Music theory and education resources

Music notation ("the dots") is a language that has developed over hundreds of years, with the idea that the way sound is written on the page draws forth a particular music response from a person who sees it.



There are many on-line resources for learning music theory and the skill of sight--reading music.

The following may be particularly useful for people without a music education who become involved with church music or choral singing, and who want to learn to sight-sing or play, or more about how music is constructed.

• Learning to read sheet music: http://readsheetmusic.info/

• Grade one music (the first basic level entry) theory:  http://www.mymusictheory.com/grade-1-contents

• A set of quizzes about all aspects of music education:  http://www.musictechteacher.com/music_quizzes/music_quizzes.htm, especially tempo markings and basic timing, scales and key signatures 

• An on-line game that helps you learn the Bass clef.  http://www.studybass.com/tools/bass-clef-notes/

• A resource with more advanced information (transposition, composition, etc.):  http://www.musictheory.net/lessons

• A more in-depth resource with chord charts and maps: http://chordmaps.com/

• A guide to ideas of tonality, chord progressions, etc: http://www.tonalityguide.com

Note:  none of these deal specifically with church-music issues, because basic musical theory applies in all contexts.