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Andrew J. Smith

"Sometimes it takes one person to give a different slant on something we don't understand to help us understand it." - Derek

"Everything about this course is fantastic especially for beginners. I highly recommend it. " - Adriana

After completing Music Mastermind , you will have a deep understanding of how to actually USE the seven essential elements of music theory... without the fluffy nerd stuff.

Read more

"Sometimes it takes one person to give a different slant on something we don't understand to help us understand it." - Derek

"Everything about this course is fantastic especially for beginners. I highly recommend it. " - Adriana

After completing Music Mastermind , you will have a deep understanding of how to actually USE the seven essential elements of music theory... without the fluffy nerd stuff.

Andrew Smith, music educator, believes that everyone can understand and play music. Now, his premium music theory course is available on Udemy. It is designed for both complete beginners and somewhat-established musicians who want a deeper understanding of music.

You can be playing and understanding music in no time.

Andrew simplifies complicated topics with straight-forward, structured, and energetic teaching - so get ready to make music like a seasoned musician.

This course is complete with helpful materials (including diagrams, worksheets, and journal pages), you will experience music like never before. All of the concepts that are taught in this course are immediately relevant, valuable, and guaranteed to improve your musical abilities.

If you are ready to take your musical abilities to the next level, this is the course for you.

Are you ready to become a Music Mastermind? Let's get started today.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • The seven elements of music
  • How the seven elements work together
  • Musical concepts that will improve your ability to read, write, and perform music
  • How to critically evaluate different song structures
  • Song-writing and team-building techniques of professional musicians

Syllabus

Fundamental Concepts
Rhythm - It's just Recurrence!
Melody - You Make Melody Every Day!
Harmony - When Pitches Work Together (Part 1)
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Harmony - When Pitches Work Together (Part 2)

Time to test your knowledge thus far! Let's do it!

Timbre - The COLOR of SOUND?!?
Quick Question for You
Texture - How do the Layers Feel?
Dynamics - Giving Power to Your Sound
Form - It's Way Better than Your Taxes!
Philosophy - How To Know if YOU are Musical
Test Time!
Congratulations! Moving on to Module 2!
Practical Theory Explained
Rhythm - What is the "Beat", Really?
Melody - Seeing the Space Between the Notes
Harmony - Striking a Chord
Module 2 Quiz
Timbre - Choosing the Instrument that is Right for You
Texture - When Voices Interact
Dynamics - Communicating Dynamics with Other Musician
Form - The A's and B's
Philosophy - Should You Practice LESS???
Module 2 Test
Breaking Through Your Musical Plateau
Rhythm - How to EASILY Master Time Signatures
Melody - Scaling to New Heights
Harmony - Same Old Notes, Brand New Sounds
Module 3 Quiz
Timbre - One Instrument, Many Colors
Texture - How Texture Crafts Your Sound
Dynamics - Not All Instruments are Created Equal
Form - Repetition is Important, it is Also Important
Philosophy - Why is Music So Important, Anyway?
Module 3 Test
Average Joe, Sounding Pro
Rhythm - How to Get People Moving (Part 1)
Rhythm - How to Get People Moving (Part 2)
Melody - Are You Ready to Fit In?
Harmony - Making Chords Just "Flow"
Module 4 Quiz
Timbre - What is Your Role?
Texture - Communicating with Different Textures
Dynamics - Creating Artistic Sections in Your Work
Form - SECRET: Improvisation is not Really Improvised
Philosophy - What is Music All About?
Module 4 Test
Reaching for the Top
Rhythm - Adding Spice to Your Rhythms
Melody - Shaping the Melody Line
Harmony - How to Find and Use Unique Sounds
M5 Quiz
Timbre - Warning: Music Nerd Alert!
Texture - How to be the BEST Band Member
Dynamics - It is Not Supposed to be CHUNKY (Usually...)
Form - Form for the Singer-Songwriter
Philosophy - THE Simple Question that is HARD to Answer
M5 Test
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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Music Mastermind: Learn the 7 Elements of Music! with these activities:
Review Basic Music Theory
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental music theory concepts before diving into the course. This will help you grasp the core elements more easily.
Browse courses on Music
Show steps
  • Review scales and key signatures.
  • Practice identifying intervals.
  • Study basic chord progressions.
Explore 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd Edition'
Use this book as a reference to solidify your understanding of music theory concepts. It provides clear explanations and examples to aid in comprehension.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on scales and chords.
  • Study the sections on rhythm and time signatures.
  • Review the concepts of form and analysis.
Read 'Music Theory for Dummies'
Supplement your learning with a comprehensive guide to music theory. This book can provide additional explanations and examples to clarify concepts covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on rhythm and melody.
  • Study the sections on harmony and chords.
  • Review the concepts of form and structure.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Compose a Short Melody
Apply your knowledge of the seven elements by composing a short melody. This will help you internalize the concepts and develop your musical creativity.
Show steps
  • Choose a key and time signature.
  • Create a melody using the chosen elements.
  • Add harmony and dynamics to your melody.
  • Record or notate your composition.
Ear Training Exercises
Improve your ability to recognize musical elements by practicing ear training exercises. This will enhance your understanding of harmony, melody, and rhythm.
Show steps
  • Use an online ear training tool.
  • Practice identifying intervals and chords.
  • Transcribe simple melodies by ear.
Analyze a Song's Structure
Deepen your understanding of musical form by analyzing the structure of a song. This will help you identify the different sections and how they contribute to the overall composition.
Show steps
  • Choose a song to analyze.
  • Identify the different sections (verse, chorus, bridge, etc.).
  • Analyze the harmonic and melodic content of each section.
  • Write a report summarizing your findings.
Create a Chord Voicing Chart
Develop your understanding of harmony by creating a chord voicing chart. This will help you explore different ways to arrange chords and create interesting textures.
Show steps
  • Choose a set of chords to work with.
  • Experiment with different voicings for each chord.
  • Notate your voicings in a chart or spreadsheet.
  • Analyze the effect of each voicing on the overall sound.

Career center

Learners who complete Music Mastermind: Learn the 7 Elements of Music! will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Music Mastermind: Learn the 7 Elements of Music!.
Provides a very accessible introduction to music theory, covering the basics of rhythm, melody, harmony, and form. It's a great resource for beginners who want a gentle introduction to the subject matter covered in the course. The book's clear explanations and simple examples make it an ideal companion for those with little to no prior musical knowledge, and it can serve as a helpful reference throughout the course.
As part of the 'For Dummies' series, this book offers a straightforward and easy-to-understand approach to music theory. It covers the core concepts in a clear and concise manner, making it suitable for beginners. It can be used as a reference guide to reinforce the concepts taught in the course, and its practical exercises can help solidify understanding.

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