UMT Blog

Music Theory Beginner A Overview

The Music Theory Beginner A Workbook Overview is a detailed step-by-step system ...

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Music Theory Prep 1 Rudiments

Ultimate Music Theory Prep 1 Rudiments Workbook and App program is a proven step...

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Music Theory for Kids Beginner C

Ultimate Music Theory for Kids Beginner C Workbook and App program is a proven s...

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Music Theory for Kids Beginner B

Ultimate Music Theory for Kids Beginner B Workbook and App program is a proven s...

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Music Theory for Kids Beginner A

Ultimate Music Theory for Kids Beginner A Workbook and App program is a proven s...

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Cadential 6-4 Chord Progression

A Cadential 6-4 Chord Progression is an embellishment of the Dominant Chord (and...

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Octave Sign – 8va or 8vb – What is the difference

Is there a difference between the octave signs "8va" & "8vb"? Explore how to use...

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Piano Key Numbers

Did you know that you can identify a specific Pitch or Key on the Keyboard using...

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Understanding Concert Pitch

Concert Pitch can be confusing if you have never learned an instrument other tha...

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Writing Rests #9 – Dotted Rests

Writing Rests properly by Hand is an important skill. In this Blog, we will lear...

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Writing Rests #8 – Sixty-Fourth Rest

The Writing Rests Series will teach you how to write rests properly by hand (wit...

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Writing Rests #7 – Thirty-Second Rest

The Writing Rests Series will teach you how to write rests properly by hand (wit...

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Writing Rests #6 – Sixteenth Rest

The Writing Rests Series will teach you how to write rests properly by hand (wit...

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Writing Rests #5 – Eighth Rest

The Writing Rests Series will teach you how to write rests properly by hand (wit...

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Writing Rests #4 – Quarter Rest

The Writing Rests Series will teach you how to write rests properly by hand (wit...

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Writing Rests #3 – Half Rest

The Writing Rests Series will teach you how to write rests properly by hand (wit...

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Writing Rests #2 – Whole Rest

The Writing Rests Series will teach you how to write rests properly by hand (wit...

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Writing Rests #1 – Breve Rest

The Writing Rests Series will teach you how to write rests properly by hand (wit...

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Strategy Success Session – Book A Call Now

Book Your 15 min. Music Teacher Strategy Session Call with Glory St. Germain. Di...

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Articulation #7 – Combinations

Articulation Signs tell us how to play a note. But what happens when we combine ...

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Articulation #6 – Fermata

Articulation Signs tell us how to play a note. Let's explore the Fermata Sign. H...

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Articulation #5 – Tenuto

Articulation Signs tell us how to play a note. Let's explore the Tenuto Line. Ho...

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Articulation #4 – Marcato

Articulation Signs tell us how to play a note. Let's explore the Marcato Sign (M...

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Articulation #3 – Staccatissimo

Articulation Signs tell us how to play a note. Let's explore the Staccatissimo. ...

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Articulation #2 – Staccato

Articulation Signs tell us how to play a note. Let's explore the Staccato - What...

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Articulation #1 – Accent

Articulation Signs tell us how to play a note. Let's explore the Accent - What i...

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Accidental Rules #7 – Writing Notes using Accidentals and Key Signatures

When writing notes on the staff, it is easy to get confused by accidentals in th...

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Accidental Rules #6 – Accidentals and Key Signatures

Naming notes when there are Accidentals and Key Signatures can be confusing. Lea...

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Accidental Rules #5 – Adding Necessary Accidentals

When writing notes on the staff, adding necessary accidentals (not redundant) is...

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Accidental Rules #4 – Tied Notes with Accidentals

Confused about whether or not the bar line cancels the accidental when the note ...

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Accidental Rules #3 – Writing Accidentals

Let's Make Writing Accidentals Easy using the KISS Method! Learn the proper way ...

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Accidental Rules #2 – Naming Notes

When naming notes with accidentals (not using a Key Signature), there are Accide...

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Accidental Rules #1 – Natural Rules

Have you ever questioned how, where and when we write a Natural Sign? In this Bl...

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Same Pitch – Different Clef

Rewriting a note at the "Same Pitch in a Different Clef" can be tricky. Discover...

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Writing Bar Lines – Different Functions

Writing Bar Lines sounds simple, but did you realize that Bar Lines actually hav...

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How to Write & Identify Major & Minor Pentascales

Learn How To Identify Major and Minor Pentascales - Fun & Easy To Understand! So...

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Learn Music Rhythm Beats Whole, Half or Quarter Notes

How do you Teach and Learn Music Rhythm Beats, so it’s super easy understand? ...

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Learn and Teach Music Theory – Patterns and Directions

How Do You Connect Patterns & Direction To Sight Reading & Ear Training While Bo...

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Learning Connection – 3 Essential D’s

UMT Learning Connection for Success is as Simple as the Three Essential D's. Lik...

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Changing Key Signatures

How do you cancel or change Key Signatures in a Composition? In this Ultimate Mu...

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Ultimate Music Theory Program

Our “All-in-One” Ultimate Music Theory Program is Smart & Successful! A prov...

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Incomplete Measure

What's an Incomplete Measure? Why do we have Incomplete Measures? How do we coun...

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Dominant Seventh Chord Inversions

Dominant Seventh Chord Inversions are easy to write with proper note placement w...

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Upper or Lower Case Letter

Do we use an Upper or Lower Case Letter? It is a Capital "C" or a small "c"? Doe...

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Melody Writing in 5 Steps

Melody Writing Questions are now a part of nationally recognized Theory Examinat...

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32nd Note Stem Length

A 32nd Note Stem Length is an exception to the "1 octave stem length rule". Disc...

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Placement of Accidentals #3 – Four Note Chords Accidentals

Four Note Chords are often written with 1, 2, 3 & 4 accidentals. Learn the rules...

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Placement of Accidentals #2 – Triad Accidentals

Did you know that there are Placement Rules for Triad Accidentals? When a Triad ...

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Placement of Accidentals #1 – Harmonic Interval Accidentals

Harmonic Interval Accidentals have specific Placement Rules.In the Placement of ...

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Counting Slurs

Theory Exercises often ask Students to count the number of slurs in an excerpt. ...

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Repeat Sign Dots

Repeat Sign Dots can be confusing. Are there rules for the placement of Repeat S...

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Volta Brackets

Volta Brackets, or "first and second ending brackets", are used to indicated spe...

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Analysis Square Bracket

The Analysis Square Bracket is an analytical tool used to define a part or phras...

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Writing Time Signatures

When writing Time Signatures, it is important to not write Fractions!  Discover...

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Music Note Stem Length

When adding a stem to a notehead, the stem is usually approximately one octave i...

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Clef Signs Create Landmark Notes

Properly drawn Clef Signs create Landmark Notes at specific pitches on the instr...

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6 Tips for Two Part Writing

Two Part Writing is when two voices (parts, instruments) are written on 1 staff....

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RCM Theory Syllabus Overview

Want the New RCM Theory Syllabus Overview? Confused about what's new and where t...

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NEW RCM Theory Syllabus 2016

Register now for the FREE GSG MUSIC Webinar Series "NEW RCM Theory Syllabus & Ul...

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Adding Beams To Join 3 Notes

Adding beams to join 3 notes can be confusing. Stems up? Stems down? Beam angled...

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Add Beams To Join 2 Notes

When we add beams to join 2 notes, it can be confusing! Stems up or stems down? ...

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Octave – Simple or Compound?

Why does an Augmented 8 invert to a diminished 8, but a Perfect 8 inverts to a P...

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Lead Sheet Triads

Lead Sheet Triads (those letters above the melody line in modern music) are the ...

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RCM Exams – Theory Co-Requisites

RCM Exams - Learn what theory Co-Requisites go with what RCM Practical Exams and...

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Why Use Practice Exams

Stanford University Studies prove it and so do Ultimate Music Theory Exam Result...

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Root Position Triad

Teaching the concept of a Root Position Triad using the song "Do You Wanna Build...

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Naming tied notes

When Naming Tied Notes, do you name the note for every notehead or do you only n...

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Staccato Dots – Why in a Space?

Ever wonder why Staccato Dots are placed in a space? Why can't they go on a line...

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2-4 or 4-8 Time

When adding a Time Signature, how can you tell whether it is 2-4 or 4-8 time? Ca...

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Sequence, Imitation and Inversion

Discover the UMT Tips on how to identify the relationship between two or more mo...

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Modern Vocal Score Dynamics

Discover how to write Modern Vocal Score Dynamics (with and without lyrics) in O...

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Modern Vocal Score Bar Lines

Discover how to write Modern Vocal Score Bar Lines (with and without lyrics) in ...

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Augmented First Inversion

Follow these 3 easy steps to write an Augmented First Inversion correctly, even ...

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Drawing Quarter Rests

Instructions for Drawing Quarter Rests in 4 easy steps - Ultimate Music Theory f...

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Can You Have a Triple Flat

In music, can you have a Triple Flat or a Triple Sharp? Yes you can! Learn how t...

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Interval – Harmonic Augmented First

Writing a Harmonic Perfect First is easy - but how do you write a Harmonic Augme...

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Conservatory Canada Theory 1

Can Teachers use Ultimate Music Theory to prepare students for Theory Exams with...

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Identifying Time Signatures

3 Steps to correctly identifying time signatures: See the pattern, Hear as you c...

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C Clef #2 – When and Why?

When and Why use C Clefs? The different placement of C Clefs on the Staff will c...

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C Clef #1 – What and Why Do We Need It?

A Clef is a “symbol” that pitches notes to specific sounds. The C Clef is a ...

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Teaching Music Theory – Private or Group

Learn the Top 5 reasons for Teaching Music Theory - Private or group. Who, why, ...

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Sixteenth Note Flags – 5 Things You Might Not Know

5 things to remember - Sixteenth Note Flags - what is and what isn’t acceptabl...

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Transposition – 3 Mistakes with Key Signatures

Transposition – 3 Mistakes with Key Signatures: Ultimate Music Theory demonstr...

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Eighth Note Flags – Fly Left or Fly Right?

Eighth Note Flags - Watch the video and learn how typeset eighth note flags are ...

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Melodic Chromatic Scale – Set Form

In a Melodic Chromatic Scale using a Set Form, the notes are not the same in the...

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Melodic Chromatic Scales – Different Rules

Melodic Chromatic Scales - Learn two ways to write Melodic Chromatic Scales usin...

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Harmonic Chromatic Scale – 4 Super Steps

Harmonic Chromatic Scale - More than one correct way to write a chromatic scale....

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Harmonic Intervals using Accidentals

Writing harmonic intervals using accidentals - Includes three tips for learning ...

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Eighth Note Harmonic Intervals

Learn the 4 Common Mistakes when writing Eighth Note Harmonic Intervals and how ...

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Dotted Notes – Harmonic Second Interval

Dotted Notes - Dot or NO Dot. Harmonic 2nd Dot Placement is unique. Learn how th...

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Harmonic Interval Stem Direction – 4 Mistakes

What is the rule for Harmonic Interval Stem Direction? Learn 4 common mistakes m...

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Harmonic Second Interval – Why is it different

See WHY a Harmonic Second Interval is written differently from any other harmoni...

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Melodic minor scales – Repeat the Top Note?

Melodic minor scales - Learn writing scales - when do you repeat the top note an...

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Theory Workbook – Ah-HA Moment

A Theory Workbook to answer ALL your theory questions with the "Ah-HA" moment an...

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