Music Theory

Music theory fundamentals course to complement and enrich individual music lessons.

Cost: $360 per semester

Classes meet Fridays and Saturdays

Start: Friday, September 11, 2026

Developed by Dr. Rok Palcic, Chevy Chase Music CEO

* Each of the 3 levels is split into two 12-week semesters. Classes take place September–December, 2025 and February–May, 2026.

Course Description
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Graded music theory fundamentals course (3 levels)

Small groups (2–8 students)

Weekly Zoom lessons (40 minutes)

Students who study music theory in a dedicated setting—separate from their private lessons—consistently show stronger overall musical development. These classes provide the focused time and structure needed to build essential skills that can’t always be addressed during a typical instrumental or vocal lesson.

Course Outcomes

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The following app has been designed to test students' knowledge and recommend the appropriate music theory sequence level.

Music theory placement

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Description

This comprehensive course is designed specifically for students taking private instrumental or vocal lessons, offering a much deeper and more focused experience than general school music classes, which are often aimed at a broad audience. One key component of the course is aural skills training, including rhythmic and melodic dictation, which helps students connect what they hear with what they see on the page and what they play or sing—deepening both musical understanding and performance ability.

Structured as a graded program, students advance through a carefully sequenced curriculum—beginning with music theory fundamentals and progressing to more complex topics such as harmony, rhythm, form, and analysis. Each level builds on the last, reinforcing core skills and introducing new challenges that match students’ developing abilities.

Students will be placed in small groups based on age and level to ensure an engaging and supportive learning environment. Separate classes will be offered for children and adults so that each group receives instruction tailored to their needs. Classes are 40 minutes long, held remotely via Zoom, and capped at 8 students to allow for personalized attention. Scheduling will be based on weekday late afternoon or early evening availability to fit around students’ school and extracurricular commitments.

As they move through the program, students gain a stronger grasp of how music works, which in turn accelerates their progress in private lessons. They read more fluently, interpret more confidently, and approach their instrument or voice with greater musical insight. Just as importantly, they learn alongside peers in a collaborative setting that fosters a sense of community, motivation, and shared purpose.

Multiple studies underscore the value of supplementing private instrumental lessons with structured music theory instruction. For instance, research published in Frontiers in Psychology highlights how musical training—including theoretical study—enhances executive functions such as working memory, attention control, and cognitive flexibility, all of which are critical for academic and personal development. Complementing this, a study in the British Journal of Music Education found that students who engage in instrumental learning demonstrate stronger academic performance, and that integrating music theory deepens their understanding and accelerates progress. By enrolling in our dedicated music theory course alongside private lessons, students benefit from a cohesive and enriched musical education that fosters both technical ability and intellectual growth.

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Outcomes

Level 1

  • Read and write notes in treble and bass clefs

  • Understand and apply basic rhythmic values (whole, half, quarter, eighth notes/rests) and dotted rhythms

  • Understand and identify simple meters (2/4, 3/4, 4/4)

  • Develop aural skills: identify steps vs. skips, basic rhythmic and melodic dictation

  • Use basic musical terms: dynamics (p, f), tempo (allegro, andante), articulation (staccato, legato)

  • Understand the role of accidentals and enharmonic notes

Level 2

  • Identify and write all major and minor scales (natural, harmonic, melodic) and the chromatic scale

  • Identify all intervals

  • Understand the role of the circle of fifths

  • Implement the concept of transposition

  • Understand more complex rhythms including values beyond the eighth note

  • Construct and analyze triads: major, minor, diminished, augmented

  • Understand the basics of functional harmony

Level 3

  • Construct and analyze triads and their inversions as well as the V7 chord

  • Identify and write all modes
  • Identify passing and neighboring notes

  • Understand figured bass and chord progressions

  • Harmonize and compose simple melodies

  • Understand and analyze basic musical forms

  • Perform advanced rhythmic dictation (including syncopation and compound meter)
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