Adult Music Theory Classes (Entry Level)
This course is a practical guide to understanding music from the ground up, giving you the tools to apply theory directly to your instrument and expand your musical abilities. Join us and transform the way you connect with the music you love.
Description
Unlock the language of music in this engaging, hands-on 8-week course designed specifically for adult learners. Whether you're new to music theory or looking to deepen your understanding, these 45 min, small-group classes (limited to 8-10 participants) provide a practical and approachable introduction to the fundamentals of music theory.
Group I: Tuesdays 7:00 - 7:45 PM
Group II: Tuesdays 8:00 - 8:45 PM
Designed to complement your instrumental practice, this course offers interactive exercises and relatable examples to help you master the foundational concepts of music theory and apply them directly to your playing. Learn at a pace that works for you in a supportive, welcoming environment.
What You’ll Learn - Each week focuses on a key aspect of music theory, building progressively to cover:
Pitch – The Ups and Downs
- Introduction to pitch and music notation.
- Naming and notating pitches with clarity and precision.
Intervals – The Space Between
- Recognize and play intervals in major and minor scales.
- Explore advanced intervals and transposition techniques to move between keys effortlessly.
Scales – Putting Pitches in Order
- Understand and apply major, natural minor, melodic minor, and harmonic minor scales.
- Dive into chromatic, whole-tone, octatonic, and pentatonic scales.
Harmony – Pitches Sounding Together
- Learn how chords are constructed and identify harmonic progressions.
- Use Roman numeral analysis to understand chord functions and explore cadences.
Keys – Defining the Playing Field
- Decode key signatures and explore the relationships between keys.
- Learn the Circle of Fifths and navigate advanced key concepts.
Beat, Meter, and Rhythm – Music in Time
- Master the principles of rhythm, beat, and meter.
- Understand time signatures, syncopation, and rhythmic notation.
Form – The Big Picture
- Explore the structure and organisation of music
- Apply these ideas in popular and classical music contexts.
Expression and Dynamics – The 'How' of Music Performance
- Understand dynamics, expression markings, and phrasing to bring music to life.
- Connect theory to expressive performance techniques.
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Additional Topics
- Chords and Inversions: Build, identify, and use triads and their inversions.
- Cadences and Progressions: Create a smooth musical flow through progressions.
- Music Theory Basics: Master treble, bass, alto and tenor clefs, double sharps/flats, and essential musical terms.
- Instruments of the Orchestra: Discover the roles and sounds of orchestral instruments.
Prerequisites
- Participants must be 18+.
- No prior theory knowledge is required for Entry Level.
Tutors
Martina Rosaria O’Connell
Martina Rosaria O’Connell is an accomplished Irish-Italian flautist and music educator, known for her dedication to both performance and teaching.
Martina holds a Master’s in Flute Performance from the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) and Trinity College Dublin, graduating with distinction and achieving the highest result of her year. She also earned a First Class Honours Bachelor of Music Education from Trinity College Dublin and RIAM, including a six-month Erasmus placement at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Martina’s career spans both solo and ensemble performances. She has appeared with renowned ensembles such as the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the Irish Baroque Orchestra, RIAM Philharmonia, the Dublin Symphony Orchestra, and the Esker Festival Orchestra. Additionally, she has performed in masterclasses with world-renowned flautists such as Sir James Galway, Michael Cox, and Adam Walker, and participated in prestigious programs including the Camerata Ireland Academy and Saline Royale Academy in France.
An advocate for music education, Martina is a Post-Primary Music Teacher and serves as Head of Education for the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival. In this role, she developed Music Appreciation classes for adults, broadening access to classical music through engaging and interactive sessions. She also works as Assistant Orchestra Manager for the Irish Baroque Orchestra. Martina has taught Junior Musicianship at RIAM as an 1848 Scholar and coordinated music camps and outreach projects nationally and internationally. Her efforts include coordinating the "It's Time" Music Education Outreach Project, which was featured on RTÉ News2Day.
Martina’s blend of performance excellence and educational leadership reflects her commitment to fostering a love for music across all ages and skill levels.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, you will:
- Confidently read and interpret musical notation.
- Apply theory concepts to your instrumental practice, enhancing your playing.
- Identify and construct intervals, scales, chords, and key signatures.
- Understand rhythm, harmony, and musical structure.
- Expand your appreciation for the building blocks of music and how they come together in performance.