Music Theory I

Music Theory Essentials is a foundational first-quarter course designed to build a strong understanding of the core elements of music. Students begin by exploring fundamental concepts—musical parameters, notation, rhythm, pitch, and the twelve-pitch equal-tempered system—before moving into major topics such as scale construction, key signatures, and interval quality. The course then introduces the structure and function of minor scales, triads, suspended chords, and the basics of harmony, including diatonic triad building and Roman numeral analysis supported by the Circle of Fifths. As the quarter progresses, students learn to construct and analyze seventh and sixth chords, apply them in harmonization, and understand inversions of intervals and chords in various positions. Through weekly guided assignments in Harmonia and a midterm assessment, this course provides a comprehensive introduction to the vocabulary, patterns, and analytical tools essential for further study in music theory.