Sound Advice: Theory and Ear Training, Levels 1-4.(Book review)

Sound Advice: Theory and Ear Training, Levels 1-4, by Brenda Braaten and Crystal Wiksyk. The Frederick Harris Music Co. (2250 Military Rd., Tonawanda, NY 14150), 2006. 152 pp. $18.50-$21.25.

The authors of Sound Advice: Theory and Ear Training, Levels 1-4, state at the outset that their teaching philosophy is to "never take the sound out of music theory instruction." To this end, they have designed a series that seamlessly integrates music theory concepts with training in aural skills. It is designed for all instrument and voice students and can be used for private lessons of group classes.

Each level contains 24 lessons that are organized into three sections: a "Learning Guide," which presents new concepts; a "Theory Worksheet," for practice and review; and an "Ear-Training Worksheet." The workbook format allows students to tear out pages upon completion of the assignments. Ear-training activities include sight singing, melody singbacks and playbacks, rhythm singbacks and clapbacks, and melodic and rhythmic dictation. Students begin sight singing halfway through the Level One book using the "movable do" solfege method. Rhythmic values are counted using Kodaly's system, using syllables such as "ta" for quarter notes and "tika-tika" for sixteenth notes. An answer key is included in the back of the book for students to check their assignments.

One unique aspect of this series is the use of the Internet for ...