Readings¶

This page features a selection of books on music theory, composition, music history, aesthetics, and more. These readings have shaped my understanding as both a teacher and a student, and I hope they serve as valuable resources for others. As I continue to gain pedagogical experience, I will update this list with new recommendations that reflect my evolving approach to music education and scholarship.

Check back for updates, and feel free to reach out with your own suggestions!

Alfred's – Essentials of Music Theory: A Complete Self-Study Course for All Musicians
Elaine Gould – Behind Bars: The Definitive Guide to Music Notation
James Hepokoski & Warren Darcy – Elements of Sonata Theory: Norms, Types, and Deformations in the Late-Eighteenth-Century Sonata
Kent Kennan – Counterpoint (4th Edition)
Harold Owen – Counterpoint: From Josquin to Stravinsky
Vincent Persichetti – Twentieth-Century Harmony: Creative Aspects and Practice
Walter Piston – Harmony
Miguel A. Roig-Francolí – Understanding Post-Tonal Music
Tim Rutherford-Johnson – Music After the Fall: Modern Composition and Culture Since 1989
Roger Scruton – Understanding Music: Philosophy and Interpretation
Arnold Schoenberg – Fundamentals of Musical Composition
Nicolas Slonimsky – Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns
Leon Stein – Structure & Style: The Study and Analysis of Musical Forms