 minutes

Introduction to Week 5 1 minute
Chord Inversions 6 minutes
Cadences 5 minutes
Chord Names 4 minutes
Common Chord Progressions 7 minutes
Modulation 10 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Chord Inversions 10 minutes
Cadences 10 minutes
Chord Names 5 minutes
Common Chord Progressions 15 minutes
Modulation 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Week 5 30 minutes

What's included

4 readings1 assignment1 peer review

Instructors

Instructor ratings

(392 ratings)

Dr Thomas Butler

The University of Edinburgh

1 Course 399,213 learners

Dr John Philip Kitchen MBE

The University of Edinburgh

1 Course 399,213 learners

Dr Zack Moir

The University of Edinburgh

1 Course 399,213 learners

Offered by

The University of Edinburgh

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Reviewed on Sep 8, 2023

Quite basic to start out, but got to reach by week five.Basic introduction then interpret Beethoven was challenging.Thr instructors, broken the material well. Enjoyed, the course overall.

Reviewed on Apr 24, 2020

I learnt a lot from this course. Not only does it give you a lot of insight into music theory it changes the way you look at music and leads one to appreciate music as a whole more.

Reviewed on Aug 22, 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..:-)

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