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    • Music Theory

    Music Theory Courses Online

    Learn music theory for a deeper understanding of music. Study scales, chords, rhythm, and harmony.

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    Explore the Music Theory Course Catalog

    • U

      University of Geneva

      International Organizations Management

      Skills you'll gain: International Relations, Leadership and Management, Strategic Partnership, Marketing, Fundraising, Leadership, Governance, Public Policies, Business, Organizational Strategy, Organizational Structure, World History, Cross-Functional Collaboration

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Florida

      Healing with the Arts

      Skills you'll gain: Journals, Music, Performing Arts, Creativity, Mindfulness, Compassion, Empowerment, Storytelling, Personal Development, Liberal Arts, Self-Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Writing, Overcoming Obstacles

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      956 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Rochester

      The Music of the Beatles

      Skills you'll gain: Music History, Music, Music Theory, Musical Composition, Instrumental Music, Music Performance, Creativity

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      747 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: New
      New
      Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of California, Davis

      Web Development for Beginners

      Skills you'll gain: Responsive Web Design, Color Theory, Version Control, Typography, HTML and CSS, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), GitHub, Git (Version Control System), Web Design, Web Design and Development, Web Development, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Front-End Web Development, Application Deployment, Web Applications, Design Elements And Principles, Animations, Web Content, Mobile Development

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.7K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Michigan

      Model Thinking

      Skills you'll gain: Mathematical Modeling, Systems Thinking, Diversity and Inclusion, Game Theory, Innovation, Behavioral Economics, Analysis, Strategic Decision-Making, Social Studies, Decision Making, Network Analysis, Trend Analysis, Economics, Probability, Human Learning, Market Dynamics

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.2K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of London

      Introduction to Computer Science and Programming

      Skills you'll gain: Computer Science, Debugging, Development Environment, Computer Systems, Web Applications, Arithmetic, Javascript, Computer Networking, Computational Thinking, Theoretical Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, Hardware Architecture, Program Development, Computer Graphics, Operating Systems, Cybersecurity, Computer Programming, Problem Management, General Mathematics, Applied Mathematics

      4.2
      Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.5K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • T

      Tel Aviv University

      Understanding Plants - Part I: What a Plant Knows

      Skills you'll gain: Scientific Methods, General Science and Research, Biology, Research, Life Sciences, Psychology, Environmental Science, Molecular Biology, Chemistry

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.9K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of California, Irvine

      Getting Started with Essay Writing

      Skills you'll gain: Writing, Grammar, Editing

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.2K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

      Microeconomics Principles

      Skills you'll gain: Supply And Demand, Economics, Market Dynamics, Behavioral Economics, Resource Allocation, Socioeconomics, Consumer Behaviour, Cost Benefit Analysis, Decision Making

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.2K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      B

      Berklee

      El Músico Moderno

      Skills you'll gain: Music Theory, Music, Musical Composition, Music Performance, Media Production, Post-Production, Creativity, Storytelling, Instrumental Music, Writing, Peer Review, File Management, Editing, Automation

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      780 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      A

      Adobe

      Design Fundamentals with AI

      Skills you'll gain: Color Theory, Typography, Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Graphic and Visual Design, Design Elements And Principles, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Logo Design, Content Creation, Adobe Creative Cloud, Innovation, User Experience Design, Creativity

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      669 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Minnesota

      Integrative Health and Medicine

      Skills you'll gain: Patient Evaluation, Drug Interaction, Contraindication, Clinical Nursing, Patient Education And Counseling, Mindfulness, Patient Referral, Pharmacology, Treatment Planning, Patient Safety, Compassion, Nursing Practices, Health Assessment, Nursing Care, Health Care, Research, Pharmacotherapy, Health Policy, Music, Education Software and Technology

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.8K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    Music Theory learners also search

    Music
    Music Business
    Music Technology
    Music History
    Classical Music
    Music Production
    Piano Theory
    Media
    1…212223…145

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular music theory courses

    • International Organizations Management : University of Geneva
    • Healing with the Arts: University of Florida
    • The Music of the Beatles: University of Rochester
    • Web Development for Beginners: University of California, Davis
    • Model Thinking: University of Michigan
    • Introduction to Computer Science and Programming: University of London
    • Understanding Plants - Part I: What a Plant Knows: Tel Aviv University
    • Getting Started with Essay Writing: University of California, Irvine
    • Microeconomics Principles: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    • El Músico Moderno: Berklee

    Frequently Asked Questions about Music Theory

    Understanding why you want to learn music theory, whether to improve your musical skills, compose music, or understand music better, will keep you motivated. Regular practice, including listening and analyzing music, can help solidify concepts. Join online communities like music forums or local groups for support and insight. Work on real projects such as composing or analyzing pieces of music. A great starting point is Fundamentals of Music Theory by The University of Edinburgh on Coursera.‎

    Coursera has some great free music theory courses, such as Edinburgh Music Theory, Audio Signal Processing and The Music and Life of Beethoven. These online classes can help you deepen your understanding of music theory, audio technology and Beethoven's rich musical legacy.‎

    If you are new to music theory, Berklee's Musicianship Specialization is the perfect place to start. It offers courses such as Music Theory, Play Guitar, Piano Techniques for Modern Music, and Guitar Theory that can help you get a great foundation in music theory and unlock your musical potential.‎

    For those looking to learn more advanced music theory, Melodic Forms and Simple Harmony, Piano Scales for Modern Music, Beethoven's Piano Sonatas, The Blues and Jazz Improvisation courses are excellent resources to expand your musical knowledge!‎

    Music theory is the set of rules that govern how to create and communicate music. You can think of music theory as the equivalent of grammar when it comes to language. The fundamentals of melody, rhythm, and harmony are the main elements of music theory. Many of the skills you need to play an instrument or sing are part of music theory as well—elements like notes, chords, scales, keys, and tempo. Music theory also explains the qualities that make a song or piece of music good, such as pitch, tone, dynamics, and timbre.‎

    A knowledge of music theory can help you become a better singer, musician, songwriter, or performer. It’s true that you can write a quality song or compose a compelling piece of music with no understanding of music theory whatsoever, but knowing the logic behind good music helps you to create works listeners will enjoy. Music theory isn’t a set of hard and fast rules you must obey every time, but it helps you communicate and connect better with the music that you create. Understanding music theory also makes it easier to conquer more complex musical forms and styles.‎

    If you’re a professional musician or aspire to be one, having a knowledge of music theory can help you play pieces and sing songs better. You’ll also compose better songs or works when you understand how music theory works. Music theory also comes in handy if you’re teaching music because you can impart your knowledge to your students and help them succeed. Even if you don’t play music professionally, you can benefit from knowing music theory because it helps you think strategically, and making music for fun spurs your creativity as well, both of which can enhance any career you have.‎

    Music theory is a broad discipline, but online courses on Coursera can help you learn it with the flexibility that fits your lifestyle. You’ll have access to information that can help you gain a foothold in the concepts and rules that govern music theory, and you’ll also have the opportunity to discover practical applications that can help you compose and perform music more effectively. As a professional musician looking to take your career to the next level or a living room performer who wants to hone your skills, online courses on Coursera provide resources that can help you attain the knowledge you need to make music with greater confidence.‎

    Online Music Theory courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Music Theory skills. Choose from a wide range of Music Theory courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Music Theory, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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