Students learning any instrument, including voice, study music theory to learn the "how it all works" of music.
All music theory is broken up into graded levels. Exams for each level (run externally) are an option extra.
Like the practical study of piano, music theory is studied in grade levels which can then be tested by examination. Most students find the study itself extremely helpful, if a little less exciting than actually playing an instrument. Adult students tend to enjoy adding theory learning to their piano studies as it answers a lot of questions about what is seen on the score.
Units at this level cover all the basic building blocks of written music are explained under basic concept headings of pitch, rhythm, terms and signs and writing techniques.
The stave and clefs, Note names on each stave, ledger lines, sharps, flats, accidentals, semitones and tones, first major scales and their degree numbers, intervals, triads, arpeggios.
Early rhythm conponents cover bars, note types, rests, time signatures, and basic rhythmic composition.
Terms and signs used include Italian terms for volume (dynamics), speed (tempo), style (articulation).
Written music techniques include the elements of music notation - written clefs, time signature, note spacing, writing stems and beams, and grouping of quavers and semiquavers.
