Theory Classes at Enchanted Wood
Our theory is hands-on, and designed to expand students’ fluency with the structure of music from the inside out. It is designed to go beyond merely imparting book knowledge and instead to build students’ fluency with music from the rich soil of guided experimentation and exploration.
Students leave these classes not only with an understanding of the raw materials of music, but with a joyful desire to continue deepening their exploration, and the realization that all of music was created from the imagination of someone just like themselves!
Because piano is the foundation for an understanding of harmony, this exploration is centered on piano literacy.
Our theory classes are held on either Saturday morning or Tuesday evening, on alternate weeks from group classes, with one week off between rotations. Students begin theory once they have graduated from the Orff class, which serves as a prerequisite for Basics 1.
Class Levels
Basics 1 & 2
Foundations 1 & 2
Improvisation & Composition 1 & 2 (not currently offered)
Basics
Level 1:
- Piano literacy through structured improvisation
- Creative composition & musical storytelling
- Motivic construction
- Alphabetic note names
- Building the major scale in several keys
Level 2:
All of the above, plus:
- Introduction to chords
- Notating on the staff
- Key exploration and key signature
Foundations
Year 1:
- Diatonic function chords in C major and A minor
- Progressions exploration and practice
- Motivic construction
- Progressions: Pachelbel, circle, minimalist
- Harmonizing a simple melody
- Notating melody and chords
Year 2:
All of the above, plus:
- Diatonic chords in G major and E minor
- Inversions
- Common accompanimental patterns
