Pre-Reading Series
The Magic of Music Theory is a workbook series for young string players that teaches music theory, and aural skills. Students learn music theory from the perspective of the violin, viola or cello fingerboard! This series reinforces concepts taught in the lesson with workbook pages, games, and activities to do at home. This pre-reading series is perfect for the young beginner who has not begun reading notes on the staff, but is learning to play by ear. Developed for use in private violin lessons, this series allows the practice partner to help the student prepare to read music. These short, fun, engaging lessons introduce the student drawing and recognizing to basic note values, the music alphabet, parts of the violin, fingerboard pitches, dynamics and much more. This series can also be easily used for group class instruction whether it is a specific instrument, or a mix of all the three instruments. Students learn in their specific clef and their specific fingerboard.
Pre-Reading Level A
What’s in The Magic of Music Theory Pre-Reading A?
- Music Alphabet
- String Family
- Right Hand vs Left Hand
- Identify 1st Position A and E String (violin) or D and A String (viola/cello) Fingerboard Pitches
- Draw and Identify Basic Note Values – Quarter Note, Half Note, Whole Note, Dotted Half Note
- Dynamic Symbols – Forte and Piano
- Aural Skills: High & Low, Loud & Soft, Same or Different, and to Identify Open Strings A or E (violin), D or A (viola/cello)
Pre-Reading Level B
What’s in The Magic of Music Theory PreReading B?
- Music Alphabet
- String Quartet
- Right Hand vs Left Hand
- Identify Fingerboard Pitches on the D and G string (violin), or G and C string (viola/cello)
- Introduce Note Values & Rests – Quarter Note, Half Note, Dotted Half Note, Whole Note, Quarter Rest, Half Rest, Whole Rest
- Time Signatures – 4/4, 3/4, 2/4
- Line Notes vs Space Notes
- Introduce the Three Clefs
- Compose on the G and D string (violin) or G and C string (viola/cello)
- Dynamic Symbols – Forte, Piano, Mezzo Forte
- Staff Lines and Spaces
- Aural Skills: Up and Down, Forte and Piano, Long and Short, Identify All Open Strings
