Music Theory Rudiments are simply the fundamental music elements such as notes or musical notation, the use of these notes as pitch as used in a master staff, application of rhythm or time, note intervals, key signatures, music scales and music chords.

The rudiments of music are the definitions used in the structure of music to allow you to create then communicate that song to others. In the classical sense they are the parts of music theory used to define melody and harmony.

Here at the Music Theory Workshop we call these the music principles and help you learn the rules governing the use and interrelationship of the various parts.

How to Study Rudiments of Music

There are a few different ways that one studies these various elements of music. In typical teaching methods this is done with books which look at technique, performance, and theory where the music theory is taught in a catch as catch can way. This doesn’t use a holistic approach and causes the student to take years to learn the composition of music rudiments.

We believe this is a poor method of teaching the fundamentals of music and that a more structured method that puts a lot of emphasis on learning the music rules in a more focused manner serves the student much better.

Music Theory Rudiments Notation

This is the first place you will start. We have dedicated a notes workshop that covers just the notation issue.

The first is simply learning the notes on a piano keyboard, you might call it music theory rudiments piano, but this lesson starts with how notes are named and basic symbols. Then it uses a story and pattern recognition teaching method for the person that has never learned where the notes are to quickly get them oriented to using this visual aid.

Second is in learning the notation is the music rudiment of pitch where you learn the master staff in its entirety in one lesson. When you are done you will be able to recite all the notes on both staves in under 40 seconds.

The third part of learning the notation is note intervals. And that’s simply learning the distance between notes and the patterns they produce. Learning this one rudiment of music can do wonders for your playing and sight reading.

Additionally we have each of these note lessons in individual form should you want to focus specifically on one area.

Rudiments First Year Musical Theory

The next place to continue and actually use in parallel to notes is rhythm which shows how music notation is used to develop a flow of music. Combining pitch and time is creating melody.

Rhythm is taught as a secondary part of learning songs. We believe that one should learn rhythm as a part of a continuum and study it alongside notes. The rhythm workshop uses a 4 step process to master rhythm.

Some people only require a few basic patterns lessons to catch on. Others, and I mean most need to continually work on this and various patterns to become proficient.

The meat of the music elements is in learning Key Signatures, Scales, and Chords. These music composition rudiments need to be studied together. However, each can be taught separately and built upon to enhance the learning process of the other.

Learning Rudiments of Music

There are two approaches to learning these music principles. The first is in the targeted workshop and individual lessons and this works for those that need to concentrate in a certain music rudiment to break through in that specific element of music.

The second is in a full music theory course that allows you to learn in a sequential but cross element fashion. That is it allows you to work across these various music rules to concentrate on shorter lessons per element and get a quicker exposure to each of the music rudiments.

When learning music a concentrated focus on the theory of music will serve you well. If you focus on two lessons a month you can cover the necessary knowledge which usually takes four to six years of study in most studio type lessons.

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