Theory Course

Whether you are involved with brass, piano, vocal, percussion, or guitar, music theory is something that relates to everyone. It is an extremely important part of expanding musicianship. It is also a great course to run as part of your corps music program with both children and adults.

The Music Theory program consists of 8 levels which include the Student Handbook, Final Exam, Instructor's Guide and Placement Test.

The placement test material should be used to place each student in the appropriate level based on his/her ability. Final evaluation tests are provided for use as required. These should be completed and passed before moving on to the next level. Not everyone will progress at the same pace. It is advised to repeat or come back to a lesson so as to reinforce certain concepts.

Additional material is within the Instructor's Guide which includes ideas for music games, listening activities, rhythm exercises, etc. to reinforce the concepts being taught in a given level and help teachers know the material for every step.

Theory Course

Level 1 - Student Workbook Download

Topics covered include: the music alphabet, the staff, the octave, treble clef note names, bass clef note names, ledger lines, introduction to dynamics and tempo. Answers are provided in the Level 1 Instructor's Guide.
Level 2 - Student Workbook Download

Topics covered include: note values, stem direction, bar lines, time signatures, rests and rest values, counting, the piano keyboard, accidentals, semitones, tones, dynamics and dynamic changes, tempo and tempo changes. Answers are provided in the Level 2 Instructor's Guide.
Level 3 - Student Workbook Download

Topics covered include: the major scale, key signatures (C,F,G), eighth and sixteenth notes, beams, ties, slurs, dotted notes, eighth and sixteenth rests, articulation, the metronome, compound time, counting and grouping in compound time. Answers are provided in the Level 3 Instructor's Guide.
Level 4 - Student Workbook Download

Topics covered include: major scales up to 4 sharps and flats, key signatures, order of sharps and flats, compound time, triplets in simple time, rests in compound time, repeat signs, 1st and 2nd endings, da capo, del segno, fermata. Answers are provided in the Level 4 Instructor's Guide.
Level 5 - Student Workbook Download

Topics covered include: enharmonic equivalents, the chromatic scale, basic intervals, harmonic and melodic intervals, classification of intervals (major, perfect, minor), major and minor triads (root position), more on tempo, style and dynamics. Answers are provided in the Level 5 Instructor's Guide.
Level 6 - Student Workbook Download

Topics covered include: augmented and diminished intervals, natural minor scale, relative major and minor scales, harmonic minor scale, melodic minor scale, circle of fifths, minor key signatures, double sharps and flats, cut time, phrase markings, musical terms. Answers are provided in the Level 6 Instructor's Guide.
Level 7 - Student Workbook Download

Topics covered include: augmented and diminished triads, triads in inversion, open and closed triads, basic transposition by interval, concert pitch, additional time signatures, additional music terms. Answers are provided in the Level 7 Instructor's Guide.
Level 8 - Student Workbook Download

Topics covered include: compound intervals, inversion of intervals, chord symbols and lead sheets, seventh chords, other types of chords, complex time signatures, more musical terms. Answers are provided in the Level 8 Instructor's Guide.
Level 1 - Instructor's Guide Download

Topics covered include: the music alphabet, the staff, the octave, treble clef note names, bass clef note names, ledger lines, introduction to dynamics and tempo. A Level 1 Final Test and Answer Key are provided separately. Additional material within this Instructor’s Guide include ideas for music games, listening activities, rhythm exercises, etc. to reinforce the concepts being taught.
Level 2 - Instructor's Guide Download

Topics covered include: note values, stem direction, bar lines, time signatures, rests and rest values, counting, the piano keyboard, accidentals, semitones, tones, dynamics and dynamic changes, tempo and tempo changes. A Level 2 Final Test and Answer Key are provided separately. Additional material within this Instructor’s Guide include ideas for music games, listening activities, rhythm exercises, etc. to reinforce the concepts being taught.
Level 3 - Instructor's Guide Download

Topics covered include: the major scale, key signatures (C,F,G), eighth and sixteenth notes, beams, ties, slurs, dotted notes, eighth and sixteenth rests, articulation, the metronome, compound time, counting and grouping in compound time. A Level 3 Final Test and Answer Key are provided separately. Additional material within this Instructor’s Guide include ideas for music games, listening activities, rhythm exercises, etc. to reinforce the concepts being taught.
Level 4 - Instructor's Guide Download

Topics covered include: major scales up to 4 sharps and flats, key signatures, order of sharps and flats, compound time, triplets in simple time, rests in compound time, repeat signs, 1st and 2nd endings, da capo, del segno, fermata. A Level 4 Test and Answer Key are available separately. Additional material within this Instructor’s Guide include ideas for music games, listening activities, rhythm exercises, etc. to reinforce the concepts being taught.
Level 5 - Instructor's Guide Download

Topics covered include: enharmonic equivalents, the chromatic scale, basic intervals, harmonic and melodic intervals, classification of intervals (major, perfect, minor), major and minor triads (root position), more on tempo, style and dynamics. A Level 5 Final Test and Answer Key are provided separately. Additional material within this Instructor’s Guide include ideas for music games, listening activities, rhythm exercises, etc. to reinforce the concepts being taught.
Level 6 - Instructor's Guide Download

Topics covered include: augmented and diminished intervals, natural minor scale, relative major and minor scales, harmonic minor scale, melodic minor scale, circle of fifths, minor key signatures, double sharps and flats, cut time, phrase markings, musical terms. A Level 6 Final Test and Answer Key are provided separately. Additional material within this Instructor’s Guide include ideas for music games, listening activities, rhythm exercises, etc. to reinforce the concepts being taught.
Level 7 - Instructor's Guide Download

Topics covered include: augmented and diminished triads, triads in inversion, open and closed triads, basic transposition by interval, concert pitch, additional time signatures, additional music terms. A Level 7 Final Test and Answer Key are provided separately. Additional material within this Instructor’s Guide include ideas for music games, listening activities, rhythm exercises, etc. to reinforce the concepts being taught.
Level 8 - Instructor's Guide Download

Topics covered include: compound intervals, inversion of intervals, chord symbols and lead sheets, seventh chords, other types of chords, complex time signatures, more musical terms. A Level 8 Final Test and Answer Key are provided separately. Additional material within this Instructor’s Guide include ideas for music games, listening activities, rhythm exercises, etc. to reinforce the concepts being taught.
Level 1 - Final Test Download

This is the final test for Level 1. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 2.

Answers are provided in the Level 1 Final Test Answer Key.
Level 2 - Final Test Download

This is the final test for Level 2. A passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 3.

Answers are provided in the Level 2 Final Test Answer Key.
Level 3 - Final Test Download

This is the final test for Level 3. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 4.

Answers are provided in the Level 3 Final Test Answer Key.
Level 4 - Final Test Download

This is the final test for Level 4. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 5.

Answers are provided in the Level 4 Final Test Answer Key.
Level 5 - Final Test Download

This is the final test for Level 5. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 6.

Answers are provided in the Level 5 Final Test Answer Key.
Level 6 - Final Test Download

This is the final test for Level 6. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 7. Answers are provided in the Level 6 Final Test Answer Key.
Level 7 - Final Test Download

This is the final test for Level 7. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 8.

Answers are provided in the Level 7 Final Test Answer Key.
Level 8 - Final Test Download

This is the final test for Level 8.

Answers are provided in the Level 8 Final Test Answer Key.
Level 1 - Final Test (Answer Key) Download

This is the Level 1 Final Test Answer Key. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 2.
Level 2 - Final Test (Answer Key) Download

This is the Level 2 Final Test Answer Key. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 3.
Level 3 - Final Test (Answer Key) Download

This is the Level 3 Final Test Answer Key. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 4.
Level 4 - Final Test (Answer Key) Download

This is the Level 4 Final Test Answer Key. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 5.
Level 5 - Final Test (Answer Key) Download

This is the Level 5 Final Test Answer Key. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 6.
Level 6 - Final Test (Answer Key) Download

This is the Level 6 Final Test Answer Key. A passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 7.
Level 7 - Final Test (Answer Key) Download

This is the Level 7 Final Test Answer Key. Passing grade is recommended before proceeding to Level 8.
Level 8 - Final Test (Answer Key) Download

This is the Level 8 Final Test Answer Key.
Placement Test - Student Download

This is a placement test provided for students who are coming to a program or camp for the first time and are not sure what level they should start in.

Answers are provided in the Placement Test Answer Key.
Placement Test - Instructor Download

This placement test is provided for students who are coming to a program or camp for the first time and are not sure what level they should start in.