Recommended Reading List

Entering students may find the following books useful in preparing for their course work prior to entering Berklee. These recommended method books and materials are intended to be used as guides. It is not Berklee's intention that students purchase any of these books before their attendance at the college.

Contact the Berklee College of Music bookstore by telephone at (617) 747-2402; by fax at (617) 267-0765; or by e-mail at bookstore@berklee.edu for information about ordering any of these titles.

In addition to the reading list, we have provided a list of theory topics for review, which supplement additional information about preparing for the Berklee curriculum found throughout this section.

Recommended Books for Music Study

Writing Skills and Arranging

Music Notation by Mark McGrain
Berklee Arranging 1 and 2 Workbooks by Bob Doezema

Ear Training

Berklee Ear Training 1-2 Workbooks by Scott McCormick & Rick Peckham
Berklee Ear Training 3 Workbook by Greg Badolato, Steve Prosser, and Scott MCormick
Berklee Ear Training 4 Workbook by Larry Monroe
Jazz Ear Training by Jamey Aebersold
Training the Ear by Armen Donelian
Contemporary Ear Training by Mark Harrison
Rhythmic Training by Robert Starer
Intervallic Ear Training for Musicians by Steve Prosser
1st Steps to Ear Training by William Curtis

Contemporary Theory and Harmony

Summer Performance Program Theory Handbook, by Bob Doezema
Practical Theory Complete by Sandy Feldstein
How to Master Music by William Fowler
Basic Materials in Music Theory by Paul Harder
Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine
Berklee Harmony 1 through 3 Workbooks by Barrie Nettles
Berklee Harmony 4 Workbook by Steve Rochinski
Study Supplement for Harmony 1 and 2 by Barbara London
Study Supplement for Harmony 3 and 4 by Barbara London

Traditional Theory and Counterpoint

Tonal Harmony by Stefan Kostka
Harmony by Walter Piston
Scales, Intervals, Keys, Triads ... by John and Joyce Clough
Basic Harmonic Progressions by John and Joyce Clough
Tonal Counterpoint Workbook by Rick Applin
Sensible Counterpoint by David Fuentes

Theory Topics for Review

Prepare to demonstrate the following topics in every key, verbally, written on manuscript paper (in both clefs), and on your instrument.

Major Scales
Key Signatures
Intervals and their inversions
   perfect,
   major,
   minor,
   augmented,
   diminished,
double augmented,
double diminished,
Triads
   major,
   minor,
   augmented,
   diminished,

For intermediate-level study, all of the above, plus the following:

Seventh Chords and their inversions
   major 7,
   minor 7,
   minor 7 (b5),
   dominant 7,
dominant 7 (sus 4),
   dominant 7 (b5),
   major 6,
   minor 6,
   augmented 7,
   diminished 7,
   minor major 7,
Minor Scales
   natural minor,
   harmonic minor,
   melodic minor,
Modes
Ionian
Dorian
Phrygian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian
Locrian

We also recommend that you use a piano or keyboard to help you understand these concepts.