Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom

	Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom(musictheory.pugetsound.edu)
	227 points by aanet 18 hours ago \| 97 comments
	tl;dr: "Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom" is a free, open-access textbook covering music theory from fundamentals (pitch, scales, intervals, triads) through advanced topics like chromatic harmony, sonata form, counterpoint, jazz theory, set theory, serialism, and minimalism. It incorporates popular music examples alongside classical repertoire and includes practice exercises with answers, licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
	HN Discussion: ↑Appreciates the textbook's format, accessibility, and inclusion of self-study materials and SVG illustrations ↓The '21st-Century' label is misleading since modern techniques like electronic, microtonal, and computer music are absent ↓Book overemphasizes classical theory and neglects non-Western musical traditions and pop/rock analysis ↓Text follows the common flaw of music theory books by presenting facts without motivation or context ↓Minor factual criticism about imprecise terminology (e.g., conflating piano keys with notes)