Intro To Music Theory

Learn to read and write music, and understanding the basic building blocks of western music through singing, games and other fun activities with Nikki Berry & Gary Easterbrook
Click the link to watch a video about the course - 1st half, 2nd half

This weekend course will go ahead once we have enough people who have registered interest. ($130.00/$120 Friends) It can lead on to the Foundation Musicianship Course. Email us if you are keen.

This weekend is an introduction to music theory, taught in a way that is accessible to people with no previous experience. Through singing, visual aids and games, we will teach the basics of reading and writing music, and understanding the basic building blocks of western music. Absolutely no experience necessary, but still useful for those who have learnt patches of music theory in the past, but have not yet learnt to integrate it into their music play.

The weekend will cover:

  • reading and writing rhythm
  • reading and writing notes
  • clefs
  • keys and key signatures
  • chords
  • scales

"Learning music theory empowers the aspiring musician to take charge of their world of music. The greatest joy I feel as a teacher is being witness to that moment when the puzzle falls in to place, and people realise the simple logic and easy application of music theory. The key is to present each concept with appropriate visual and kinesthetic aids. I promise you it's not hard once this method of teaching is applied" Nikki Berry

The Tutors
Gary Easterbrook & Nikki BerryNikki Berry's background is as a songwriter and she is a trained audio engineer. She conducts the exuberant world music choir, A Capellago, and the Open Song world music choir. She loves to improvise, compose and arrange music, and has led workshops for singers and musicians of all ages and experience for many years.
Gary Easterbrook grew up in Whangarei, and has flown airplanes, driven trucks, worked in forestry, flirted with television... the list goes on. His musical career has been equally varied - from heavy rock to bluegrass and country, blues and jazz to world music. He learned piano as an eleven year old, took up guitar at fourteen, then bass guitar and back to piano (with a dabble on drums along the way). He's now happy on all these instruments, and also arranges music for choirs. Besides music, Gary loves surfing, sea kayaking and photography.

This course draws on their combined experience over many years of teaching & playing and especially draws on their work with young people. Guest tutors will also run workshops on a range of topics.