Music Theory Lessons
If you're serious about music, you need to understand and master the fundamental concepts of music theory and build your own musical language. Through a personalized approach, our music theory teachers will help you put these theories into practice every day, learning to read, write, and truly hear the elements of music like never before.
We offer private, one-one-one music theory lessons for beginning, intermediate, and advanced level students, and classes may be taken in person in our studios, online or in your home*. We have music theory teachers in Los Angeles, Westwood, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Cerritos, Sunland, and Tujunga.
*The following teachers offer in-home lessons: Dr. Gayane Avakian & Richard Berman
Learn to:
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Read and write musical notation
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Identify and label lines & spaces in different clefs
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Understand major and minor scales
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Identify major and minor key signatures
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Understand the Circle of Fifths
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Read and play various meters and rhythms
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Play notes on a piano keyboard
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Develop your aural sense for identifying intervals & chords (ear training)
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Analyze melodies, harmonies, and song structure
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Use scales, intervals, and chord building
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Write melodies, harmony, and your own complete compositions
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Identify and apply melodic elements, such as motif, melodic phrasing, repetition, diatonic sequencing, melodic cadence, chord progressions
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Use harmonic function and voice leading in your own compositions
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Apply Baroque period figured bass analysis to contemporary and traditional classical music
Why is learning music theory important?
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Music theory allows us to communicate better with other musicians
It has often been said that music is the "universal language". It transcends all the many spoken languages of the world. Just like our spoken tongue, music theory allows us to describe highly complicated information using succinct terminology and symbols, providing us the means to be more exact and more productive, especially when dealing with other musicians.
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Music theory allows us to understand the elements of music composition
If you've ever had a song get into your head and stick with you all day, or a melody that made you cry every time you hear it, or a song that just makes you so happy you want to bounce around - but you are unable to put your finger on just why you have these reactions - read on.
The elements of music are interwoven in such a way that together, in the hands of the creative source, they invoke these and many more reactions from the listener. We can't know why this is until we understand those elements - and that is what music theory is all about.
When we know music theory, we can understand and express the mechanics of the music that we love, allowing us to speak more intelligently about music, and to better communicate our own musical ideas with more flexibility, style and refinement.
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Music theory increases and informs our understanding and enjoyment of music
Have you ever wondered why certain chords sound amazing with a certain melody, while others clash? Or how composers put two melodies together that complement each other perfectly? Maybe rhythm is your thing - and you've wondered how composers combine complicated rhythms to create the beats that make you want to dance.
Music theory allows us to appreciate, analyze and comprehend the WHY and HOW of all these and more. And, best of all, music theory gives you the ability to create your own music! Discovering and understanding the method and inspiration behind the musical decisions of others puts you in the driver's seat for composing your own music.
We can help you develop these skills with one-on-one instruction, tailored to your current understanding level, and your desired pace.