So, i’ve decided to try to learn some music theory, and there doesn’t appear to be that much on here, and my little search eventually lead me to Dean Vaughn’s method for the Circle of Fifths, a small preview of his larger Music theory course
Does anyone here have completed that course? What was it like, what does he cover?
And from what i get, he made one on Anatomy and one on Multiplication. Has anyone used his methods from these?
I just want to hear some opinions before i go further.
The following thread mentions the Vaughn cube:
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It’s post #20
Apologies for the late reply - I am not a regular poster.
The Vaughn Cube - I did try it and knew a guy on the forum who sent me the link.
It’s pretty good and worth investigating - after which make your own mind up.
One thing though - when it comes to music theory (that is how to think and write and read music) the Vaughn Cube only gives VERY VERY BASIC music theory. Which is maybe a good thing if you are (as you say) new to music notation and reading music.
What it will do is give you something to build on, but you won’t be sightreading or writing music down accurately using this VONCUBE resource alone. And that’s an opinion of course but from someone who has music theory. So…, I’d strongly urge you to study music theory from a music theory book - and (just like learning a language) use memory techniques to memorise what’s in the book. The ironic thing with the Vaughn Cube is that it is too much geared to memorisation I found - and not enough about applied music theory. The honest truth is you’d be better to sit with a music manuscript notepad, a pencil and work through a zillion examples using the pen and paper - that’s the way to learn theory - and as you do each chunk memorise the chunk…
Anyway Zillia did you try it?
M
I’ve tried it as a supplement for memory palaces. I find that it gives me more loci per room and I can remember the items in the room better.
Watch this video and see what you think
Well, I only did the first 5 on the Circle of Fifths that you can find on youtube, and i kind of decided it’s not worth buying for me. So i think i will do another attempt with a music book I already have before going further. Do you have any recomendations on music theory books?
That’s interesting. I use that pattern, but I modified it so that 9 is on the ceiling and 10 is on the floor so that the general directions go right-to-left and top-to-bottom.
Any book will help but a couple of authors that I really recommend you check out: At the beginner to medium level (when you need this explained stage by stage) I personally really rate ANYTHING by Annie Warburton - but especially two of her books: Basic Music Knowledge (this is what she calls a “Vade Mecum” - I did not know what that meant, but it is…fabulous. Takes you up to about the level needed to tackle any peice of music up to grade five ABRSM or Pop/rock songs.
and a fabulous book called “Aural Training For Musicians” (With Methods of working).- this is perhaps the best book I’ve ever had that helped me. Her knowledge of HOW TO EXPLAIN is second to none.
The other book I must recommend is a classic “Paul Hindemith’s” “Elementary Training for Musicians”.
A WORD OF WARNING: In this book “Elementary does not mean ‘simple’”. Elementary here means all the elements you will need to read music quickly and accurately step by step. It is hard going at parts but Hindemith wrote this because a lot of students were coming to his harmony class but they did not (yet) really know the elementary parts of music theory inside out. He says that he would not accept any student (some very very experienced musicians) who could not do the exercises in the first two thirds of the book. It covers notation, measures, tempo, time signatures, beat, intervals (how to read them), ledger lines etc. then build from there. It is absolutely brilliant as he EXPLAINS with examples - everything then he gives little exercises so you can put the knowledge into practice. The thing I love about the book is that Hindemith essentially says “You - if you are a musician who wants to read music (and many don’t) YOU need to know this stuff - all of it - even if you are never going to use it actively.” So he has everyone - every musician - learning what is in the book. Timpanists have to learn to read ledger lines, violin players have to learn to read the bass clef, guitarists have to learn to read the alto and tenor clefs - and (HERE’S THE THING) he teaches each of these things quickly. If you get this book - do not skip any part. However as I said it can be quite hard going - but really really worth it. I think there is a free PDF version available with a G-search so check it out - but if it does float your boat buy the actual paper version - do not read music from a screen … Hope that helps. K
Hi all,
The Vaughn Cube is a room system that has numbered walls.
It does work though its very rare to find it available today on a dvd or book.
I can point you in the right direction and have nothing monetarily to gain from it:
You can find The Music Theory course online if you type “Dean Vaughn Music Theory”
Stefos
I just saw that there is a playlist on his YouTube channel:
Thanks for the share. Certainly worth a(nother) look (in my case).
Seems to be a real lack of introductory material for adults who want to learn to read basic music (like chords with a written out top line / melody in music notation). But this series of videos is definitely worth checking out - as is the Vaughn Cube in general… though it never really caught on.
Also, a few years ago I picked up this book:
It is of interest, don’t know if it is still available.
The illustration on short and long term memory is FABULOUS (third pic)>
K
