What's in this Course

  • 1

    Introduction

    • Welcome!

    • Printable Blank Music Paper

    • How to Contact Me

    • How to Download the Materials
  • 2

    Part 1: How Rhythm Works

    • Introduction to Part 1

    • Additional Reading
  • 3

    Day 1: Notating Rhythm

    • Lesson Introduction: Note Values

    • Notes Values: Frequently Asked Questions

    • Answers to the Exercises

    • Quick Announcement from Matt
  • 4

    Day 2: The Musical Pulse

    • Lesson Introduction: Rhythm vs. Pulse

    • Audio Examples

    • Additional Examples & Exercises

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 5

    Day 3: Tempo

    • Lesson Introduction: A key piece of info about rhythm

    • Day 3 Audio Examples

    • Listening Experience: Introduction

    • Listening Experience: What Tempo Is It?

    • Answers to the Exercises

    • Discussions
  • 6

    Day 4: Meter, Time and Beats

    • Lesson Introduction: Rhythm Recap

    • Audio Examples

    • Listening Experience 1: Is It A March Or A Waltz?

    • Listening Experience 2: Is It A Duple Or Triple Meter?

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 7

    Day 5: The Sound of Silence

    • Lesson Introduction: Reading Rest Symbols

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 8

    Day 6: Adding Duration with the Dot

    • Lesson Introduction: Extending a Note Value

    • Audio Examples

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 9

    Day 7: Adding Duration with the Tie

    • Lesson Introduction: Dots vs. Ties

    • Audio Examples

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 10

    Day 8: The Eighth Note Beat & The Half Note Beat

    • Lesson Introduction: Beyond the Common Meters

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 11

    Day 9: Simple vs. Compound Meter

    • Lesson Introduction: Understanding Compound Meter

    • Why 6/8 is not 3/4

    • Listening Experience: Is It Simple or Compound?

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 12

    Day 10: Grouping: How Flags Become Beams

    • Lesson Introduction: Why Flags Become Beams

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 13

    Day 11: Complex Meters: Simple & Compound Combined

    • Lesson Introduction: When Simple and Compound Meters Combine

    • Answers to the Exercises

    • Got questions?
  • 14

    Day 12: Tuplets, Duplets, Triplets

    • Lesson Introduction: 3 for 2 and 2 for 3

    • Audio Examples

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 15

    Day 13: Time Signatures Games

    • Lesson Introduction: Playing with Time Signatures

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 16

    Day 14: The Anacrusis (aka, the Upbeat)

    • Lesson Introduction: Rhythms Starting on a Weak Beat

    • Audio Examples

    • Audio Example 14.5: Chopin's Prelude

    • Listening Experience: Is that an Upbeat?

    • Moving On
  • 17

    Day 15: Syncopation

    • Lesson Introduction: Syncopated Rhythms

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 18

    Score Reading Challenge #1

    • Beethoven: Theme and Variations Op. 34
  • 19

    Part 2: How Musical Pitch Works

    • Introduction to Part 2
  • 20

    Day 16: The Musical Alphabet on Musical Instruments

    • Lesson Introduction: Why the Keyboard?

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 21

    Day 17: Musical Steps

    • Lesson Introduction: The 2 Smallest Distances Between Notes

    • Answers to the Exercises

    • Listening Experience: Is it a Whole Step or a Half Step?
  • 22

    Day 18: Accidentals

    • Lesson Introduction: Completing the Musical Alphabet

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 23

    Day 19: Notating Pitch on the Staff

    • Lesson Introduction: The Staff

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 24

    Day 20: Ledger Lines - Beyond the Staff

    • Lesson Introduction: Extending the Staff

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 25

    Day 21: The Treble Clef

    • Lesson Introduction: Treble Clef 101

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 26

    Day 22: All About that Bass Clef

    • Lesson Introduction: Bass Clef 101

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 27

    Day 23: The C Clefs: Alto & Tenor

    • Lesson Introduction: 'C' Clefs 101

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 28

    Day 24: How to Read Sheet Music: Issues in Notation

    • Lesson Update

    • Lesson Introduction: Musical Notation Tips, Tricks & Guidelines

    • Answers to the Exercises
  • 29

    Score Reading Challenge #2

    • Bach and Grieg Suites
  • 30

    Part 3: How Musical Expression Works

    • Introduction to Part 3
  • 31

    Day 25: Dynamics

    • Day 25 Audio Examples

    • Answers to the Exercises

    • Listening Experience: What Dynamics?

    • Listening Experience Solutions
  • 32

    Day 26: Articulation

    • Day 26 Audio Examples

    • Answers to the Exercises

    • Listening Experience: What Articulation?

    • Listening Experience Solutions
  • 33

    Day 27: Tempo Changes

    • Day 27 Audio Examples

    • Answers to the Exercises

    • Listening Experience: What's Changed in Tempo?

    • Listening Experience Solutions
  • 34

    Day 28: Bar Lines & Repeat Signs

    • Day 28 Audio Examples

    • Listening Experience: What Repeats?

    • Listening Experience Solutions
  • 35

    Score Reading Challenge #3

    • Beethoven: 11 Bagatelles, Op. 119
  • 36

    Day 29: Instrument-Specific Expression Marks

    • Day 29 Audio Examples

    • Lesson Update

    • Day 29 Audio Examples

    • Answers to the Exercises

    • Listening Experience: Pedal Up or Pedal Down?

    • Listening Experience Solutions
  • 37

    Day 30: Musical Ornaments

    • Lesson Update

    • Audio Examples

    • Answers to the Exercises

    • Listening Experience: Which Ornament Is It?
  • 38

    Score Reading Challenge #4

    • Mikhail Glinka: The Lark
  • 39

    Final Test

    • Introduction

    • Answers to the Test
  • 40

    What's Next?

    • Moving On