Music Theory

Music Theory is the name for a branch of study that includes many different methods for analyzing, classifying, and composing music and the elements of music. Music theory generally attempts to reduce the practice of composing and playing into rules and ideas. It includes the study of the theoretical elements of music such as sound and pitch, rhythm, melody, harmony, and notation.

Mira Costa offers two Music Theory courses.

This is an introductory course that teaches students to read and write music. Students will learn how to compose, interpret and analyze music from various styles and periods. Emphasis will be placed on mastery of basic concepts in pitch, rhythm, harmony and form. Previous musical knowledge is helpful but not required.

This is a college-level, first year music theory course. It incorporates the study of melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, form, musical analysis, elementary composition, and to some extent, history and style. Musicianship skills such as dictation and other listening skills, sight-singing, and keyboard harmony are also developed within the scope of the curriculum. The student’s ability to read and write musical notation is fundamental to this course. It is also assumed that the student has acquired at least basic performance skills in voice or on an instrument.