A Crash Course in Music Theory


Overtone and undertone series

We often think about pitches as they're represented by the keys on a piano. But, that's only one way to think about the tones that we know and hear. For a different point of view, we can turn to the acoustical foundations upon which music in the Western art music tradition is based. For example, as we ascend through the overtone series, the first three unique overtones we find are tones in the tonic triad, as shown in Example 1: Example 1: The first six overtones Let's go further out on the proverbial theory limb. Further...

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Sonatine

Ravel wrote the first movement of the Sonatine in 1903 for a magazine competition run by a magazine but wasn't awarded the prize as he was the only entrant and had exceeded the length restriction! Fortunately for posterity, Ravel soon added a second and a third movement in 1905 and... Read >>


Graham Fitch Repertoire

Fantasie-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor (Op. 66)

<h3> <a href="/content/pages/162-fantasie-impromptu-in-c-sharp-minor-op-66?bundle_url=online-academy&amp;last_viewed=true">Annotated Study Edition</a></h3>

Chopin’s Fantasie-Impromptu (Op. Post. 66) is one of the most popular works in the piano repertoire and many pianists attempt it before they are ready for the challenges it poses. This collection of resources accompanies our study edition for the work and features detailed annotations, additional video demonstrations and practice... Read >>


Graham Fitch Repertoire

Prelude in D Minor

<h3> <a href="/content/pages/123-prelude-in-d-minor?bundle_url=online-academy&amp;last_viewed=true">BWV 935</a></h3>

Bach's Prelude in D minor, BWV 935, is a perfect introduction to the two-part Inventions, and a little gem in its own right. In this From the Ground Up edition, we work on developing an overall dynamic scheme for the piece, and on achieving rhythmic vitality through note grouping.... Read >>


Ken Johansen Repertoire