Ralph Turek

I was excited to receive this book in the mail, and at a great price from a discount academic shop in San Diego (regular price in Australia is upwards of $150.00). It is the textbook that my professors are using although they don't require that we own it (they provide PDF's of the readings). I just thought I might get my own copy as I like to write in the margins and get a sense of the whole. I have to say, I'm relieved I paid only $16.00 for this.

The author does not teach the most basic of information, but leaves the essentials in the Appendix. Instead, he launches into forms of esoteric theory "rules" with many exercises that have little to do with what he just taught. I am only a few chapters in and already he has done the following twice: he introduces a "rule" asks you to do an exercise, but in the midst of it you realize something is wrong, and start questioning yourself. Then at the end he asks "did you catch on to the fact that the rule did not apply here?" So, I ask "what was the point of your useless fucking rule!?" He does not teach, he tests.

The Idiot's Guide to Music Theory is by far a better text, and instead of "education by humiliation" (which seems popular among some music teachers), the author gently leads the reader through the actual theory so that reading music and composition becomes a reality — the goal of this whole thing!

This book is a waste of paper. I give it 1/2 a star because it is designed well. Turek seems like he is an asshole; or just a frustrated Algebra teacher.

I'll be using because I have to, but once I'm done with this course it may make good fire-starter.… (mere)