Alright, so you wanna learn about this “Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory” thing, huh? Well, lemme tell ya, it ain’t rocket science, even though them fancy folks who wrote it might make it sound all highfalutin. It’s just music stuff, plain and simple.
What’s this book all about, anyway?
Basically, this here book, “Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory,” it’s like a teacher in a book. Teaches you all the important stuff about music. You know, like how to read them notes and write ’em down, and all that jazz. It’s got, like, 75 little lessons, they say. Short and sweet, so you don’t get your brain all tangled up. And then, they got exercises too, so you can practice what you learned. Gotta practice, ya know, or it ain’t gonna stick in your head.
- Teaches you music basics.
- Got lots of little lessons.
- Helps you read and write music.
- Got practice exercises too.
Who’s this book for, then?
Well, they say it’s for pretty much anyone who wants to learn about music. Piano players, guitar pickers, singers, folks who write songs, even them fancy composers who write whole symphonies. If you’re just startin’ out, or if you already know a little somethin’ but wanna learn more, this book’s supposed to be good for ya. It’s like, you know, one of them “all-in-one” deals. Everything you need, all in one place. Handy, I tell ya.
Is it easy to use?
They say it’s “practical” and “easy-to-use.” Now, I don’t know about all them fancy words, but what it means is, it ain’t supposed to be too hard. It’s a “self-study” course, they call it. That means you can learn on your own, without a teacher lookin’ over your shoulder all the time. Though, I reckon having a teacher might help some folks. But if you’re a stubborn mule like me, and you wanna do it yourself, this book’s supposed to let you do that.
Who wrote this thing, anyway?
Some folks named Andrew Surmani, Karen Farnum Surmani, and Morton Manus. Sounds like a bunch of fancy folks, if you ask me. But I guess they know their music stuff, since they wrote this book and all.
How’s it different from other music books?
Now, I ain’t read all them music books out there, but they say this one’s special. See, some books, they focus on just one instrument, like the piano. But this one, it’s for everybody. And some books, they just teach you how to play, but they don’t teach you the “why” of it all. This book, it teaches you the theory, the “why” behind the music. So you ain’t just playin’ notes, you actually understandin’ what you’re doin’.
Learning step by step.
Like, if you’re learnin’ the piano with that “Alfred’s Basic Piano Library” thing, they got you doin’ little pieces, maybe one or two a week. And they teach you by recognizin’ them intervals, not just memorizin’ every single note. That way, you can move around the keyboard easier, they say. And they got like, 12 chapters in that first book, plus an intro and 63 little songs. That’s a lot of playing if you ask me! So, if you’re takin’ your time, you’ll be busy for a while.
Sounds good, but does it actually work?
Well, they say millions of folks are usin’ it, learnin’ from it. Udemy, that online learnin’ place, they got it on there, and lots of other courses too. So, I guess it must be doin’ somethin’ right. But, you know, learnin’ takes time and effort. You can’t just read a book and expect to be a music genius overnight. You gotta put in the work, practice your scales, do your exercises. That’s the only way to get good at anythin’, music or otherwise.
So, should you get this book?
Well, if you wanna learn about music theory, and you want a book that’s easy to understand and use, then yeah, I reckon this “Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory” might be just the ticket. Just remember, it ain’t magic. You still gotta put in the effort. But if you do, this book can help you unlock the secrets of music, like they say. And who knows, maybe you’ll be the next Mozart or somethin’. Or maybe you’ll just play a little tune for yourself and your friends. Either way, music’s a good thing to have in your life, so go for it!
Tags: Music Theory, Alfred’s Essentials, Learn Music, Music Education, Self-Study Music, Beginner Music, Music Basics, Music Reading, Music Writing, Alfred Music.