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Has anyone taken any online college courses for theory or anything music related? If yes, what did you think of it? I was looking at some classes and noticed most schools such as, Berklee and many others offer online courses for non-degree students too. I'm planning to do music theory on my own time as I don't need a private lesson for studying theory. I want the structure of a proper class versus randomly poking around on youtube or doing half of Udemy or coursera lesson.
Not a college, but I like RCM’s courses. I think they made some changes over the last couple years, though, in purchase options. Their theory is very solid.
Not a college, but I like RCM’s courses. I think they made some changes over the last couple years, though, in purchase options. Their theory is very solid.
I will take a look at that, didn't even know they offered courses.
Originally Posted by ShiroKuro
The Berklee one is really well-regarded as far as I've heard. I was actually going to do it but then decided I'm too busy. Some day perhaps...
Please give a report if you start one, on what you picked and why.
Of course! I'm learning towards trying taking some courses at Berklee because they offer discount if you bundle with a certificate series, they offer numerous free courses on coursera, and it would be great to get college credit for them too. I'll keep you posted.
Since they're self paced (at least I think most are) I would imagine I would start off strong then slowly fade and only do about half of the course. I like the idea of having a start/end date and going through a course with deliverables that are due and with fellow peers.
Since they're self paced (at least I think most are) I would imagine I would start off strong then slowly fade and only do about half of the course.
Ahh, that makes sense.
I've done several courses (just-for-fun topics) with The Great Courses, those are really mainly just listening, but I at least know that I have a "track record" of finishing something like that. (TGC are super expensive btw, but if you watch and wait you can find big discounts just fyi.)
Anyway, I'm off to go read more about the Udemy courses! Thanks for starting this thread Sebs!
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
Since they're self paced (at least I think most are) I would imagine I would start off strong then slowly fade and only do about half of the course.
Ahh, that makes sense.
I've done several courses (just-for-fun topics) with The Great Courses, those are really mainly just listening, but I at least know that I have a "track record" of finishing something like that. (TGC are super expensive btw, but if you watch and wait you can find big discounts just fyi.)
Anyway, I'm off to go read more about the Udemy courses! Thanks for starting this thread Sebs!
If you end up trying it out let us know how it is. I did sign up for Monthly.com course. They're 30 day long courses with deliverables and they have a start and end date. Similar to Udemy, being online and the content is already developed except you go through the course with a cohort of peers. I'll let you know how that one goes after I complete it.
Hmm, I'm googling around still, but I was able to find the teacher of the Udemy course, he has a PhD 's a prof at a uni in Minnesota, and I found his dissertation (bc that's the kind of nerd I am...)
I suspect that almost the entire contents of the beginner courses (1-3) would be review, but I also suspect that I would struggle in the upper courses without reviewing... hmmm
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
P.S. It looks like there are multiple versions/options for music theory classes on Udemy. Ugh, that means I actually have to like read up about them all to make an intelligent choice.
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
BTW, I just took a quiz on the MyMusicTheory website that's supposed to tell you about what level you're at from the perspective of the ABRSM music theory tests.
I was placed at level 2-3. In my defense, there were several questions that require you to be familiar with other clefs (i.e., neither treble or bass clef) and I am clueless about those! But there were also questions (like about chords and scales) where I was thinking, um, yeah, I should totally know that... but nope, I knew I would get it wrong.
Expensive but worth checking out are the Robert Greenberg music courses. These are old-school, college level semester courses (20-50+ hours each). https://robertgreenbergmusic.com/courses/
BTW, I just took a quiz on the MyMusicTheory website that's supposed to tell you about what level you're at from the perspective of the ABRSM music theory tests.
I was placed at level 2-3. In my defense, there were several questions that require you to be familiar with other clefs (i.e., neither treble or bass clef) and I am clueless about those! But there were also questions (like about chords and scales) where I was thinking, um, yeah, I should totally know that... but nope, I knew I would get it wrong.
A lot of it, possibly all of it, will be review, but if I can get it to be more active rather than passive understanding, that would be good.
I'll report back!!
I was struggling with this. I took a sample quiz by Berkley and it said I should begin with Theory 201, however, the quiz was only 10 questions. I was thinking if starting with foundations or 101 before 201. I also took the ABRSM quiz and passed on 1-3. I might also just do the udemy class too. What a time we live in to have all these options. Part of me wants to start at square 1 as review too but then I might waste some time but I guess review is always good to reinforce.
Originally Posted by Groove On
Expensive but worth checking out are the Robert Greenberg music courses. These are old-school, college level semester courses (20-50+ hours each). https://robertgreenbergmusic.com/courses/
Re what level to start at... My plan is to start at the beginning (hopefully speeding through the lower lessons) so that I am very comfortable with how the teacher presents things.
Re Robert Greenberg, he's great! But his Fundamentals of Music (which is available through The Great Courses) is not so much a "course" as it is one-way lectures with zero exercises, tests etc. For me, that kind of presentation goes in one ear and out the other! No application, no reinforcement by doing activities and quizzes etc., and no connection to music you might be playing yourself.
Still, he's great to listen to (like, while you're doing something else). I just don't think of that style of course as something that is really effective...
Let's see what I have to say after I start Udemy...
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
The Australian musical teaching organisation does online theory courses. I don’t think it’s restricted to locals. They are very well put together with a mix of video instructions and written (on-screen) materials. And a test at the end of each sub-module - if you don’t do those you’re just kidding yourself.
They had some of them available free during the pandemic so I did the first three levels and really enjoyed them. And I’m someone who usually prefers self-tuition, so they must have been good. I learnt a lot.
You can do the Berklee and the University of Edinburg theory classes through Coursera. I did both of them. If you are new to music theory, I would start with the Berklee one. The theory is quite basic and there is ear training too. The teacher is so motivating and fun. Fundamentals of Music Theory is more intense. At the end you have to analyze a piece. I did it twice and the first time you analyzed part of a Mozart string quartet. The second time it was part of a sonata so you only had to deal with the treble and bass clef. I learned a lot but I remember spending a lot of time on it and I had already gone through a theory book that our state colleges use in music theory programs in the first year for music majors with my piano teacher.
Do consider and give this a try. A series of 97 music theory lessons.
Last edited by mmatthew; 07/06/2107:47 AM.
A man must love a thing very much if he practices it without any hope of fame or money, but even practice it without any hope of doing it well. Such a man must love the toils of the work more than any other man can love the rewards of it. G. K. Chesterton
You can do the Berklee and the University of Edinburg theory classes through Coursera. I did both of them. If you are new to music theory, I would start with the Berklee one. The theory is quite basic and there is ear training too. The teacher is so motivating and fun. Fundamentals of Music Theory is more intense. At the end you have to analyze a piece. I did it twice and the first time you analyzed part of a Mozart string quartet. The second time it was part of a sonata so you only had to deal with the treble and bass clef. I learned a lot but I remember spending a lot of time on it and I had already gone through a theory book that our state colleges use in music theory programs in the first year for music majors with my piano teacher.
Which Berklee one did you do? I looked on Coursera and did not see any theory ones by Berklee. I only saw Fundamentals of Music Theory by Eidenburg and Devloping Your Musicianship by Berklee. I have a pretty good foundation on theory. These do sound like they could be good options except they are self paced so not sure if I'd stay motivated in them but worth a shot at no cost for sure.
Those are the two I took. The Berklee one may be too basic but it was fun. At the time I took these, there were assignments every week . I think Coursera has changed the format so you can start and end at any time now. You also were graded but now I think you have to pay for that. I much preferred the way it was previously done as it was much like a regular course.
Those are the two I took. The Berklee one may be too basic but it was fun. At the time I took these, there were assignments every week . I think Coursera has changed the format so you can start and end at any time now. You also were graded but now I think you have to pay for that. I much preferred the way it was previously done as it was much like a regular course.
Thanks! Good to know. I will take a look at these.
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