Music Theory Lecture
A map of music theory—in about an hour.
Music theory is a big subject. People spend years studying it. But seeing the basic structure can make it easier to find your way.
Live online via Zoom · October 14 & 28, 2026
$757 students max90–120 minutes total
Choose your date and register through Ticket Tailor.
Put the pieces together
This class is for you if you have some general knowledge of music theory and want help connecting the pieces, or if you’re curious to learn more about how music works.
In this class, we’ll try something a little ambitious: cover as much of the basic structure of music theory as we reasonably can in about an hour.
You won’t need to master every concept in one sitting. The goal is to leave with a map: a clearer picture of how music works, where your existing knowledge fits, and what you might explore next.
The territory we’ll explore
We’ll move through the building blocks of music and look at how each connects to the next:
- Notes
- Intervals
- Scales
- Key signatures
- Chords
- Chord progressions
- Rhythm
- How it all comes together
Some ideas may click right away; others may give you a useful starting point for further study.
Time to ask questions
After the hour of instruction, we’ll spend another 30–60 minutes on group Q&A and coaching.
With no more than seven students, there’s room to revisit ideas, clarify connections, and explore how the concepts relate to the music you’re learning.
Take the map with you
You’ll receive a PDF with:
- A workshop summary
- Important terminology
- Diagrams and charts to fill in during the session
- Additional resources for continued exploration
You’ll also receive a Google Drive link to download the video after the lesson.
Class details
- Class size
- Maximum 7 students
- Instruction
- 60 minutes
- Group Q&A / Coaching
- 30–60 minutes
- Total length
- Approximately 90–120 minutes
- Price
- $75 per person
- Format
- Live virtual class via Zoom
Meet your instructor
Why I created this class
After 20 years of teaching music, I created the class I wish I’d had when I first began studying seriously: a clear introduction that brings the fundamentals together in one place.
If you’ve learned bits and pieces of theory but aren’t sure how they connect, I want to help you see the bigger picture.
This lecture brings together what I’ve learned as a musician and educator to give you a map you can return to as your understanding grows.
Carlos Rios
Guitarist, composer & music educator
University of Texas at Austin graduate
Get a clearer picture of music theory
Choose your live Zoom session. Both dates are in Central Time.
$757 students max90–120 minutes total
Registration is handled securely through Ticket Tailor.