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Music Theory Simplified! for Beginners: Basic Fundamentals (45Min)

In these weekly 45min Music Theory lessons students will learn all about the fundamental building blocks of musical theory and notation.
Bloom Academy
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:
(59)
Popular
Class
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What's included

1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours per week
Assignments
1 hour per week. 1-2 per week
Assessment
included

Class Experience

US Grade 3 - 6
Beginner - Intermediate Level
Unlock the language of music with our comprehensive Music Theory class. Whether you're a beginner or looking to solidify your understanding, you'll finish this course with:

1. The ability to read and write musical notation fluently
2. A deep understanding of rhythm, meter, and time signatures
3. Proficiency in identifying and constructing scales and key signatures
4. Skills to recognize and write various intervals
5. Knowledge of major and minor scales, including harmonic and melodic minors
6. The ability to compose a short musical piece applying learned concepts
7. A strong foundation for further musical studies or instrument practice

What you'll achieve:

• Master reading and writing musical notation on the grand staff
• Understand and apply complex rhythmic concepts
• Gain proficiency in major and minor scales, including their construction and key signatures
• Develop ear training skills through interval recognition
• Create your own musical composition using learned theory concepts

Our teaching approach:

• Interactive lectures with plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion
• Practical exercises to reinforce each new concept
• Progressive skill-building from basic to advanced topics
• A final composition project to showcase your new knowledge

Weekly Lesson Breakdown:

1. Introduction to Notation: Pulse, meter, notes, rests, and staff basics
2. Rhythm, Notes, and Rests: Advanced note values, time signatures, dots, and ties
3. Notation and Time Signatures: Pitch notation, clefs, and further exploration of time signatures
4. The Staff, Accidentals, and Key Signatures: Deep dive into reading the grand staff and understanding key signatures
5. Half Steps and Whole Steps: Introduction to intervals and special scales
6. Major Scales: Construction and characteristics of major scales
7. Minor Scales: Natural minor scales and their relationship to major scales
8. Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales (Part 1): Advanced minor scale concepts
9. Major and Minor Scales (Part 2): Further exploration of intervals and scale relationships
10. Final Composition: Apply all learned concepts in creating an original piece

By the end of these lessons, you'll have a solid grasp of music theory fundamentals and the ability to apply them creatively. You'll be well-prepared for advanced music studies, instrument practice, or composing your own music.

Ready to decode the language of music? Book your first lesson today and start your journey to musical fluency!

*Please book at least one day in advance to allow for lesson preparation.

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SYLLABUS

Lesson 1 An Introduction 
Learners will be introduced to pulse and meter, notes, and rests. They will also learn about double bar lines, lines of the bass staff, spaces of the bass staff, grand staff, writing clefs & braces, and ledger lines

Lesson 2 Rhythm, Notes, and Rests 
Learners will be introduced to eighth notes and rests, beaming of eighth notes, dots, and ties. They will learn about the relationship between notes and rests, writing notes, relative note and rest values, dotted notes, measures & time signatures, 3/4 time signature, 2/4 time signature, and note stems.

Lesson 3 Notation and Time Signatures 
In this lesson, learners will be learning about pitch notation, the treble clef, bass clef, and the grand staff. In addition, accidentals, key signatures, and enharmonic equivalents will be discussed. 

Lesson 4 The Staff, Accidentals, and Key Signatures
Learners will learn about half steps and whole steps, the chromatic scale, and the whole tone scale. 

Lesson 5 Half Steps and Whole Steps 
Learners will learn about the major scale, different scale degrees, major scales that use sharps, major scales that use flats. 

Lesson 6 Major Scales 
Learners will be introduced to the natural minor scale, the relative major/minor relationship, and the minor scale syllable names. 

Lesson 7 Minor Scales 
Learners will be introduced to the harmonic minor scale, ascending melodic minor scale, descending melodic minor scale, and minor scale key signatures

Lesson 8 Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales (Part 1)
Learners will continue to develop their skills with intervals, perfect and major intervals, and understand the difference between major and minor. 

Lesson 9 Major and Minor Scales (Part 2)
Learners will learn more about the relationship between major and minor scales, perfect and diminished intervals, augmented intervals and compound intervals. Learners will do in-class exercises on different intervals that had been learned in the lesson. 

Lesson 10 Final Composition
Learners will compose a short piece using the concepts learned in class. 

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Please be sure to book at least one day in advance to give me time to prepare!  Thank you and hope to see you soon!

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined March, 2021
4.8
59reviews
Popular
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Biology/Biological Sciences from University of Calgary
Vicki Tran
Bachelor's Degree in Music from Wilfrid Laurier University
Karina Bray
Bachelor's Degree from University of Ottawa
Joel Castagner
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from University of Montreal
Philippe Lavoie
Bachelor's Degree in Music from University of Western Ontario
Diana Alecu
Bachelor's Degree in Music from Berklee College of Music
Nicole Demers
Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from University of New Brunswick
Anthony McAffee
Associate's Degree in Computer Engineering from Polytechnique de Montreal
Philippe Lavoie
Associate's Degree in Music from The Royal Conservatory of Music Canada
Diana Alecu
Vocalist, Songwriter, Producer, and Passionate Music Educator

Hello everyone! I'm Emily, a professional singer-songwriter and music educator with a passion for helping kids and teens discover their unique voice and love for music. With over 10 years of experience as a performer, recording artist, and music theater professional, I bring a dynamic and engaging approach to music education.

My Approach:

 • Fun and Engaging Lessons: I create exciting, interactive lessons that inspire young learners to explore their creativity through music they love.
 • Personalized Learning: Every student is unique, and I tailor each lesson to their interests and goals, whether it’s mastering a favorite song, building confidence, or developing foundational skills.
 • Confidence-Building Focus: My lessons emphasize self-expression and stage presence, helping students gain confidence in their abilities both on and off the stage.

What Sets Me Apart:

 • Professional Expertise: As a professional singer-songwriter with recorded albums, I bring real-world music industry experience to every lesson.
 • Music Theater Background: With years of performing in musical theater, I specialize in teaching vocal techniques, stage presence, and storytelling through song.
 • Results-Oriented Teaching: My students don’t just learn to sing—they build confidence, develop strong vocal techniques, and gain a deeper appreciation for music.
 • Encouraging Environment: I create a safe, supportive space where kids and teens feel comfortable exploring their creativity and expressing themselves.

Qualifications & Experience:

 • Professional singer-songwriter with a recorded album available on major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music
 • Experienced performer with a background in musical theater.
 • Over 10 years of experience teaching vocals, songwriting, and music performance to kids and teens
 • Expertise in vocal technique, music theory, and songwriting, tailored specifically for young learners

Whether your child is a beginner just discovering their voice or a budding performer ready to refine their skills, I’m here to guide them on a fun and inspiring musical journey. My lessons are designed to help students build confidence, improve technique, and discover the joy of creating and performing music.

Are you ready to help your child unlock their musical potential? Let’s get started today!

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IMPORTANT: We REQUIRE 24 hours notice for all registrations. To ensure a personalized lesson plan, please book at least 24 hours in advance. I'm excited to meet you and start making music!

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$40

weekly
1x per week
45 min

Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-14
1-3 learners per class

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