1.

CITATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

Title: Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory 2.0 Student Version Vol. 1-3
Author:
Publisher: Alfred Publishing Co. Inc.
Date: Copyright 2003
Content: Beginning Theory, Intermediate Theory and Late Intermediate Theory
Grade: Appropriate for Beginning Music Students to Medium Level Theory Students
Class: Music Theory for Secondary Instrumental and Choral Music
Hardware: Windows and Macintosh
Peripherals: Standard Audio Playback

2. INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT
Specific Musical Content:
Volume 1
Treble and Bass Clefs with optional Alto and Tenor Clef
4/4, 3/4, 2/4, Time Signatures
Flats, Sharps, and Naturals
Whole and Half Steps
Dynamic Signs, Tempo Markings, and Articulations
Up to 8th Notes and Rests
Volume 2
Major Scales
Key Signatures
Intervals
3/8 and 6/8 Time Signatures
Triads and V7 Chords

Volume 3
1st and 2nd Inversions of Triads
Figured Bass
Chord Progressions
Minor Scales and Triads
Modes
Harmonizing and Composing Melodies
12 Bar Blues Chord Progression and Blues Scale
Basic Forms

Procedures - Operation/Program Flow:

Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory 2.0 Student Version Vol. 1-3 begins with the most
fundamental elements of elementary theory and through each lesson adds on another element to
lead up to chord vocabulary and basic forms.
 Educational Objectives:
Knowledge, Comprehensions, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation

Instructional Mode:
Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Discovery Simulation

Program Structure: Student Directed

Sequence of Materials: Excellent

Pace of Instruction: Excellent

Quality of Interaction: Excellent

3. RECORD KEEPING
Hall of Fame: NO
Student Records: YES

4. OVERALL EVALUATION
This product for educating Music Theory is excellent. It
paces extremely well starting with the most fundamental
elements of music theory and continuously adding on
various elements to lead to the final volume that deals with harmonization and basic forms. In addition,
it is highly interactive with many opportunities to drill with instant feedback on your success in the
drilling and unlimited attempts at the drills. All of the drills culminate at the end of the lessons with
lesson quizzes. All quizzes can be exported and printed off so that the students have a hard copy of their
grade. The software also allows teachers to import their own lessons and quizzes in the custom section
of the software.

One item I didn’t especially care for was the presentation of the notes on the staves. The range started
on A2 in the Bass to A3 and A4 to A4 in the treble. I would have liked to seen the more classic
approach and pneumonic devices of Every Good Boy Does Fine and FACE or Good Boys Do Fine
Always or All Cows Eat Grass. However, I do understand why they taught it they way they did to
correspond with the first 7 letters of the alphabet.