This class is in-person at Artichoke Music (in SE Portland). Limited to 15 Students. Classroom is located upstairs(front classroom)

This class meets on Wednesdays for 7 weeks. The dates for this class are April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4, and 11. Class is 7-8pm

Tracy makes learning and UNDERSTANDING music theory fun and EASY! By using popular music songs and examples from many genres, students get a chance to learn new music, while learning all aspects of music theory.

If you have been wondering: what key a song is in, how to transpose a song, how to use a capo, how(and why) to use the circle of fifths, the difference between 3/4 time and 6/8, what is a mode(Dorian, Mixolydian,etc,), what is I vi ii V, or what a borrowed chord or secondary dominant is.........look no further, you found the class that will explain all this and more!

Tracy will teach you everything you need to know to fully understand the music you are playing and enjoy listening to, whether folk songs, popular(such as Beatles) to more complex jazz songs. It will also further your appreciation for the music and other music you may not listen to often. Tracy will bring in many song examples from different genres. This class is great for songwriters, too!

The topics include: chromatic scales, major scales, triads, key signature, 6th and 7th chords, understanding formulas, common chord progressions, how to know when a song is in a minor key, modulations, transposition, circle of fifths, extended and altered chords, secondary dominants, diminshed chord theory, borrowed chords, and slash chords.

Special topics include:

Understanding rhythms and time signatures: 4/4, 3/4, 6/8, 12/8, 5/4(Brubeck’s Take Five) and compound time signatures. Also, how to play different feels: rock, latin, swing, waltz, etc.

Also, to get the students to improvise a little bit: Tracy will teach the pentatonic and blues scales, harmonic minor scale, melodic minor scale, and maybe a few exotic scales!

This is a hands-on learning class. Please have your instrument with you and expect to do some playing, writing and analyzing. It's the only way to fully grasp the subject. The good news, you do not need to read sheet music in order to take this class!

This class will lay the music foundation for wherever your musical adventures may lead you. Many various songs and excerpts will be used for class discussions.

Drop-ins are allowed for $40 per session, please email Tracy at tracykimmusic@gmail.com