Table of Contents

1. The Basics of Music.
2. The Keyboard.
3. Rhythm I: Simple Meter.
4. Rhythm II: Compound Meter.
5. Pitch.
6. Major Scales.
7. Major Key Signatures.
8. Intervals.
9. Minor Key Signatures.
10. Minor Scales.
11. Pentatonic and Blues Scales.
12. Triads.
13. Triads in a Musical Context.
14. Chord Progressions.
15. Writing a Song.
Appendices.
Glossary.
Subject Index.
Index to Musical Examples.

About the Author

An internationally known composer, acclaimed teacher of American music, and the founder of Postminimalism, William Duckworth has written more than 200 works, including the well-known Time Curve Preludes for piano. In addition to numerous teaching awards, Rolling Stone magazine called his teaching hip, bright and innovative." Duckworth has been honored by the American Music Society as one of Six Master Teachers in America. Additionally, Cathedral, co-created with Nora Farrell and online since 1997, is one of the first interactive works of music and art on the Web. Duckworth's honors include the 2001 ASCAP-Deems Taylor Internet Award, the 2002 Award in Music from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, and a 2007 Senior Fulbright Specialist Award that assigned him to the Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre in Brisbane, Australia, and resulted in iOrpheus, Duckworth and Farrell's 2-year unfolding of video podcasts, stage performances, and a public opera in the streets and promenades of Brisbane's South Bank Parklands."

Reviews

"I love the Focus on Skills sections. I am able to use them in a variety of ways to reinforce what I am teaching. I really like how you and your team are developing this new edition!"

"The homework is great. The materials are presented in a very clear, logical manner. Most other books have "holes" in the presentation of the material. This book is extremely well organized. Far better text than anything available."

"The text is organized well in terms of a steady progression of concept of study. While it uses musical jargon, it also speaks to the students in conversational tone and not above their heads. It covers an appropriate amount of material and does not attempt to be something it is not (it is a first-year fundamentals text)."