Reddit reviews Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory (3rd Edition)

If you think you are ready for some heavier academic writing on music theory, here's how you can get into it:

1. Music Theory Online, the free, peer-reviewed journal created by the Society for Music Theory. It's convenient and very legit. Some articles have animations, videos, and sound linked right there.
   
2. Look at the award-winning publications list on the Society for Music Theory website. If something piques your interest, get it! Either from Amazon or from a university library (or really, really good public library).
   
3. If you go to university, you probably have access to JSTOR—a huge database of academic articles, including articles about music theory—through your university's library website. The big journals are Music Theory Spectrum and Journal of Music Theory. You can also check out Intégral, Theory and Practice, Perspectives of New Music, Music Perception, and way more on JSTOR.
   
   I would also recommend getting familiar with counterpoint and set theory, if you haven't already! My recommended books on counterpoint are by Robert Gauldin, A Practical Approach to 18th-century Counterpoint and the 16th-c. version as well. It's called "a practical approach" because Gauldin does not teach via the species method. (I tend to find species unrelated, anyway—species counterpoint is a good and important exercise, but not exactly the same idea as 16th- or 18th-c. writing.) For set theory, I recommend Joe Straus's Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory. It's expensive for such a small book; unfortunately, this is a fact of life for any book about 20th- and 21st-c. music, since copyright laws make publishing them quite expensive. You might be able to find older editions for cheaper.

I would recommend going to your theory teacher's website/class website and look at what book they want you to get. This is a big sign of the approach the university will take in teaching from Theory I and upwards. This way, you will know the "common language" professors will use at your school regarding theory. What I mean are specifics, ranging from calling something an "accented passing tone" vs. making no distinctions between a regular passing tone, to various systems of abbreviations, and to differences in how the cadential "V^6/4 - V^7 - I" is viewed. Some people interpret this as " I^6/4 - V^7 - I." Basically, do you call a cadential^6/4 chord a V or a I chord? One use is not universal. Little clarifications like these, which can only been gleaned from your actual theory book, will make you better prepared and less confused on day one than learning one book's method, only to be presented with a completely different approach.

I think, given your background in theory, you will be surprised how far ahead you are compared to many people. A lot show up to their freshman year with a low level of theory competence.

I went to a university that used the Laitz textbook, so its about all I can recommend.

I've also been exposed to the Straus book for post-tonal theory.

For Species counterpoint, you can't beat the Schacter and Salzer book: "Counterpoint in Composition,"

For Schenkerian analysis, there is the Salzer book: "Structural Hearing." That is a bit more specialized, but it may pique your curiosity.

Great theorists like Felix Salzer and Carl Schacter, students of Heinrich Schenker, along with the acclaimed Steven Laitz, are good to learn about and be knowledgeable about. Looking into them, their associates, and their teachers can lead you to other good books.

Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory By Joseph Straus is my personal favorite in terms of discussing the 12 chromatic pitches of Western music in an objective and mathematical sense, but it really is more of a textbook for composing 12-tone and serialist music. Still a great read and tremendous resource. Any book on acoustics will discuss the repeating patterns in wave propagation that are responsible for our experience of pitch and harmony, but that will contain little info on music theory per se. Hope this helps! Also check out Vi Hart's videos if you're interested in weird theory stuff.

If you're interested in Post-tonal music at all, I think you're ready to start tackling the basic concepts of it. I recommend this book (find a used copy of course. It's ridiculously overpriced).

Laitz is what we used for theory, but the way to approach different things is different amongst different people...

Edit: [Straus] (http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Post-Tonal-Theory-Joseph-Straus/dp/0131898906/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376717704&sr=1-4&keywords=theory) for base 12/12 tone

Edit 2: Don't forget that looking at various texts is another great way to think about understanding how different composers approach things, so once you learn a fundamental way of slapping labels on things, actual music is the best way to learn theory. Also, check out [this.] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schenkerian_analysis)

This is a standard numbering system for PC set theory (an analytical method used mostly used for atonal music), it does elucidate some fun fact about tonal music though!

I would look at Joseph N Straus's Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory is usually the book people start with Sharp inhale when looking at the price (https://www.amazon.ca/Introduction-Post-Tonal-Theory-Joseph-Straus/dp/0131898906)

You might also try this website (only half complete unfortunately) that was done by one of my theory teachers https://www.mta.ca/pc-set/pc-set_new/index.html

Or this free online textbook that covers a lot of basic concepts in theory http://openmusictheory.com/contents.html

Here's the book I used in my post tonal theory class. Very readable, and it provides a lot of insight into 20th century music:

http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Post-Tonal-Theory-3rd-Edition/dp/0131898906


As for HOW to listen to it, I can't tell you that. I've always liked atonal/chromatic music, even before I knew how to play an instrument. Traditional triad - based music always seemed boring to me.

This book lays set theory out in an easy to understand way:

http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Post-Tonal-Theory-3rd-Edition/dp/0131898906

Of course, most books are only going to describe the theory, composing is a whole other story.