Fundamentals of Music Theory

Developed by the University of Edinburgh and hosted on Coursera, this introductory course gives ear-trained musicians a clean, academic bridge into formal literacy. Instructors cover pitch notation, major and minor scales, intervals, meter, and basic four-part harmony without assuming prior keyboard technique. Ear players benefit because the lectures prioritize hearing intervals and harmonic movement over rote memorization. There are no formal prerequisites. The syllabus clearly explains the tonal math behind standard cadences and chord formulas, demystifying why familiar progressions work across genres.