Theory of Music Made Easy, Grade 7: Book

This book cuts through the anxiety that comes with Grade 7 theory by organizing material into digestible, cumulative lessons that honor what students already know. The inclusion of style-specific writing tasks (Bach chorales, Corelli trio sonatas, modern melodic composition) gives students real compositional contexts instead of abstract rules, which deepens both their understanding and their ability to apply theory meaningfully.

Moving from mechanical exercises into real compositional thinking. Early sections ground you in technique; later chapters ask you to inhabit the voice of Bach or Corelli, making theory feel less like rules and more like a composer's toolkit.

Students preparing for the ABRSM Grade 7 theory exam who benefit from structured, book-based study. Teachers and private instructors who need a cohesive curriculum that builds systematically from earlier grades and doesn't skip essential foundational work.

• Work through suspensions and retardations systematically before moving into the harmonization exercises; students who rush these foundations will struggle with voice leading later.
• When tackling the Bach chorale rewriting, have students analyze an original Bach piece first to internalize the voice-leading principles before attempting their own rewriting.
• Use the Corelli Trio sonata style section as a bridge to Baroque instrumental writing; the constraints of the medium (two instruments over continuo) make the compositional choices clearer than abstract rules.
• Reserve the modern melodic composition exercises for moments when students have regained confidence; these exercises reward creative thinking and feel less formulaic than the earlier material.

Integrate this into exam prep sessions starting 6-9 months before test dates, or weave it into an upper-level theory elective where students can spend time on each compositional challenge. The modern composition section pairs well with contemporary repertoire students are playing, making theory feel immediately relevant.

• Understanding and writing suspensions and retardations
• Harmonizing melodies and figuring bass lines
• Rewriting chorale passages in J.S. Bach's style
• Composing in the style of Baroque instrumental music (Corelli trio sonatas)
• Continuation of solo instrumental parts over keyboard accompaniment
• Writing melodies in contemporary compositional styles
• Composing melodies from given chord progressions