DragonFaerie Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 My son has absolutely no interest in learning to play an instrument. Sadly, he has a sweet singing voice, and I think he would be a really good musician. I'm thinking about including music theory in our schedule next year because I think if I teach him to read music, and maybe casually point out a note or two on the piano, he might be interested enough to learn it on his own. I can read music and play the piano, but I'd like to find a workbook or some more formal method of teaching him to read music so maybe he'll take to it better. If it's part of "school," he has to do it. If it's Mom teaching him, he won't want to. Yes, I'm being a bit sneaky here. :D So, any recommendations for a good music theory curriculum for a 5th grade beginner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I'm sure someone will come up with something better, but the Core Knowledge books, "What Your ____th Grader Needs to Know," have some musical terms, etc. included. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Basics of Keyboard Theory, Julie Johnson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 (edited) We intend to use the ABRSM books and below list (in ETA) because I am thinking of using AP music theory as a possible fine arts credit for my boys. ETA: Theory Prep Elementary Music Theory Book 1 by Mark Sarnecki Theory 1 Elementary Music Theory Book 2 by Mark Sarnecki Theory 2 Elementary Music Theory Book 3 by Mark Sarnecki Theory 3 Elementary Music Rudiments “Basic†by Mark Sarnecki Theory 4 Elementary Music Rudiments “Int†by Mark Sarnecki Theory 5 Elementary Music Rudiments “Adv†by Mark Sarnecki Theory 6A and 6B Basic Harmony by Marc Sarnecki Theory 7 Intermediate Harmony by Marc Sarnecki Theory 8 Advanced Harmony by Marc Sarnecki A NOTE ABOUT ABRSM: All levels correspond to ABRSM theory levels and ABRSM concepts are covered. AP Music Julie Johnson’s Guide to AP Music Theory + CD, by Julie Johnson Music for Sight Singing by Robert Ottman and Nancy Rogers For adults and teens Beginning Theory Fundamentals of Piano Theory, Level 1 by Keith Snell and Martha Ashleigh Intermediate Theory Fundamentals of Piano Theory, Level 5 by Keith Snell and Martha Ashleigh Advanced Theory Fundamentals of Piano Theory, Level 9 by Keith Snell & Martha Ashleigh Advanced Musicianship Fundamentals of Piano Theory, Level 10 by Keith Snell & Martha Ashleigh Edited March 29, 2013 by Arcadia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 The links aren't working. :-( But thanks for the suggestions. Off to google! Oh, does anyone know anything about this program? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 The links aren't working. :-( Elementary music theory book 1,2 and 3 by Mark Sarnecki Elementary music rudiments basic, int, adv by Mark Sarnecki Basic Harmony by Mark Sarnecki Intermediate Harmony by Mark Sarnecki Advanced Harmony by Mark Sarnecki Fundamentals of Piano Theory Level 1, 5, 9 and 10 by Keith Snell Julie Johnson's Guide to AP Music Theory Music for Sight Singing by Robert Ottman and Nancy Rogers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Elementary music theory book 1,2 and 3 by Mark Sarnecki Elementary music rudiments basic, int, adv by Mark Sarnecki Basic Harmony by Mark Sarnecki Intermediate Harmony by Mark Sarnecki Advanced Harmony by Mark Sarnecki Fundamentals of Piano Theory Level 1, 5, 9 and 10 by Keith Snell Julie Johnson's Guide to AP Music Theory Music for Sight Singing by Robert Ottman and Nancy Rogers Thank you! I'll check these out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyforlatin Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 The links aren't working. :-( But thanks for the suggestions. Off to google! Oh, does anyone know anything about this program? Below is the one I'm using with DD. She takes voice lessons and part of the time the teacher gives her a short music theory lesson. The book is probably better for an older student, but it works for us. We are quickly going through this in order to audition for a more advanced theory class at a music school. http://www.amazon.com/Alfreds-Essentials-Music-Theory-Self-Study/dp/0739036351/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364580100&sr=1-2&keywords=essentials+of+music+theory+complete An alternative is Faber's Theory books, http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Faber+music+theory. These are child-friendly, more so than the above Alfred's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Julie Johnson theory has 10 levels that you can work through until you get to her AP book. Each books (at least the first 4 levels) does review what has been already covered. If your son has no interest in learning the instrument, AP theory makes no sense. I would just teach him reading, scales, maybe intervals. I doubt you would need to go past level 2 Johnson book if that much. It's sort of like learning how to paint without actually painting. I think a much better option would be a good music survey course and I would highly recommend "Young People's Guide to Classical Music" by Bauer. It has everything (how to read music, instruments, music history). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 My son has absolutely no interest in learning to play an instrument. Just remembered something, my boys have no interest in formal lessons but my 8 year old has started composing his own music on the piano as well as playing "made up" accompaniment when hubby plays his piano pieces. Hubby was playing toreador song from Carmen and he just came over and did the left hand part. My 8 year old sings opera decently well but have no interest in formal choral lessons. Maybe your son might like music composition instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 I'm hoping that by learning to read music (he is amazing with math; reading music should not be a stretch for him), he will discover an interest in playing. He likes to play around on the piano, but he doesn't want formal lessons. I want to teach him to read music and let him learn the piano as his leisure (I hope!). Composition might be a great next step, too. Thanks for the idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 One thing I'm planning on doing is getting a workbook for myself and doing the lessons with him. I can read music and play, but I never got too far into theory. I'm hoping by learning together, it will be more fun for him and maybe more encouraging. His sister can read music, plays clarinet, and is thrilled at the idea of learning piano, too. DS mentioned today that maybe DD would teach him. If they won't argue and DS will be cooperative, that might be an idea, too, at least informally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sally Day Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I am a clarinet teacher and use the Trinity Guildhall workbooks instead of the ABRSM ones as I find them much better. I find the ABRSM unnecessarily dry and complex in their use of language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 You might want to see if these are suitable Music Theory Level 1 pdf Music Theory Level 2 pdf The company website is this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 You might want to see if these are suitable Music Theory Level 1 pdf Music Theory Level 2 pdf The company website is this This is great! I would save my money and use these PDFs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdarling Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Bastien Piano Baics, has a theory and sight reading book, that are great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 Thanks, y'all. These are great suggestions. I showed some to DS this afternoon, and he is liking the idea, especially the part about me having a workbook and learning along with him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariston Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 This is not what you were asking for at all :) but I thought i'd pass it along since it is a fun way to learn the keys: http://www.true-piano-lessons.com/piano-notes-chart.html My kids both learned all the notes in one afternoon, and I did too after a lifetime of just counting up or back from 'C.' :glare: (We did switch part of the story to resonate a little more.) After they learned the letter names we did a few 'find the key games' and worksheets and it cemented amazingly well. I know that's not what you're asking for, but I thought it might be a useful precursor to a theory class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbabe Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Not sure how old your son is but here are my suggestions. Music ace software and Doctor Mozart music theory workbooks. Also google the piano guys and watch their videos... They make anyone want to play an instrument. Particularly good ones are Mission Impossible and Star Wars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 Thank you! I'll look those up. DS is 10, btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifra Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Keyboard Capers by Rebecca Doyle Stout (ISBN 9780898260519) may be good for you if you have a keyboard of some sort available (a piano or a keyboard). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 Thanks. We do have a keyboard, but I don't want to teach him to play (and he doesn't want to learn). I really just want to stick with reading music and music theory for now. Thanks for the suggestion, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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