On this page you will find required materials for lessons on music theory here at Promethean Studios, and various other resources for these topics as well. The resources on this page are specifically music theory - more generic resources (music stores, recording studios, etc) are listed here. At the time this information was entered, all links worked and products listed were available. For information purposes only; we won't post resources when we know there might be any sort of problem with a product, business, or person listed but please check out the reliability, appropriateness, and reputation of any resource you plan to use. If you have any additional questions, please ask your teacher or email us at info@dallasmusiclessons.com.
These Lessons:
Most students who take music theory lessons want to learn to understand how music works, rock, jazz, classical, any kind. Your ear is the world’s best music theoretician, analyzing the most complex symphony and the grungiest heavy metal song equally easily. The only problem is, the ear can’t tell you what it heard. It can’t tell you what chord it heard or what to play or how to make this song sound even better. That’s where music theory comes in, explaining what your hearing. The easiest way to play, learn, or write music is to use your ear (you’ve already got that one), your fingers (physical skill), and your brain (left side). The brain understanding and explaining all musical awesomeness is what music theory is all about.
Instruction will be divided between cognitive, ear training, and sight-singing. Understanding music theory cuts years of learning time dramatically.
Please Have These for Your Lessons:
An instrument in fair condition. You will learn MUCH more quickly if you play an instrument, but you can still learn without one. I can advise you on the suitability of specific instruments. Bring it.
3 ring binder with loose-leaf paper and pockets for holding handouts. Yes, really. Bring it.
Pencil. Erasable, colored pencils are best. Bring it.
Manuscript paper (music paper, staff paper). Hover over the resources tab of Dallas Music Lessons, select Music and Tab paper and print 5 sheets of ‘medium music paper, treble clef only’, bring them to your lesson. Feel free to download any of the other types of music paper you want and your friends can, too. For assignments and written exercises. Bring it.
5 GB flash drive or larger. (suggestions and details below). Bring it.
Download Audacity – details below. Leave it home.
Metronome or Drum machine (suggestions and details below). Leave your metronome at home.
Classical students - Theoretical Foundations of Music, Duckworth and Brown, Wadsworth Publishing Co. This book isn’t needed for the first year for most students.
Jazz students - The Jazz Language - Dan Haerle, Warner. And this book isn’t needed for the first several months for most students.
More Details and Resources:
Pencil. Musicians write with pencils because they make changes to their music and make frequent notations on the pages. Erasable, colored pencils are best.
5 GB flash drive (or larger). To record your lesson. Bring this to your lesson. When you begin each lesson, give your flash drive to your teacher and they'll record your lessons. Be sure and take the drive with you when you leave and listen to it in your computer the day of or the day after your lesson. This will give you a way to review the lesson and give me a way to send demonstrations of technique or songs home with you. If you'll review your lesson each week, you'll progress about 5 to 10% faster.
Audacity. Also, if you'd like to get a even more out of some of your own practices, go back to www.dallasmusiclessons.com, this time actually click the Resources tab, go down to ‘recording and editing’ and download Audacity, a free computer-based recording program. It does many great things to help you practice; people even make professional albums with it. You can change the pitch of your song, record yourself, record yourself playing with your song, or isolate sections of songs for practice. Many good things.
Metronome. Leave your metronome at home, but you need it to practice. Apps for iphone – Tempo Advance is the best - $4. For Android, Tempo - $2. Standalone metronomes: Planet Waves PW-MT-02 ($15), Korg MA-1 ($20-25). Use the metronome whenever possible. It will develop your sense of rhythm and counting; equally important, it will show you where you should be practicing. If you follow the beat from the metronome in songs and exercises, the areas where you don't do well will be revealed, and you'll know where to spend extra practice time. The metronome is your drummer.
When you’re having trouble getting into the metronome, use a drum machine. For iphone, use Garage Band, for Android use Drummer Friend - $3. Standalone drum machine: Boss DB-60. And a little home keyboard with rhythms and metronomic markings works well, too.
Students who practice with metronomes or rhythm machines will also progress about 5 to 10 percent faster.
Harvard Brief Dictionary of Music. Recommended, but not required. Definitions for many useful musical terms are found here.
http://www.reaper.fm REAPER is a fully featured multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing, and mastering environment. This is a $60 pretty good DAW.
Call our studio today at (888) 862-7210 to get started or if you have any other questions.
FAQs
