What’s the difference between melody and harmony? Both require notes to define and describe them. One is ordered sequentially through time. The other can also be stacked vertically. We associate melody with words and harmony with emotions. Is there more?
When you learn a musical instrument like the violin, flute or piano, you learn individual notes so that you can read the sheet music and play the melody. When you learn to play the guitar or ukulele, you learn harmony by reading chord diagrams and chord names.
Isn’t that strange?
Do you know the individual notes that make up a chord? You may know the chord shape. You may be able switch between chords easily and quickly. Why would you need to know the individual notes?
After giving the introductory music theory course (intro music theory) a.k.a. music literacy, I typically recommend the harmony course. Thereafter, I teach the melody course. It shouldn’t matter whether you take melody or harmony as long as you can read notes. Reading notes is about mapping the names of the notes from the symbol (notation) to your instrument and vice versa. Notation is a way for the composer or arranger to communicate to the performer (or reader or interpreter).
Take the diagnostics test to see if you’re ready for Music Theory Harmony course. Or take the Music Literacy Intensive workshops (1st & 8th February 2023). Check out other music classes on offer. REGISTER before the EARLY BIRD DEADLINE.
Learning Objectives
- Identifying chords by names, notes, and sound (e.g. major vs minor)
- Navigating harmony through chords
- Inversions of intervals and chords
- Triads, 7ths, and more
- Building and understanding the Circle of Fifths
- Application of the Circle of Fifths
- Key signatures and their keys
- Parallel and relative relationships
- Chord families and functions
- Modulation and Transposition
- Common chord progressions
- Cadences
Testimonials
After years of trying, finally understand the Circle of Fifths!
– Susan (MD)
I thoroughly enjoyed Anne’s Music Theory Harmony course. Anne is a wonderful teacher. Her classes are very interactive. The course has increased my knowledge and understanding of the “why’s” of music. I look forward to continuing to take additional courses with Anne. — Carla (MA)
Excellent course for learning the theory of building chords, interrelation of mayors/minors chord, uses of progression of them to accompany songs all through the use of The Circle of Fifth. Teacher is wonderful, knowledgeable, makes learning a lot of fun.
Having taken Anne’s Music theory harmony course I feel it has laid the foundations for the future and I can build upon the knowledge that I have learnt.
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