Solfege, Ear Training, Rhythm, Dictation, and Music Theory: A Comprehensive Course

Rating:
Summary: As a music theory book, I wouldn't recommend it...
Review: Since I live in a rural area, this was the only book on theory in the local bookstore. I bought without knowing much theory. Now I know a great deal more theory, but not because of this book. It's definitely not a book to read through and expect to learn anything. The material is very condensed, and seems like it is only meant to be a guide to an instructor. Now that I know some theory, the first half makes sense, but I couldn't have learned theory from the book without someone walking me through it. The solfege exercises look like they would be good, but I didn't buy it for them at all. I only wanted a basic book on theory that I could work through myself. Obviously, this wasn't the book.

Rating:
Summary: Intuitive and Systematic
Review: This book isn't aimed at teaching music theory. Is about learning to sight sing and acquiring all the skills associated with that (pitch recognition, music dictation, etc.). The step by step approach is systematic. It starts with recognising and singing simple patterns first in major then in minor keys. The recognition of pitch is covered in tandem with learning to cope with increasingly complex rhythms. I've tried a few books and I find that the approached used here is the most intuitive I've come across. It's possible that different systems appeal to different people. I'm a choral singer with a basic grounding in music theory but my sight singing skills were poor. I don't think you need much music expertise to use this book other than the ability to read notes and key signatures. Ideally I would like to see this published in a workbook format (instead of a hard bound book) which could be left open easily on a music stand or at the piano.