Practical Ear Training and Applied Music Theory 1

This unit of study is designed to bridge practical musicianship with core theoretical knowledge, focusing on listening, analysing, and applying musical elements in real-time at a foundational to intermediate level. You will strengthen your understanding of music fundamentals, including notation, key signatures, intervals, and rhythm in common time and ¾ time, emphasising subdivision and pulse accuracy. The unit explores a variety of scales —major, natural, harmonic and melodic minor, pentatonic and selected modes derived from the major scale—while examining melodic development and recognition through aural and written exercises. Harmony topics include chord voicings, inversions, triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented), suspended chords, diatonic triads, cadences, and common chord progressions. Through practical activities, you will improve your ability to identify and reproduce melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic structures, enhancing performance, music analysis, improvisation and composition skills. By the end of the unit, you will be equipped with pedagogical skills and knowledge to deliver foundational to intermediate music content at the level of Victorian Years 7–8 “Music” or “Classroom Music” programs, aligning with curriculum expectations and best teaching practices.