Making Music Theory Part of your Daily Routine

Dr. Stephen Crawford, DMA
Director of Bands & Percussion Studies
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor


In order for music theory to be truly understood, you must be able to write down what you know. Music theory is of vital importance to the success of all musicians. Since mallet percussionists are similar to pianists, the learning and understanding of vertical harmonic structures makes reading music easier and more understandable. All melodies in Western tonal music are based on scales and all harmonies are based in tertian chord structures, therefore a grasp of these basic theoretical principals will make you better, more knowledgeable players and will improve your reading skills.

I. Circle of Perfect Fifths

A. order of flats
B. order of sharps
C. writing the key signatures in both treble and bass clefs

II. Scales - two octaves in order (through the circle of 5ths)
A. majors

1. arpeggios
2. inversions

1. arpeggios
2. inversion

1. double stops in thirds
2. melodic variations
3. harmonic variations
4. rhythmic variations
5. dynamic variations
6. rolls

1. Perfect fifth progression in major keys
2. I-IV-V-V7-I in major keys

1. Perfect fifth progression in major keys
2. I-IV-V-V7-I in major keys