A cadence is a musical ending — a combination of chords that brings a phrase, section, or piece of music to a close. It provides a sense of rest, pause, or conclusion, similar to punctuation in written language. They help define the structure and phrasing of a piece by creating points of closure or continuation.Continue reading “Grade 5 Theory: Cadences”
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Beyond the Tonic: How Secondary Dominants Shape Music
Ever catch yourself listening to music and thinking, “Wow, that chord sounded amazing”? I’d bet good money—well, at least 90% of the time (completely unscientific, of course)—that what you’re hearing is a secondary dominant. The dominant-to-tonic relationship has been the backbone of Western music since the 1600s, with its delicious mix of tension and release,Continue reading “Beyond the Tonic: How Secondary Dominants Shape Music”
Grade 5 Theory: Intervals
Intervals can be a fiddly topic to get your head around. At Grade 5 theory, you are expected to answer interval questions that are purposefully deceptive. If you learn this topic incorrectly, you will find yourself in a never-ending whirlpool of confusion. I have created this guide to put an end to confusion for musiciansContinue reading “Grade 5 Theory: Intervals”
The Timeless Importance of J.S. Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) is one of the most influential composers in Western music history. His music has laid the groundwork for countless musicians, spanning genres from classical to jazz. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or performer, engaging with Bach’s music through analysis, listening, and playing isn’t just an academic task—it’s a transformative journey thatContinue reading “The Timeless Importance of J.S. Bach”
How to Improve Your Sight Reading
“Sight reading is terrifying.” At least, this is the phrase I hear from 99% of my students in the early stages of our lessons. Anyone who has completed graded exams as a child will remember the genuine, tangible fear of hearing the examiner say, “let’s begin the sight-reading portion of the exam.” Your palms sweat,Continue reading “How to Improve Your Sight Reading”
Musical Lingo – A Guide for Beginners and Non-Musicians
Music is one of the most cherished universal languages across the globe. It is one of the few languages that needs no words to be communicated. Two people from opposite ends of the world, who speak different languages, can communicate with one another through nothing more than a few hits of a drum. They canContinue reading “Musical Lingo – A Guide for Beginners and Non-Musicians”
Jazz Harmony Lesson 1: Chord Construction and Symbols
Understanding jazz terminology is by no means a simple task. Learning how to read, comprehend and execute progressions like Cmaj7 – C#dim7 – Dm9 – G7#5 may appear daunting, however this article will provide you with all necessary information for 1) constructing jazz chords and 2) understanding their corresponding symbols. This is the first andContinue reading “Jazz Harmony Lesson 1: Chord Construction and Symbols”
The Whole-tone Scale – Intermediate Lesson
The majority of musicians are familiar with a certain catalogue of scales, usually including major, minor, pentatonic, blues and dorian, as they are most commonly used in western music. However, there are countless scales available to us that are lesser known and should be explored to expand our overall knowledge and playing abilities. Examples includeContinue reading “The Whole-tone Scale – Intermediate Lesson”
Music Omnibus 