Course Syllabus

Introduction

In this lesson, we get an overview of the music theory course about to be presented. Chelsea Tanner, Flute Lead at tonebase, gives us an overview of the course and explains why piano is the fundamental instrument with which to approach concepts of music theory.

Course Overview

In this course overview, Ben Laude sets the stage for an investigation into the remarkable system of tonality, especially music composed in major and minor keys. Using the keyboard as a convenient tool for visualizing tonal relationships, Laude emphasizes the importance of transposition in internalizing the basic concepts of music theory and putting them to practical use.

Whole Steps & Half Steps

Whole and half steps are the building blocks of scales, which in turn generate the vast universe of tonal possibilities. In this lesson, Laude reveals the whole and half steps at play in “Happy Birthday” and other famous tunes, before showing the three simplest ways to step across an octave. In studying the chromatic, whole tone, and octatonic scales, Laude brings into relief the special properties of the major scale, the topic of the next lesson.

Flute: Whole Steps & Half Steps

In this lesson, Chelsea Tanner teaches us about the chromatic scale practice strategies for Flute, along with helpful recomendations.

The Major Scale

Of all the ways of stepping through an octave, the major scale has proven to be the most fruitful in the history of tonal music. In this lesson Ben Laude breaks down the crucial whole and half-step pattern that defines all major scales, and analyzes the scale degrees used in numerous tunes – from popular folk songs to famous melodies by Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Flute: The Major Scale

Chelsea Tanner discusses finding the correct balance & feel between various major scales.

The Major Scale (Further Practice)

Continue exploring the Major Scale with these further practice tips.

Minor & Other Modes

While the major scale has given rise to a rich variety of music, it contains within itself an even greater genetic potential. In this lesson, Ben Laude takes you on a tour of the many colorful modes you can spin out of the major scale, culminating in the rich and complex minor scale.

Flute: The Minor Scale

Missing the physical and visual reference that piano possess, minor scales can be tricky on the flute. By focusing on the nature of the minor key signatures, rather than just the intervalic differences between the scales, we can more comfortably navigate minor scales with ease.

The Circle of Fifths

While studying whole and half-step patterns reveals how all major scales are fundamentally similar and transposable, the question remains how all these different scales overlap and interweave. In this lesson, Ben Laude shows how a given major scale shares segments with neighboring major scales. Using “tetrachords” and the principle of enharmonic equivalence, Laude shows you how to circumnavigate the circle of fifths through every major and minor key.