Introduction to Music Fundamentals and Lead-Sheet Terminology

Book excerpt: INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC FUNDAMENTALS AND LEAD-SHEET TERMINOLOGY is intended for the beginning commercial musician. This book assumes no technical knowledge of music and starts from the premise that the reader is either currently (or soon to be) involved in private music study with someone who teaches an instrument (or voice) or plans to become proficient through self instruction and practical experience. The concise format presented here offers an accelerated program that gets the beginning musician up and running within a relatively short span of time. Chapters 1 through 9 provide a technical foundation for the survey of chord descriptions in Chapter 10. The opening chapter introduces notes and rests, concepts in rhythm and meter, repeat signs, and performance directions. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 present the subjects of pitch, scale, and key signature. Intervals, the minor mode, triads, and seventh chords follow in Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 9. Since a significant portion of commercial music and jazz involves scales and modes that are neither major nor minor, the topic of church modes is explored in Chapter 8. Chapter 10 outlines and analyzes the chord symbols typically represented in lead sheets. More than 220 music examples demonstrate the concepts presented in the text. 170 pages.