The Anthropology of Sound
Prof. Stefan Helmreich
Explore the cultural meanings of sound and music with Prof. Helmreich's MIT course, "The Anthropology of Sound." Delve into music theory!
More resources on Music Theory
Fundamentals of Music Theory
This course, revised in 2022, will introduce you to the theory of music, providing you with the skills needed to read and write Western music notation, as well as to understand, analyse, and listen informedly. It will cover material such as pitches and scales, intervals, clefs, rhythm, form, metre and time signatures, phrases and cadences, and basic harmony. This course covers the fundamentals of Western music theory, from the absolute basics to some more advanced concepts. As such, it delivers material for beginners and offers much to experienced musicians alike. Learners can apply for Financial Aid directly with Coursera to assist with the cost of accessing the full course and gaining a certificate for successfully completing the course.
Listening to Music — MUSI 112 (Yale / Open Yale Courses)
23 full video lectures by Professor Craig Wright on how Western music is constructed — rhythm, melody, harmonic progressions, and form. Free. Transforms how you approach any instrument.
Developing Your Musicianship specialization (Berklee / Coursera)
Four courses by George W. Russell Jr. covering major/minor tonalities, chord scales, song forms, and ear training — free to audit individually. A comprehensive musicianship foundation from Berklee.
PianoTV (Allysia Van Betuw)
Beginner-friendly theory integrated with piano learning. ~148K YouTube subscribers, also runs the companion site pianotv.net.
Adam Neely
Deep music theory essays — rhythm, harmony, and form explored with intellectual rigour and rare clarity. ~1.81M subscribers.
Open Music Theory
Learn music theory and analysis with Open Music Theory, a comprehensive and accessible online course. Explore harmony, form, and more!