Theory Books-whats Good?

Forums Rules

A shortened version of the Forums Rules is given below. The full version can be found here.

By maintaining a user account and by posting to these forums, you hereby agree to abide by these rules.

FORUMS RULES - A SNAPSHOT
- Stay safe - protect your privacy and respect the privacy of others
- No abusive, offensive or aggressive postings
- No insults or personal attacks
- No foul language
- No trolling
- No inappropriate or illegal material
- No advertising (including "For Sale" or "Wanted" adverts)
- No crossposting
- No forum spamming
- No defamatory comments
- Avoid using jargon, abbreviations or "text talk"

Theory Books-whats Good?

Options

Fillyjonk	Mar 24 2009, 02:55 PM Post #1
Member Group: Members Posts: 62 Joined: 9-September 08 Member No.: 39251	I think I need a better theoretical background than I can pick up from just playing. Its annoying me that I don't know what all the rests are called, and that I am struggling sometimes with the names of the really high notes. I am an adult restarter am working on the grade 5 pieces atm, really just because I happen to like them, I have no idea really what standard I am. No particular plans to actually take grades (did that 20 years ago!). Also, over the summer I anticipate a few weeks when I am to be forcibly separated from my violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (hotel rooms, sensitive-eared relatives) and I want something music-related so I feel that I am doing something to help my progress. Am quite happy to work towards Grade 5 theory, I assume that most workbooks are geared towards that? I am sure that my violin teacher can answer any questions. But what books have people found helpful? I am always quite keen on lots of background info, and I like to know why things are the way they are, iykwim-am not so keen on memorizing lists. Thoughts?

Tortellini	Mar 24 2009, 03:38 PM Post #2
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 955 Joined: 6-December 06 From: Italy Member No.: 8579	I have quite a few! I have Take 5 and pass first time - which is really clear and I would say good if you are working towards the exam. http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/012049/details.html I also have the pink and blue ABRSM theory books which I find really interesting as they have more background information - a bit too much to start with tbh which is why I switched back to the Take 5 book and now I feel I have the basics more or less under control I am enjoying the ABRSM books more. Here is the pink book. http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/011274/details.html

skylark	Mar 24 2009, 06:13 PM Post #3
Unregistered	Hi Fillyjonk, I've got quite a number of theory books up to G5 and this is what I posted last year about them.... QUOTE(skylark @ Jul 26 2008, 11:37 AM) There are several books etc you could use for Grade 5. The ABRSM ones are: Music Theory in Practice - this gives some brief explanations and lots of exercises to do. No answers though, so you could do with finding a teacher to make sure your answers are right. I found that even though I was confident I'd got the right answers, my confidence was sometimes misplaced when my teacher marked my answers! First Steps in Music Theory - I find this an excellent little pocket book. It covers everything grade by grade from 1 to 5, so it's all in manageable chunks and you're not overwhelmed with more information than you need to know. The AB Guide to Music Theory Part 1 (the pink book) - I find this book very offputting. There's a mass of information, presented very badly (in my opinion), and I probably would have been put off theory for life if I'd had to use this book. Only my opinion though, others may love it. Past Papers - you can get sets of papers for each grade, and you can also get model answers as well. It's well worth while doing several sets to get used to the format of the questions. Sometimes they throw in what I would regard as a "trick" question, and it's useful to have come across these in the past. There are quite a few non-ABRSM books which are also very useful, eg Take 5 and Pass First Time - Christopher Dunn Pass Grade 5 Theory - Dorothy Dingle Some of the books have been discussed in more detail in previous threads - just click on the links below: Take 5 (and other books) Theory of Music books QUOTE(Fillyjonk @ Mar 24 2009, 02:55 PM) I am always quite keen on lots of background info, and I like to know why things are the way they are I think the book which gives the most background info, in reader-friendly explanations, is Dorothy Dingle's book, and there are also lots of exercises in it which you might enjoy doing whilst you're without your violin. No answers though, but if there's anything you're uncertain about, you can always ask on here.

gedall40	Mar 24 2009, 07:13 PM Post #4
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2031 Joined: 15-July 08 From: Kenilworth Member No.: 35143	I have just taken Grade 5 theory, and like you had absolutely no background knowledge. I used just two books, the pink and blue ABRSM books (both are needed for Grade 5) but I got most help from my teacher. She would ask me to answer one question on a test paper, then explain how to do it when it was clear I did not know how. The valuable help which she gave was in showing me exactly how to answer the question. I then did lots of test papers, and other posters in Theory and Composition support this approach. Now I just need to know how I did (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

maledictis	Mar 25 2009, 05:55 PM Post #5
Unregistered	QUOTE(gedall40 @ Mar 24 2009, 07:13 PM) Now I just need to know how I did (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Possibly best we wait for that information before we take your advice... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (just kidding (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )

gedall40	Mar 26 2009, 06:10 PM Post #6
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2031 Joined: 15-July 08 From: Kenilworth Member No.: 35143	QUOTE(maledictis @ Mar 25 2009, 05:55 PM) Possibly best we wait for that information before we take your advice... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (just kidding (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/howDoYouDo.gif) OK here's the deal. If I have passed you will all know about it. And if you never hear from me again - you can guess the rest for yourself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Today it is exactly three weeks since I took the exam - only another three more to go.........

miss sooky	Mar 27 2009, 09:18 AM Post #7
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 444 Joined: 28-December 07 Member No.: 22222	Aw, Good Luck - I hope the results come very soon and are what you hope they will be.

gedall40	Apr 6 2009, 10:38 AM Post #8
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2031 Joined: 15-July 08 From: Kenilworth Member No.: 35143	QUOTE(gedall40 @ Mar 26 2009, 07:10 PM) QUOTE(maledictis @ Mar 25 2009, 05:55 PM) Possibly best we wait for that information before we take your advice... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (just kidding (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/howDoYouDo.gif) OK here's the deal. If I have passed you will all know about it. And if you never hear from me again - you can guess the rest for yourself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Today it is exactly three weeks since I took the exam - only another three more to go......... Just heard my result for Grade 5 Theory. You were right to be cautious Carol ----------------- only 96%!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/jumpin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif) I am nearly 69 years old and this is my first ever theory paper!

maggiemay	Apr 6 2009, 10:40 AM Post #9
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 18175 Joined: 12-January 04 From: S E England Member No.: 413	Great result! many congratulations, Gedall and very well done. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif)

The Old Lady	Apr 6 2009, 03:00 PM Post #10
Unregistered	Congratulations (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/jumpin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif)

miss sooky	Apr 7 2009, 08:44 AM Post #11
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 444 Joined: 28-December 07 Member No.: 22222	QUOTE(gedall40 @ Apr 6 2009, 11:38 AM) QUOTE(gedall40 @ Mar 26 2009, 07:10 PM) QUOTE(maledictis @ Mar 25 2009, 05:55 PM) Possibly best we wait for that information before we take your advice... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (just kidding (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/howDoYouDo.gif) OK here's the deal. If I have passed you will all know about it. And if you never hear from me again - you can guess the rest for yourself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Today it is exactly three weeks since I took the exam - only another three more to go......... Just heard my result for Grade 5 Theory. You were right to be cautious Carol ----------------- only 96%!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/jumpin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif) I am nearly 69 years old and this is my fist every theory paper! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/jumpin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) Well done!

maledictis	Apr 10 2009, 11:04 AM Post #12
Unregistered	QUOTE(gedall40 @ Apr 6 2009, 11:38 AM) QUOTE(maledictis @ Mar 25 2009, 05:55 PM) Possibly best we wait for that information before we take your advice... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (just kidding (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ) Just heard my result for Grade 5 Theory. You were right to be cautious Carol ----------------- only 96%!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/jumpin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif) I am nearly 69 years old and this is my first ever theory paper! Tut, tut - what happened to the other 4%? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (Congratulations really! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )

gedall40	Apr 10 2009, 01:54 PM Post #13
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2031 Joined: 15-July 08 From: Kenilworth Member No.: 35143	Thank you everyone for you kind congratulations! What happened to those four marks - do you know what? I don't care (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) . I have enjoyed doing Grade 5 theory, but now I know I can just concentrate on improving my flute playing, for as long as I can still work out which way to hold it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) .

miss sooky	Apr 10 2009, 05:36 PM Post #14
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 444 Joined: 28-December 07 Member No.: 22222	QUOTE(gedall40 @ Apr 10 2009, 02:54 PM) Thank you everyone for you kind congratulations! What happened to those four marks - do you know what? I don't care (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) . I have enjoyed doing Grade 5 theory, but now I know I can just concentrate on improving my flute playing, for as long as I can still work out which way to hold it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) . I am waiting with baited breath to see the 'what comes next' part of your signature change . . .!

« Next Oldest · Adult Learners · Next Newest »