Culture and Arts › Music
Music Theory Fundamentals for Beginners Training
Description
This course provides beginners with a foundational understanding of music theory, enabling them to read, write, and interpret basic musical notation. Learners will develop the skills to apply theoretical concepts to practical music-making, such as composition and performance. The course aims to build confidence in using music terminology and understanding harmonic and rhythmic structures.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply basic music theory concepts including notation, scales, and intervals.
- Analyze simple musical phrases to identify key signatures, time signatures, and chord progressions.
- Demonstrate the ability to read and write standard musical notation.
- Evaluate rhythmic patterns and harmonic structures in given musical examples.
- Implement theoretical knowledge to compose a short original melody.
- Interpret musical symbols and terms accurately in practical contexts.
Target Audience
This course is designed for aspiring musicians, music enthusiasts, and individuals seeking to enhance their musical literacy for personal or professional development. It is ideal for beginners with little to no prior formal music training.
Prerequisites
None — open enrollment.
Course Outline
Objectives:
• Understand the basics of music notation including the staff, clefs, and note names.
• Identify note values and rests (whole, half, quarter, eighth).
• Read and write simple rhythms in 4/4 time.
• Recognise the concept of pitch and the layout of the piano keyboard.
Topics:
• The staff, treble and bass clefs.
• Note names on lines and spaces.
• Note durations and rests.
• Time signatures and bar lines.
• Basic rhythm patterns.
• Introduction to the piano keyboard.
• Accidentals: sharps, flats, naturals.
Objectives:
• Construct major scales using the whole-step/half-step pattern.
• Identify and write key signatures for major keys.
• Determine intervals (2nds, 3rds, 5ths, octaves) by ear and on paper.
• Understand the concept of tonality and the tonic note.
Topics:
• Major scale pattern (W-W-H-W-W-W-H).
• Key signatures and the circle of fifths.
• Interval types: major, minor, perfect.
• Ear training for intervals.
• Introduction to minor scales (natural minor).
• Relative major and minor keys.
Objectives:
• Build triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented) on scale degrees.
• Identify primary chords (I, IV, V) in major keys.
• Construct common chord progressions (e.g., I-IV-V-I).
• Understand chord inversions and voice leading.
Topics:
• Triad construction (root, third, fifth).
• Chord quality: major, minor, diminished, augmented.
• Primary chords in major keys.
• Chord progressions and cadences.
• Chord inversions (root position, first, second).
• Introduction to seventh chords (dominant seventh).
Objectives:
• Analyse a simple piece of music for key, chords, and structure.
• Harmonise a melody using primary chords.
• Write a short original composition using learned concepts.
• Demonstrate understanding through a written assessment.
Topics:
• Music analysis: form, phrase structure.
• Melody harmonisation techniques.
• Composing a 4-bar melody with chord accompaniment.
• Review of all concepts.
• Written assessment covering notation, scales, intervals, chords, and harmony.
Practicals
This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.
Summatives
Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.
Daily Exercises — 30%
Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.
Final Test — 70%
On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.
Final Total
| Component | Out of | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Average (multiple choice) | 100% | 30% |
| Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) | 100% | 70% |
| Final Total | — | 100% |
All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.
Certificate
How it works
- Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
- Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
- You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
- If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it
Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.
Training Discounts
Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.
| Delegates | Discount |
|---|---|
| 5 | 3% off |
| 10 | 6% off |
| 15 | 9% off |
| 20 | 12% off |
| 25 | 15% off |
| 30 | 18% off |
| 50 | 30% off |
| 75 | 40% off |
| 100 | 40% off |
3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.
Let us know you're interested and we'll arrange a session that suits you.
Let us know you're interested and we'll arrange a session that suits you.
Let us know you're interested and we'll arrange a session that suits you.
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