Skip to main content

JuilliardX: JX001x Music Theory 101

Course Syllabus

Your six modules of online study will be led by Prof. Steve Laitz, Chair of the Music Theory Department and Assistant Dean for Curricular Development at The Juilliard School. Each module will offer instructional videos, quizzes, interactive tools, and downloadable worksheets. 

During this course, you will:

  • Explore and apply fundamental music theory concepts like pitch, tonality, mode, key, dissonance, rhythm, and meter.
  • Write a simple 8- or 16-measure melody that demonstrates your understanding of course concepts.
  • Develop critical listening skills that enhance your appreciation of music.

For your final project, you will write a simple 8- or 16-measure composition in a specific key and meter in which you apply all concepts that you learned throughout the course. 

Objectives Assignments

Module 1: Pitch and Tonality

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • define how sound is generated
  • identify pitch names and their relation to high and low sounds
  • describe the impact of sharps and flats on a pitch
  • explain how the musical language we know as tonality drives musical flow
  • complete Quiz 1: Pitch
  • complete Quiz 2: Tonality
  • complete Module 1 Practice and Learn
  • explore Composition Project: Intro
Objectives Assignments
Module 2: Notation and Intervals

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • identify important advances in Western music notation
  • read and write basic pitch notation
  • measure melodic and harmonic intervals
  • complete Quiz 1: The Beginnings of Notation
  • complete Quiz 2: How to Read Pitches
  • complete Quiz 3: Introduction to Intervals
  • complete Module 2 Practice and Learn
  • complete Composition Project: Melodic Line in Treble and Bass Clefs
Objectives Assignments
Module 3: Note Values and Meter

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • identify common note values and rests
  • identify basic elements of pulse and rhythm
  • explain how beats are grouped into meters
  • demonstrate an understanding of meter signature
  • complete Quiz 1: Note Values
  • complete Quiz 2: Grouping and Expectation
  • complete Quiz 3: Meter
  • complete Module 3 Practice and Learn
  • complete Composition Project: Melodic line with Rhythm
Objectives Assignments
Module 4: Keys and Scales

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • demonstrate an understanding of chromatic scales, enharmonic equivalents, and accidentals
  • associate pitch collections with keys and key signatures
  • construct a major scale from half and whole steps
  • identify scale degrees
  • complete Quiz 1: The Chromatic Collection
  • complete Quiz 2: Keys and Key Signatures
  • complete Quiz 3: Scales
  • complete Module 4 Practice and Learn
  • complete Composition Project: Melodic Line in a Major Key
Objectives Assignments
Module 5: Mode

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • distinguish between major and minor modes
  • construct minor scales from half and whole steps
  • compare interval qualities based on mode
  • demonstrate the specific intervals in major and minor scales from the tonic
  • differentiate between dissonance and consonance
  • associate parallel and relative keys
  • complete Quiz 1: Mode and Specific Intervals
  • complete Quiz 2: Minor Modes
  • complete Quiz 3: Consonance and Dissonance
  • complete Module 5 Practice and Learn
  • complete Composition Project: Melodic Line in the Minor Mode
Objectives Assignments
Module 6: Melody and Final Composition Project

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • define attributes of a melody
  • analyze melodies and describe their features
  • compose melodies in simple meter in any mode
  • complete Quiz 1: Melody
  • complete Module 6 Practice and Learn
  • complete Composition Project: Your original Melody