• Music Theory Courses -
    take your students’ skills to a new level

    instructional videos + worksheets = accelerated learning

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The Music Theory Course: An innovative & self paced method of learning .

Have your students experience learning music theory in a new way : online, in lessons, during lab time, or at home, at their own pace.

12 Levels: each level contains a minimum of 15 videos, each 5-12 minutes in length, and a 35-45 page book of worksheets per level.

The 12 levels of the music theory course follows the grades 1-12 curriculum set by the TMTA syllabus.

This course works for students studying individually, students preparing for state theory examinations, and teachers wanting to implement a flipped classroom music theory concept in their private lessons.

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Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 7
Level 8
Level 9
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Taught by Dr. Kathy Rabago, studio owner & university professor.

I created the music theory courses following the ‘flipped classroom’ model – students learn the music theory concepts at home or during lab time, reinforce the concepts through worksheets, and return to their private lessons with an increased knowledge of music theory.  The courses also work for students studying music theory independently.

12

Music Theory Levels

15-20

videos per level

35-45

worksheets per level

Have you ever been excited about something where it ends up taking over your dreams? This happens to me all the time, but I didn’t expect it to happen with this… Dr. Kathy Rabago from PianoProgram.com has created Music Theory Courses for students. These courses are the very definition of flipped learning and something that I have been wanting to find for a while. Students learn the music theory concepts at home or during their music lab time, reinforce the concepts through worksheets (provided), and return to their lessons with an increased knowledge of music theory.

Jennifer FoxxMusic Educator Resources

Dr. Rabago’s comprehensive theory courses take students from the very beginning stages to the major and minor circle of 5ths, as well as ear-training and dictation. It’s great to know your students are working on music theory at home! Music theory and engaging video geared toward young people add up to equal a successful learning experience. Dr. Rabago has created a wonderful set of learning tools with these courses.

Chris OwenbyPractice Habits.co
Brilliant! Thank you for these wonderul added bonuses, Kathy!!!
Andrea ZimmermanDirector and Instructor, AJ’s Music Factory

Ty so much Kathy !!

This will help us so much 🙂 . Also I have a family who has been purchasing individually to study at home and they are loving it.
Just loveeee it so much and thank you for all you do.  It’s been a wonderful addition to my studio.  I will not stress over theory exams this year due to your program.  Look forward to level 8.
Susan Hong

A. was excited to see your video yesterday again, he really loves the computer effects….I told him he was going to correct his own worksheet by watching the same video again.  Right away, as he was watching it, he already knew some of the stuff he had missed.  What a fun alternative for him to study his music theory!

Paola PerinPiano Teacher and mom

Included in each course

Video Instruction

A minimum of 15 video lessons are included in each course.  Levels 1-5 have five lessons subdivided into 15 sub lessons, Levels 6 and above have 15+ video lessons.

Worksheets

Each lesson in every level contains downloadable worksheets for students to practice the theory concepts learned.  Interactive exercises are included in some lessons.

Exam Based Curriculum

Each level follows the TMTA state theory curriculum.

Studio License vs. Student Price?

Purchase a teacher membership studio license to use for all of your students during your lab and lesson time.  The student price is for one student to use at home.  If you are a teacher, you can purchase the Studio License, or direct each of your students to purchase a level individually.  Want to buy just one level as a studio license?  You can do that too!

  • Teacher Membership, Studio License Bundle
  • $20 per month
  • Includes access to all of the Music Theory courses, instructional videos, workbooks + worksheets, and interactive exercises. You may use them with all of your students during your lab time or lesson time.
  • Teacher members can print all workbooks for all students. Unlimited printing license is included in the membership.
  • Sign me up!
  • Teacher Membership, Studio License Bundle
  • $200 per year
  • Includes access to all of the Music Theory courses, instructional videos, workbooks + worksheets, and interactive exercises. You may use them with all of your students during your lab time or lesson time.
  • Teacher members can print all workbooks for all students. Unlimited printing license is included in the membership.
  • Sign me up!
  • Teacher Membership, Studio License Bundle
  • $100 every 6 months
  • Includes access to all of the Music Theory courses, instructional videos, workbooks + worksheets, and interactive exercises. You may use them with all of your students during your lab time or lesson time.
  • Teacher members can print all workbooks for all students. Unlimited printing license is included in the membership.
  • Sign me up!

Free Lesson

Want to preview a lesson from one of the levels?

Music Theory – the nuts and bolts of music.  YOU and YOUR STUDENTS can unlock the secrets to music theory.

The music theory course presents all of the music theory concepts in a clear and sequential way.

Are you wanting to help your students prepare for a Music Theory Examination or just ensure that they learn all of the music theory concepts for their grade level?  Sign up below to sample one of the lessons + worksheets.  

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Course Curriculum

What will your students be learning?

Level 1

  • Lesson 1
    • The Musical Alphabet.  Learn about the 7 letters that make up the musical alphabet.
    • The Piano Keyboard.  Name the keys of the piano keyboard according to the musical alphabet.
    • The Staff; Treble & Bass Clef.  Learn about the parts of the staff, including the treble clef & bass clef.
  • Lesson 2
    •  Notes on the Treble Clef Staff.  Learn how the read all of the notes on the treble clef staff.
    • Notes on the Bass Clef Staff:  Learn how to read all of the notes on the bass clef staff.
    • Notes on the Grand Staff.  Learn how to read all of the notes on the grand staff.
  • Lesson 3
    • Parts of notes {the head and stem}.  Learn about the parts of a note, and how to draw notes
    • Bar lines and Measures.  Learn all about bar lines and measures on the grand staff.
    • Rhythm.  Learn about notes and rests in the following rhythms:  quarter, half, and whole.
  • Lesson 4
    • Time Signatures.  How many beats per measure?
    • Counting.  Learn how to count notes and rests in music according to the rhythms we’ve learned so far.
    • Steps & Skips; Dynamics.  Learn about a step vs. a skip and the dynamic markings of forte and piano.
  • Lesson 5
    • High or Low?  Identify notes as high or low on the piano just by listening.
    • Up or Down?  Listen to 5 notes.  Are they moving up or down?
    • Same or Different?  Listen to 2 notes.  Are they the same or different?
    • Bonus:  Learn the finger numbers on your hands.

Level 2

  • Lesson 1
    • The Musical Alphabet.  Review the musical alphabet and see what happens when you repeat it.
    • Keyboard.  Review the musical alphabet on the piano keyboard.
    • Quarter, Half, Whole, & Dotted Half Notes.  Review the rhythms:  quarter, half, and whole notes and learn about the dotted half note.
  • Lesson 2
    • Intervals.  Learn to identify if the interval is a second or a 3rd, and if it is ascending or descending
    • Half Steps & Whole Steps.  What is the difference?
    • Sharps & Flats.  A sharp raises a note a half step; a flat lowers a note a half step.
  • Lesson 3
    • Rhythm.  Review the following notes and rests:  quarter, half, whole, and dotted half.
    • Writing in Counts.  Learn how to write in counts in 3/4 or 4/4 time signatures.
    • Adding Bar Lines.  Can you add bar lines in 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures using the rhythm we’ve learned so far?
  • Lesson 4
    • Dynamic Signs & Repeat Sign.  Learn about mezzo forte and mezzo piano and the repeat sign
    • Review of Notes on the Staff.  Identify the notes on the staff.  Have fun spelling the words!
    • How Many Beats?  Let’s take a little quiz–can you figure out how many beats are in each of these measures?
  • Lesson 5
    • Up or Down?  Listen to some musical examples and determine if the notes are moving up or down.
    • Same or Different?  Listen to a measure that I’m playing.  Is it the same as the one on your screen, or different?
    • Find the Missing Note.  I’ll play 3 notes for you.  You can see the first 2 notes.  Can you identify the 3rd note?

Level 3

  • Lesson 1
    • The Musical Alphabet.  Review the musical alphabet both ascending and descending
    • Staff/Note Identification.  Draw and identify notes in both the treble clef staff and bass clef staff.
    • Notation.  Review and draw quarter, half, dotted half, and whole notes and rests.
  • Lesson 2
    • Intervals.  Learn about a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th
    • Whole Step & Half Step Review.  Can you identify whole and half steps on the piano keyboard?
    • Rhythm & Time Signatures.  Learn to write in counts, draw bar lines, and identify the correct time signature.
  • Lesson 3
    • Scales. Learn about the 8 notes in a major scale, and the pattern of whole steps and half steps.  Learn about the tonic, or keynote.
    • C Major Scale.  Take what you know about scales and build a C Major scale.  Mark the half steps with slurs.
    • G and F Scale.  Take what you know about scales and build G and F Major scales.  Mark the half steps with slurs.
  • Lesson 4
    • Key Signatures of C, G, and F.  Learn about the key signatures of these 3 keys
    • Slur, Tie, Legato, and Staccato.  Learn about these four terms and how to recognize them in music.
    • Natural & Term Review.  Learn about the natural sign and review the following terms:  treble clef, bass clef, brace, bar line, double bar line, flat, sharp, piano, forte, key signature, and time signature.
  • Lesson 5
    • Rhythmic Dictation.  Listen to a two-measure rhythm, and fill in the missing measure
    • Identify the missing note.  Listen to 3 notes.  Two notes will be given to you, and you have to identify the missing 3rd note.
    • Steps or Skips? Identify if the notes you are hearing are stepping or skipping.
    • Bonus:  Learn about a 5th up and down from C.

Level 4

  • Lesson 1
    • The Staff.  Review the parts of the staff:  bass and treble clef signs, brace, bar line, and double bar line.
    • Eighth note and rest.  Learn about the eighth note and the eighth rest.
    • Notes on the Staff.  Draw and identify notes on the treble and bass clef staves.
    • Vocabulary: New & Review.  Learn and review the following terms:  slur, tie, legato, staccato, piano forte, pianissimo, fortissimo, mezzo forte, mezzo piano, tonic, natural, sharp, flat, interval, time signature.
  • Lesson 2
    • Whole & Half Steps.  Identify notes on the staff as whole steps or half steps.
    • Intervals.  Review the intervals of a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, and learn about an 8ve.
    • Major and Minor Thirds.  Learn the difference between a major and a minor third.
    • Vocabulary.  Learn about:  tempo, ritardando, crescendo, decrescendo (diminuendo), and ornament.
  • Lesson 3
    • Rhythm.  Fill in the missing note or rest in a measure.
    • Counting.  Write in counts in 3/4 or 4/4 meter.
    • Time Signatures & Bar lines.  Identify the correct time signature for each measure.  Draw in missing bar lines for a 4-measure example.
  • Lesson 4
    • Scales.  Review the scales C, G, and F Major.  Learn about the major scales of D, A, and E.  Draw slurs between the half steps.
    • Key Signature.  Learn the order of sharps.  Identify the key signatures for C, G, D, A, E, and F Major
    • Major Triad and Primary Chords.  Learn how to construct a major triad.  Learn about the primary chords in a major scale.  Learn the vocabulary:  chord, triad, tonic triad, and major triad.
  • Lesson 5
    • Rhythmic Dictation.  Listen to a musical example and fill in the missing measures.
    • Compare.  Listen.  Circle the measure that matches the one that you heard.
    • Identify & Bonus.  Identify a major triad by listening to two different triads.  Bonus:  Can you go up and down a 5th from C through 4 sharps and 4 flats?

Level 5

  • Lesson 1
    • The Staff. Review the parts of the staff:  bass and treble clef signs, brace, bar line, and double bar lines.
    • Notation.  Draw notes and rests on the treble and bass clef staff, using sharps and flat signs if directed.
    • Intervals.  Identify whole steps, half steps, and no steps (enharmonic notes).  Learn about the interval of a 6th and 7th.  Identify all intervals up to an 8ve on the staff.  Draw notes one octave higher or lower.  Identify major 3rds and minor 3rds on the piano keyboard.
  • Lesson 2
    • Rhythm.  Learn about the dotted quarter note, 16th note, and 16th rest.
    • Rhythm – missing note/rest; Time Signatures.  Draw a missing note or rest in measures of different meter.  Identify the correct time signature for a measure using the meters 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, and 6/4.
    • Rhythm – counting.  Write counts in rhythmic examples in 3/4, 4/4, or 5/4 meter.  Draw in missing bar lines in four measures of 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, or 6/4 meter.
  • Lesson 3
    • Scales.  Review the scales of C, G, D, A, E, and F.  Learn the scales of Bb, Eb, and Ab Major.  Draw slurs between half steps in the scales.  Learn about the tonic and dominant note of each scale.  Draw the tonic triad of each scale.
    • Order of Flats; Key Signatures.  Review the order of sharps and learn the order of flats.  Review the key signatures of C, G, D, A, E, and F Major, and learn about the key signatures + tonic triads for Bb, Eb, and Ab Major.  Draw the tonic triad in the treble clef staff and the root of the tonic triad in the bass clef staff.
    • Dominant Triads.  Learn about the dominant Triad.  Quiz!  Can you identify all of the Major key signatures?
  • Lesson 4
    • Vocabulary {new}.  Learn the following new vocabulary terms:  Ledger Lines, Chromatic Sign, Accidental, Enharmonic Spelling, Cadence, Authentic Cadence.
    • Vocabulary {new + review}.  Quiz!  Can you correctly identify the vocabulary terms?  Accidental, Andante, Cadence, Chromatic Sign, Da Capo, Dal Sego, Dominant, Enharmonic Spelling, Ledger Lines, Moderato, Motive/Motif, Pentatonic Scale, Subdominant, Syncopation.
    • Musical Example.  Look at a few musical examples.  Identify a tonic or dominant triad.  Identify slurs, ties, staccato, legato, intervals, and dynamic signs.
  • Lesson 5
    • Rhythmic Dictation.  Fill in the missing measures in 3/4 or 4/4 meter using eighth, quarter, half, dotted half, or whole notes.
    • Melodic Dictation.  Fill in the missing measures in 4/4 meter using steps or skips within a major pentascale.
    • Interval & Triad Identification; Bonus.  Listen to and identify ascending or descending Major 2nds and Perfect 5ths.  Identify the Major Triad by listening to two different triads.  Bonus:  Can you identify the notes up and down a 5th from C through all of the sharps and flats?

Level 6

  • Lesson 1
    • Whole and Half Steps: Learn to identify two notes as whole steps, half steps, whole + half steps, or enharmonic notes.
  • Lesson 2
    • Rhythm:  Review 8th notes and 16th notes.
    • Rhythm – missing note/rest:  Draw a missing note or rest in measures of different meter.
    • Rhythms covered in level 6: Sixteenth (flagged and beamed), eighth (flagged and beamed), dotted eighth, quarter, dotted quarter, half, dotted half, and whole notes and corresponding rests.  Sharps, flats, and natural signs are all used in level 6.
  • Lesson 3
    • Notation: Draw notes as indicated on the treble or bass staff using the rhythms covered in level 6.
  • Lesson 4
    • Time signatures: Learn how to identify the following simple and compound time signatures:  2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 3/8, or 6/8,
    • Practice drawing bar lines in 6/8
    • When you are given the lower number, can you identify the upper number to complete the time signature?
  • Lesson 5
    • ​​​​​​​Review the order of sharps and flats,
    • Draw the Major circle of 5ths using Capital Letters,
    • Identify all major key signatures,
    • Draw the key signature of each Major key on the grand staff
  • Lesson 6
    • Major Scales:  Review and learn all of the major scales.
    • Constructing Major Scales: Draw sharps or flats before the notes on the given scale to make a major scale in any major keys.
  • Lesson 7
    • Review the following vocabulary terms:  Syncopation, cadence ledger line,
    • Learn the new vocabulary terms:  Adagio, Allegro, al Fine, Binary Form, Con Moto, Consonant, Dissonant, Dominant Triad, Major Third, Meter, Minor Third, Minor Triad, Octave, Poco a Poco, Primary Triads, Rallentando, Subdominant Triad, Ternary Form, Triad Root, Unison
  • Lesson 8
    • Intervals:  Identify all of the intervals up to an octave.  Practicing drawing intervals up and down from a given note.
  • Lesson 9
    • Major and Minor Thirds​​​​​​​:  Learn how to identify major thirds (MAJ 3rd) or minor thirds (min 3rd) drawn on the treble or bass staff.
  • Lesson 10
    • ​​​​​​​Triads: Identify the designated note of a root position triad as the root (R), third (3rd) or fifth (5th).
  • Lesson 11
    • Primary Triads: Construct the I (tonic), IV (subdominant), and V (dominant) triads in root position on the treble staff in any given major key.  Draw the root of the chord in the bass staff.
    • Identify:  Can you name the key signature and identify if the chord given is I, IV, or V?
  • Lesson 12
    • ​​​​​​​Analysis: Let’s look at an excerpt of music together.  Learn how to identify the key, identify primary triads, find a major and/or minor 3rd, and label intervals.
  • Lesson 13
    • ​​​​​​​Intervallic Ear Training:  Identify Perfect 5ths, Major 2nds, or Major 7ths played ascending or descending as melodic intervals, then as harmonic intervals.
    • Triad Ear Training: identify Major or Minor triads
  • Lesson 14
    • Rhythm Dictation:  Fill in the missing measures of a four-measure rhythm in 3/4 or 4/4 meter. Missing notes for the blank measures may include eighth, quarter, half, dotted half, or whole notes.
    • Melodic Dictation:  Fill in the missing measures of a four-measure melodic example in 3/4 or 4/4 meter. Blank measures will be steps or skips within a major scale. Note values for the blank measures will be eighth, quarter, half, dotted half, or whole notes.
  • Lesson 15
    • Bonus: Learn how to complete the minor circle of 5ths

Level 7

  • Lesson 1
    • Diatonic Whole and Half Steps. Draw a note on the next line or space (diatonic) that is a half or whole step lower or higher than the given note.
  • Lesson 2
    • Rhythm – missing note/rest: Draw one note or rest that has been left out of the measure. Time signatures may be 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, or 6/8
    • Rhythms covered in level 7: Sixteenth (flagged and beamed), eighth (flagged and beamed), eight note triplets, dotted eighth, quarter, dotted quarter, half, dotted half, and whole notes and corresponding rests.
    • Rhythm, new: Learn about eighth note triplets.
  • Lesson 3
    • Notation and Ledger Lines. Rewrite the given note on the other staff. Use the same pitch as the given note.
    • Circle the higher sounding notes of each pair of notes.
    • New: Double flats and double sharps.
  • Lesson 4
    • Time Signatures. Identify time signatures as simple, asymmetrical, or compound.
    • Write the correct time signature in each measure below. Choices can be 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 3/8, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8 or 12/8.
  • Lesson 5
    • Circle of 5ths. Complete the major circle of fifths.
    • Complete the minor circle of fifths.
    • No sharps or flats are pre-preprinted for students at this level.
  • Lesson 6
    • Key Signatures. Identify the minor key represented by each key signature.
    • Name the relative minor keys of the major keys named.
  • Lesson 7
    • Major and Minor Scales. Draw the sharps and flats needed to make the named major scale.
    • Draw sharps or flats needed to make the natural minor scale; mark the half steps with a slur; draw the key signature of the scale in the last measure of the staff.
  • Lesson 8
    • Vocabulary: Triad fifth, Asymmetrical Meter, Piu Mosso, Dolce, Animato, Sempre, Rallentando, Compound meter, Double Sharp, Poco a Poco.
  • Lesson 9
    • Intervals. Identify each interval by type and size within a major scale.
  • Lesson 10
    • Major Triads. Identify Major Triads, and write inversions as slash chords.
    • Build any major triad on a given root.
  • Lesson 11
    • Primary Triads: Name the Major key, identify the primary triad by Roman numeral, & identify the note in the bass clef as the root, 3rd, or 5th.
    • Draw the key signature, construct the primary triad in root position in the treble staff. Draw the root note of each chord in the bass staff.
  • Lesson 12
    • Analysis. Identify the key of each example, and circle notes that are not in the key signature.
  • Lesson 13
    • Ear Training: Identify triads as Major, Minor, or Neither.
    • Identify intervals within a major scale.
    • Identify scales as Major or Natural Minor.
  • Lesson 14
    • Dictation. Fill in 3 empty measures of a 4-measure rhythmic dictation. Fill in 3 empty measures of a 4-measure melodic dictation.
  • Lesson 15
    • Bonus: Spell Major Triads up from a given root.

Level 8

  • Lesson 1
    • Diatonic & Chromatic Half Steps: Draw chromatic or diatonic half steps above or below a given note.
  • Lesson 2
    • Intervals: Construct Major or Perfect intervals above a given note. Learn about minor intervals and augmented 2nds.
  • Lesson 3
    • Time Signatures: Learn about 2/2 and 3/2 time signatures. Identify if a measure is 2/2, 3/2, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, or 6/8.
  • Lesson 4
    • Missing note/rest: Draw one note or rest that has been left out of the measure. Time signatures will be 6/8, 9/8, or 12/8 meter.
    • Rhythms covered in level 8: Sixteenth (flagged and beamed), eighth (flagged and beamed), eight note triplets, dotted eighth, quarter, dotted quarter, half, dotted half, and whole notes and corresponding rests.
    • New: Dotted half rest. Notice: a whole rest is used to fill any full measure of rest regardless of the meter.
  • Lesson 5
    • Major Triads: Spell major triads up from a given root using letter names
  • Lesson 6
    • Key Signatures: Identify the minor and major key represented by each key signature
  • Lesson 7
    • Lead Sheet Triads: Identify and understand major lead sheet triads
    • Drawing on the grand staff: Draw the complete triad on the treble staff, and the lowest note indicated in the bass staff using whole notes.
  • Lesson 8
    • Key Signatures: Draw the key signature indicated.
    • Triads and Inversions: Construct the I (tonic), IV (subdominant), and V (dominant) triads in all inversions on the treble staff in any given major or minor key. Draw the root of the chord in the bass staff.
  • Lesson 9
    • Melodic Composition: Compose a 4 measure melody using rhythmic imitation or melodic sequence. End on the tonic, on a strong beat, with a strong implied cadence.
  • Lesson 10
    • Minor Scales: Learn about the three forms of minor scales: Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic.
    • Draw the key signature of the indicated minor key; draw the notes of each ascending minor scale.
  • Lesson 11
    • Analysis: Identify the key, the type of minor scale used, the time signature, & the type and size of an interval from the example.
  • Lesson 12
    • Vocabulary: Accelerando, Arpeggio, Cantabile, Chromatic Half Step, Diatonic Half Step, Diminished Triad, First Inversion Triad, Harmonic Minor Scale, Marcato, Melodic Minor Scale, Root Position Triad, Second Inversion Triad, Subito, Transposition.
  • Lesson 13
    • Transposition: Transpose a 4-measure phrase to the new major key.
  • Lesson 14
    • Intervallic Ear Training: Identify Perfect or Major intervals within a major scale. Intervals may be ascending or descending.
  • Lesson 15
    • Triad Ear Training: Identify triads as Major, Minor, or Diminished
  • Lesson 16
    • Rhythm Dictation: Fill in 3 missing measures of a four-measure rhythm in 3/4 or 4/4 meter. Missing notes for the blank measures may include sixteenth through whole notes.
    • Melodic Dictation: Fill in 3 missing measures of a four-measure melodic example in 3/4 or 4/4 meter. Note values for the blank measures will be eighth through whole notes.
  • Lesson 17
    • Scale Ear Training: Identify scales as Major, Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor, or Melodic Minor.
  • Lesson 18
    • Rhythmic Sight Reading: Sight read a 4 measure rhythmic example in simple or compound meter. Note values used will be sixteenth through whole notes and rests. Students may tap, clap, or say the rhythm outlaid using any counting system.
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