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For years I've been teaching Music Theory in the college classroom. These classes I'm making for Slam Academy use the same syllabus I've used in my college classes for years, at a fraction of the cost. I believe anyone can learn Music Theory - and cost shouldn't be a barrier.
Recently I was named as a semifinalist for the Grammy Foundation's Music Educator of the Year award because of my in-person university classes. Now I'm taking those classes to Udemy in an online format in order to reach more students and give them the joy of Music Theory.
My approach to music theory is to minimize the memorization. Most of these concepts you can learn by just understanding why chords behave in certain ways. Once you understand those concepts, you can find any scale, key, or chord that exists. Even invent your own.
This class is a Comprehensive class - it will have many parts, going through my entire annual curriculum.
This class is Part 3: Minor Keys, The Circle of Fifths, and Compound Meters.
Throughout this class, I'll be providing you with many worksheets for you to practice the concepts on. If you get stuck, you can review the videos or post a question, and I'll back to it as fast as possible. Also in this class, I have several complete analysis projects that we will complete together - just like in my college classes.

What will I learn in this Course?

  • My approach to Music Theory
  • Tools you will need to learn Music Theory quickly and efficiently
  • Key Signatures
  • Diatonic Chord Progressions
  • Tendency Chords
  • Using the Circle of Fifths for Songwriting and Composition
  • Borrowing from Closely Related Keys
  • Scale Degree Names
  • Tendency Tones
  • Compound Meters
  • Compound Meter Signatures
  • Reading and Writing Compound Meters
  • Triplets, dubplets, and Quadruplets
  • Finding Minor keys by alternations to Major
  • Patterns in Minor keys
  • Relative Minor keys
  • Parallel Minor keys
  • Minor keys in the Circle of Fifths
  • Using Minor Keys for Songwriting and Composition
  • Diatonic Chord Progressions in Minor
  • The V Chord and Minor and the Leading Tone Problem
  • Harmonic Minor Scales
  • Melodic Minor Scales
  • ...and much, much more!

Course Outline

  • Welcome & Overview
    • Tools We Will Use in this Course
    • Download: Blank Staff Paper
  • Review
    • Keys and Key Signatures
    • Diatonic Chord Progressions
    • Tendency Chords and the V Chord
  • The Circle of Fifths
    • Using the Circle of Fifths for Songwriting and Composition
    • Borrowing from Closely Related Keys
  • Scale Degree Names
    • Why Do We Have Scale Degree Names? 
    • The Scale Degree Names
    • Tendency Tones and Direction
    • Worksheet No. 1
  • Compound Meters
    • Compound Meter Signatures
    • Another Perspective
    • Example Piece
    • Worksheet No. 2
  • Triplets, Duplets, and Quadruplets
    • How Triplets Work
    • Other Tuplets
  • Minor Keys
    • Alterations to Major
    • Whole-Half Pattern
    • Relative Minor
    • Parallel Minor
    • A Few Bonus Videos
    • Keys and Scales
    • Worksheet No. 3
  • Minor Keys and the Circle of Fifths
    • Minor Keys and the Circle of Fifths
    • New Circle of Fifths Graphic
    • More Options for Closely Related Keys
  • Diatonic Chord Progressions in Minor
    • Why We Care About Diatonic Chord Progressions
    • The Pattern
    • Diatonic Chord Progressions in Relative Keys
    • Diatonic Chord Progressions in Minor – The V Chord and the Leading Tone
    • Worksheet No. 4
  • Minor Scale Variations: Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales
    • The Three Types of Minor Scales
    • The Harmonic Minor Scale
    • The Melodic Minor Scale
    • Example: Greensleeves
    • Comparing the Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales
    • Worksheet No. 5
  • Analysis
    • Analysis Overview
    • Download: Greensleeves Scores
    • Greensleeves Analysis
    • Download: PDF of my Analysis
    • Download: The Scientist Score
    • The Scientist Analysis
    • Download: PDF of my Analysis
  • Wrap Up
    • What Next?
    • That’s All for Now!

Course Information

Estimated Time: 3.75 Hours

Course Instructor

Jay Allen Author

J. Anthony Allen is an Ableton Certified Trainer, and a PhD in Music Composition and master of Electronic Sounds. His music has been heard internationally in film, radio, video games, and industrial sound, as well as the concert hall and theater. He currently is an adjunct professor of composition at the University of St. Thomas, and is the CEO and co-founder of Slam Academy in Minneapolis.

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Welcome & Overview

Review

The Circle of Fifths

Scale Degree Names

Compound Meters

Triplets, Duplets, and Quadruplets

Minor Keys

Minor Keys and the Circle of Fifths

Diatonic Chord Progressions in Minor

Minor Scale Variations: Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales

Analysis

Wrap Up

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