ShiroKuro The course I mentioned, the first week our assignment was to listen to music on-line, and find three that were in C major. To do that, we had to keep the sound of C in our head, and be able to hear when the music kept gravitating toward that C. Some people ended up with pieces in G major, because the Dominant is the next prominent tone. So what did that teach? The concept of Tonic, what a key signature represents - from the point of hearing. That balances out those of us who are "from the written sheet" players. This was at a level for both rank beginners, and advanced classical players.
We learned what a measure and time signature were - obviously you and I have that. And then the three main chords in music: I, IV, V - how to recognize them. (Go up to the 4th & 5th note of your major chord and play a triad). These are the most important chords in music. So here is theory again. Primary chords.
Next we learned the structure of basic 12 bar blues. Now we had measures (learned before), and the three chords (learned before). There is a series of I chords, IV chords, and V chords. What do we have? "Musical form."
Next we learned the pentatonic minor scale, which only has 5 notes. It was introduced in a way that the most rank beginner would be able to remember. So theory: one kind of scale. A whole week to absorb it.
Finally we were given a background track that had the chords for the 12 bar blues already done for us. Our assignment was to create a "riff" ---- a handful of notes for two bars -- pause two bars - repeat two parts --- pause --- vary it a bit as a kind of "answer" (basic structure of music = call-answer). If you use the 5 notes of a pentatonic scale over the three chords, you can't sound bad. If you're just playing a handful of notes, you and anyone can do it. This also brings together your ear, with your existing experience playing from notation.
Thus, you get the basic elements of music theory in an open ended manner. There is no judgment, no time pressure, no stigma from quitting and trying it a second time later on. It may open up everything else about theory. (or not)
The assignment itself brings together an important aspect of theory: the co-relationship between harmony (chords, vertical), and melody (horizontal).
You can expand on this: Try it in other keys - add additional decorative notes to your pentatonic notes - organize the notes of your chords in various ways. When we marked each other's work, I heard very basic things, a super sophisticated riffs. There was a saxophonist there: man oh man! Notes like a slithering snake!
