Theory Lessons

We offer a comprehensive list of theory courses to complement studies of any musical instruments and high school accreditation in accordance with the Royal Conservatory of Music Examination syllabus.  With our advanced teaching tools and experienced instructors, 90% of our enrolled students score higher than the national average score in RCM exams, an enviable testament to our school's successful instructional methods of teaching that are systematic and effective.

Theory classes of all levels commence every February (Winter session), May (Spring session), July (Summer session) and September (Fall session). The Spring session (weekly classes) and the Summer session (daily classes) prepare enrolled students for the August RCM exams whereas the Fall session (weekly classes) and the Winter session (weekly classes) are offered in preparation for the December and May RCM exams respectively.  For more details, please contact our staff during office hours.

Basic Rudiments

(Previously Preliminary Rudiments)

Intermediate Rudiments

(Previously Rudiments I)

Advanced Rudiments

(Previously Rudiments II)

Basic elements of musical notation will be covered:
- Pitch
- Key signatures-up to 4 sharps and 4 flats
- Rhythms-simple time only
- Scales-major and minor
- Intervals-above a given note
- Triads
- Recognition of keys
- Transposition-from clef to clef, octave to octave
- Musical terms and signs

The following topics will be covered:
- Pitch-double sharps and double flats
- Rhythm-simple and compound time, including irregular groupings
- Scales-major and minor (natural, harmonic and melodic)
- Intervals
- Triads
- Recognition of keys
- Transposition in major keys
- Cadences in chorale style
- Musical terms and signs

The following topics will be covered:
- Clefs-including alto and tenor clefs
- Rhythm-simple time, compound time and 5/4 7/8 10/16
- Diatonic Scales
- Chromatic Scales
- Intervals
- Chords-major, minor, augmented, diminished and dominant 7th.
- Cadences-perfect and plagal
- Transposition
- Open score
- Musical terms and signs

Comprehensive Intermediate Rudiments

(Previously Comprehensive Rudiments I)

Comprehensive Advanced Rudiments

(Previously Comprehensive Rudiments II)

This course covers all the topics in:
- Basic Rudiments
- Intermediate Rudiments

This course covers all the topics in:
- Basic Rudiments
- Intermediate Rudiments
- Advanced Rudiments

Basic Harmony

(Previously Harmony III)

Intermediate Harmony

(Previously Harmony IV)

Advanced Harmony

(Previously Harmony V)

The following topics will be covered:
- Chords (all inversions)-all triads, V7, II7,cadential 6/4, secondary dominants (V/V and V7/V only)
- Non chord tones-passing notes, neighboring notes, echappees, appoggiaturas, suspensions and anticipations
- Melody writing in major keys
- Harmonization in major keys
- Harmonic analyses in major and minor keys
- Structural analysis in major and minor keys

The following topics will be covered:
- Materials required for Harmony III, in major and minor keys
- V9, V13, diatonic 7th and secondary dominants with all inversions
- Secondary diminished 7th of V with all inversions
- Modulation to closely related keys
- Non-chord tones of all types
- Melody writing-major and minor keys
- Harmonization-major and minor keys
- Harmonic analysis
- Structural analysis

The following topics will be covered:
- Materials required for Grade III Harmony, Grade IV Harmony and Grade IV Counterpoint
- Advanced rise of secondary dominants and secondary diminished 7ths.
- Altered chords (e.g. Augmented 6th, Neapolitan 6th and diminished 7th.
- Modulation to closely related and remote keys.

History 1

(Overview)

(Previously History III)

History 2

(Middle Ages to Classical)

(Previously History IV)

History 3

(19th Century to Present)

(Previously History V)

The following topics will be covered:
- General knowledge of the Romantic period
- Lives, music and styles of important composers of the Romantic period
- Specific compositions
- Definition of terms and forms with names of composers and compositions

The following topics will be covered:
- Knowledge of music of the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical periods
- Specific compositions
- Definition of terms and forms with names of composers and compositions

The following topics will be covered:
- General knowledge of the 20th century
- Music of Canada in the 20th century
- Lives, music and styles of important composers of the 20th century
- Specific compositions
- Definitions of terms and forms etc.

Counterpoint

(Previously Counterpoint IV)

Analysis

(Previously Analysis V)

The following topics will be covered:
- Add a bass part to a given soprano melody. Continue the style of the opening to create a unified contrapuntal composition in Baroque style.
- Add a soprano melody to a given bass. Continue the style of the opening to create a unified contrapuntal composition in Baroque style.
- To a given part, add a second part in invertible counterpoint at the octave  or 15th to create a composition with imitation or subject and counter subject.
- Analysis of a fugal exposition: identify subject, real and tonal answers, counter subjects, codetta, stretto redundant entries and counter exposition.

Students are taught forms, detailed analysis and full chord symbols. 

Forms to cover:
- Binary
- Rounded Binary
- Ternary
- Rondo
- Theme and Variations
- Sonata form
- Fugue
- Song-strophic, modified strophic, through-composed