ELEMENTARY HARMONY, THEORY AND PRACTICE-SECOND EDITION

Great review of "the essentials" given before getting into the meat of the text, including ways to help determine key sigs, etc. Audio CD a big help.

The fifth edition of Elementary Harmony is a still a good text that stresses fluency in theoretical fundamentals. It moves more slowly than some competing texts, which I consider a plus. It is a text that teaches mastery of theory, not merely a survey of theory. It is much more readable (less pedantic) than old editions of Ottman. This edition is riddled with printing errors. The publisher is aware of this, and I know from personal experience that they are taking more care in the new fifth edition of Advanced Harmony. Elementary Harmony is in need of a new printing, but the publisher is seeking input to improve the accuracy of any reprint. To summarize, the concepts and sequence of the text presentation are very good, especially for students needing thorough grounding in fundamentals. The excessive errors will confuse students, but a reprint of the edition can easily correct the errors.

This and its companion, the author's "Advanced Harmony", are probably the most practical English-language part-writing texts still available, though a bit plodding. (But consider that I am familiar only with an earlier edition.)Also recommended: PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by JEFF BURNS.