Worksheets, concept explainers, practice tests, and ear training for piano-oriented music theory

 

Here are some worksheets, practice tests, and ear training exercises I’ve made in the course of tutoring Certificate of Merit (California) piano students. I passed MTAC piano Level 10 in 2014, and have since mostly worked with students in levels 6 and up. Many of these worksheets can be adapted to younger learners and those at varying experience levels.

The system in use in our area with the teachers I know is Julie McIntosh Johnson’s Basics of Keyboard Theory. These materials were developed partially to help explain and supplement that information, but are not officially associated with those books. Some specific concepts, like intervals, are discussed completely differently in the materials below. My worksheets and explainers are mostly oriented toward building on previous knowledge or supplementing other programs, and are generally not suitable for standalone use as the only way to learn concepts (I think).

Please use what you find interesting or applicable to your own studies or teachings. These materials are presented free of charge for personal use and for private teaching use. They are explicitly not for resale to others. If you do use any of these, I would love to know what you think of them and if there is anything you think would be helpful to me or my students.

This text links to some tips and common pitfalls I’ve seen in my own studies and my tutoring through the years. Perhaps it will be helpful in your revision.

If you find any typos or other errors, please tell me! contact@setsailfor.space.

Concept explainers

Click on the explainer title to view/download the PDF

I recommend printing ‘actual size’ - this may cut off some header information but will be more true to the original

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Key signatures

Keys, key signatures, circle of fifths.

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Intervals

Major, minor, diminished, augmented. Taught in the semitone chart method.

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Time signatures

Time signatures, rhythm, ‘fill in the note’.

 
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Cadences

Authentic, plagal, half, deceptive.

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Whole tone scale triads

Finding the two triads for a whole tone scale.

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Scales and modes

Major and minor scales, plus: whole tone, chromatic, modes.

 
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Triads

Major, minor, diminished, augmented triads and their inversions. Taught by interval composition.

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Dominant 7ths and associated chords

Dominant, diminished, augmented 7th chords and inversions.

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Secondary dominants

Solving CM secondary dominants problems, then more advanced secondary dominants exercises

 

Concept worksheets

Click on the worksheet title to view/download the PDF

I recommend printing ‘actual size’ - this may cut off some header information but will be more true to the original

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Modes 1

Identifying and writing modes

Modes 2

Identifying and writing modes

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Scale degrees

Identifying scale degree names and qualities in major and minor keys

 
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Inversions and figured bass

Identifying and constructing inversions, recognising synonymous labels

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Passage-based chord identification

Identifying quality, scale degree, and inversions of chords within a passage

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Passage-based chord identification 2

Identify scale degree and inversion of chords within a passage

 
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Time signatures and rhythm practice

Writing in notes to finish measures, writing note equivalents, determining key signature

Time signatures and rhythm practice 2

Exclusively ‘fill in one note to complete the measure’ practice

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Rhythms practice 3

Add the barlines according to the time signature given.

 
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Primary and secondary triads

Write primary and secondary triads using key signatures and accidentals. Scale degree names and qualities

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Whole tone scale triads

Construct triads for whole tone scales

Fugue subject identification practice

Excerpt from BWV 861, containing two episodes in four voices. This excerpt was taken from the musescore upload by ClassicMan

 
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Level worksheets

Click on the worksheet title to view/download the PDF.

These are specifically multi-concept worksheets, a little bit like a practice test but more geared toward testing concepts rather than mimicking the CM test. If you would like a more realistic practice test, The Music Makers have an excellent set of practice tests on their website.

I recommend printing ‘actual size’ - this may cut off some header information but will be more true to the original

 
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Level 8 worksheet set

Chapters 1-8. Last update: 24 Jan. 2020

 
 
 
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Level 8 answer key

Chapters 1-8. Current with worksheet set.

 
 
 

Pre-tests

Click on the test title to view/download the PDF

I recommend printing ‘actual size’ - this may cut off some header information but will be more true to the original

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Pre-test 1

A limited number of problems selected to be indicative of the level of understanding of music theory as tested in CM levels 6-8. See the answer key to decide which questions are applicable for you.

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Ear training and vocabulary

Click on the exercise type title to go to the page for those exercises

Ear training - all intervals

Major, minor, diminished, Augmented, Perfect intervals, all mixed together. Broken, blocked, and mixed broken/blocked. Audio, multiple choice, sheet music, and answer sheets. Most appropriate for levels 6/7+.

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Vocabulary - level 9

“Connect the term with its definition” worksheets, and materials for building your own. Spreadsheet of level 9 vocabulary terms from Julie McIntosh Johnson and the CM syllabus

 
 

Worksheet construction resources

These are some aggregate charts I’ve built to ease construction of worksheets and answer keys. See also the spreadsheet section on the vocabulary page (also linked in the above section).

Click on the name of the resource to view/download the PDF

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Master modes list

A reference chart for the accidentals in modes excluding Ionian, starting on every note including enharmonics (two pages)

 
 
 

Last updated 3 Feb. 2021