Principles of Music

Ideal for students with no prior experience with musical notation and music theory, Principles of Music, Second Edition, presents a sequence of carefully-designed lessons that proceed step by step through music fundamentals. In addition to lessons in pitch notation and tonal materials, this all-in-one text and workbook also covers the basics of rhythm and meter through separate lessons and performance exercises that reinforce rhythm reading. While rooted in a repertory of Western art music, the text also encourages students to explore other works--and other musical traditions--with lists of suggested further listening at the end of each lesson.

Philip Lambert is Professor of Music at Baruch College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York.

Preface

Part 1: Core Principles
Lesson 1: Hearing and Feeling Music
When Music Happens / The Piano Keyboard / Names of the White Keys / The Chromatic Scale
Lesson 2: Accidentals
Names of the Black Keys / Summary of Names for White and Black Keys
Lesson 3: Half and Whole Steps
Steps in Music / Spelling Conventions for Half and Whole Steps / The Whole-Tone Scale
Lesson 4: Rhythm and Meter
Notation of Rhythm / Patterns and Groupings / Notation of Meter / Learning and Performing Rhythms / Tempo
Lesson 5: More Rhythm and Meter
Stress Patterns and Meter / Dotted Notes / The Anacrusis / Rests / Compound Meter / Fluctuating Beat Divisions
Lesson 6: Staffs and Clefs
Treble Clef / Bass Clef / The Grand Staff / Octave Designations / C Clefs
Lesson 7: The Notational System
Pitch Resources / Steps on the Staff

Part 2: Scales and Keys
Lesson 8: The Major Scale
Key and Tonic / The Diatonic Modes / Structure of the Major Scale / Scale Construction / The Major Scales / Scale Degree Names / Transposition
Lesson 9: Key Signatures for Major Keys
The Key Signature / Formatting Key Signatures / The Circle of Keys
Lesson 10: The Minor Scale
Structure of the Minor Scale / Scale Families / The Minor Scales / Minor Scale Construction / The Sound of Minor
Lesson 11: Key Signatures for Minor Keys
Relative Key Signatures / All Minor Key Signatures / Circle of Keys for Major and Minor
Lesson 12: The Forms of Minor
Parallel Major and Minor / Harmonic Minor / Melodic Minor / Summary of the Forms of Minor

Part 3: Intervals
Lesson 13: Interval Basics
Note Connections / Interval Distance / Quality / Size in Half Steps
Lesson 14: Intervals in Any Key
Minor Intervals / Methodology I / Interval Inversion / Methodology II
Lesson 15: The Full Interval Spectrum
Intervals Outside of the Key / Augmented and Diminished 1, 4, 5, and 8 / Augmented and Diminished 2, 3, 6, and 7 / Summaries of Interval Types / Methodology / Augmented and Diminished Intervals Under Inversion
Lesson 16: Interval Contexts
Intervals in Musical Practice / Compound Intervals / Summary

Part 4: Chords
Lesson 17: Triads
Three-Note Groupings / Triad Characteristics / Major and Minor Triads / Augmented and Diminished Triads / The Circle of Triads / Methodology
Lesson 18: Expressing Triads
Triads in Musical Practice / Some Examples / Methodology
Lesson 19: Triads in Major Keys
Scale Degree Combinations / Roman Numeral Notation / Chord Functions
Lesson 20: Triads in Minor Keys
Triad Formations Using Minor Scales / Additional Considerations for Minor
Lesson 21: Triad Inversion
The Principle of Chord Inversion / Forming and Recognizing Triad Inversions / Symbolizing Triad Inversions / Methodology / Choral Texture
Lesson 22: Seventh Chords
Enriching Triads / Principles of Construction / Inversion of Seventh Chords / Five Types of Seventh Chords
Lesson 23: Chords in Action
How Does a Song Happen? / Rhythm, Meter, Tempo / Harmonic Foundations / Writing a Melody / Form and Style

Appendix A: Glossary

Appendix B: A Brief Guide to Common Musical Symbols and Markings

Appendix C: Mini-Dictionary of Score Indications

Index

Web Bonus Material

Workbook 1 Rhythm Supplements
Unbalanced Meter/Irregularities of Rhythm and Meter/The Art of Rhythm

Workbook 2 Advanced Material
Transposition of the Diatonic Modes/Structure of the Tonal System

Suggestions for Listening

Fifteen Character Pieces