Harmony Lessons, Book 1 (Note Speller 3): Piano

Schaum understands the reality of studio teaching: students need harmony knowledge, but standalone theory courses compete for lesson time. This book lets you weave harmonic principles directly into piano study without derailing progress on repertoire and technique. The practical focus on accompaniment and transposition means students apply what they learn immediately.

Clear and purposeful. The writing assumes students already read music fluently, so every page moves forward without unnecessary review. Harmonic examples feel grounded in actual musical situations rather than abstract chord progressions.

Piano teachers working with intermediate students who are ready for harmony concepts but whose lesson schedules don't accommodate separate theory study. This book also serves students preparing for music theory placement exams who need a refresher on harmonic function and voice leading.

• Start with the melodic transposition exercises before moving to harmonic transposition. Students need confidence recognizing patterns before they shift them into new keys.
• Play through the accompaniment examples yourself first. Your modeling of voice leading and balance sets the standard for what students should hear in their own playing.
• Use a practice journal alongside this book so students can note which harmonic concepts appeared in pieces they're learning. Connecting theory to repertoire cements retention.

Integrate this during the second or third year of piano study, assigning one or two pages per week alongside regular repertoire. The transposition work strengthens improvisation skills, making it especially valuable if students also explore jazz or contemporary styles.

• Recognizing and building triads in root position and inversions
• Transposing melodies to different keys
• Transposing harmonic progressions
• Understanding voice leading in accompaniment patterns
• Reading and playing block and broken chord accompaniments