Music Fundamentals: A Balanced Approach

Music Fundamentals is written for students who want to learn the basics of music. Keeping in mind the student with very little or no prior knowledge of music, musical concepts are reinforced by numerous examples including global music, along with a comprehensive website for students to practice their knowledge, and a CD with audio examples. The music examples range from Stevie Wonder songs to Beethoven symphonies, from rhythmically challenging African songs and syncopated Brazilian choro songs, to humorous Filipino ballads and Schubert lieder.

Features:

• a variety of exercises to help the student transform knowledge into practice, including: listen and sing exercises for ear training; keyboard drills to be played on a real keyboard or piano, or the keyboard insert provided in the inside cover; and clapping and counting exercises so that students not only have a cerebral understanding, but also a visceral feeling for pulse and rhythm
• review exercises at the end of each module facilitate progress to the next module, including: cultural notes which discuss musical genres or place musical examples in a cultural context; historical notes which place material in an historical context; and vocabulary notes to discuss musical signs or terms, providing contextual background and giving students a richer appreciation and understanding of musical concepts
• an instructor’s manual offers suggestions for classroom exercises.

The Companion Website offers a variety of student and instructor resources, including interactive tutorials, additional appendices, and an instructor's manual that offers tips on using the book and more.

Sumy Takesue is an instructor at Santa Monica College, teaching theory and class piano. She has taught Music Fundamentals at University of Hawaii and University of Southern California.