Practical Beginning Theory: a Fundamentals Worktext

The phrase ‘practical theory’ may seem to be a contradiction, but it is a term that Practical Beginning Theory has, since it’s first edition in 1963, sought to embody by providing a comprehensive introduction to basic level theory that can be used in any teaching situation, even if other resource materials are limited or unavailable.

In the new edition, the text continues its mission to be an all-in-one coursebook for music fundamentals. A third author has been added to revise and update the exercises in popular music and to integrate new electronic supplements into the text. A new chapter has been added to address jazz, pop, and blues and a CD of ear-training examples is now included with each copy of the book. The software package of the prior edition has been coordinated to the new CD and mounted to the Internet and exercises throughout the text have been revised to further emphasize real music instead of artificial textbook examples.

In all, Practical Beginning Theory prepares students completely for the first semester of major-level music theory. In can be used at two- and four- year colleges and it is appropriate for pre-college students who are preparing to enter a music major or for advanced high school music theory courses.

Bruce Benward has been widely regarded as one of the most gifted music theory pedagogues since his textbooks first appeared in the 1960s, and has exerted a wide influence on the teaching of music theory both through his writings and through the generation of teachers that he taught. He recently retired from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.