Basic Contrapuntal Techniques (Revised Edition): Book & 2 CDs

This revised edition takes a refreshingly expansive view of counterpoint, refusing to trap students in baroque convention alone. The inclusion of recorded examples on the two CDs transforms abstract explanation into audible reality, letting students hear how techniques actually sound rather than simply reading about them on the page. Perforated exercise pages and a comprehensive subject index make it equally useful for self-study and classroom settings.

This is a working text, not a passive read. The combination of explanation, musical examples, and recorded demonstrations creates a conversation between theory and ear training. Students encounter counterpoint not as a historical curiosity but as a living compositional tool.

Advanced theory students, composition students, and music majors pursuing deeper study of contrapuntal writing. Private theory teachers and college faculty will find this a valuable primary text for counterpoint courses that demand both historical grounding and contemporary applicability.

• Listen through both CDs before assigning chapters. Knowing which examples appear on which disc helps you pace student work and creates natural checkpoints for listening assessments.
• Work through the perforated exercises in class whenever possible. Watching students struggle productively with voice leading problems is where real learning happens; isolation won't build the same intuition.
• Pair recorded examples with score study. Have students follow the printed score while listening, marking where rules are applied and where exceptions occur.

Assign this as the core text for upper-level theory courses in counterpoint and composition. The CDs make it especially effective for flipped-classroom approaches where students listen to recorded examples at their own pace before discussing technique in class. The glossary and subject index support independent research projects across multiple music history courses.

• Identifying and writing two-part, three-part, and four-part counterpoint beyond baroque models
• Understanding species counterpoint as foundational technique
• Analyzing contrapuntal procedures across different musical styles and periods
• Applying voice-leading principles to original compositional work
• Recognizing ear-training relationships between written technique and recorded sound