Music Theory-Composition Starting point.

[netzow]

I have never had any Music Theory or Compostional Education out side of method books. Does anyone have any books or resources that they would suggest as a starting point? I'm not looking for beggining stuff in terms of theroy and not for really advanced stuff so guess advanced but not too advanced material Thanks!

[leucippus]

I found this little set of 46 lessons on 8-notes web site useful.

Music Theory Lessons

It's something you might find interesting while your waiting to find a good book.  It starts off extremely elementary, but if you go through all 46 lessons there's some places where you'll need to pay attention.  At least I found some pretty useful things in there.

[jonslaughter]

I'd suggest Walter Piston's Harmony book. Its an excellent book and you might find it somewhere at a discount. It might be a little advanced but its a good reference.  I have about 8 harmony books and this one along one one other is the by far the best. The other is one called Tone relations by Goetschuis. Its out of print but you might find it used for a few dollars. Its definately worth a look on amazon for. His other books are very good too.

[netzow]

Thank you bolth. I will-have been checking bolth of those out. Thank you.

P.S. That doesn't mean I'm not open to more suggestions

[soliloquy]

Walter Piston's "Harmony" and "Counterpoint" are uber-classics.  Rimsky-Korsakov's Guide for Orchestration is a must, also.  Where you go after than really depends on what sort of music you want to write.  You could go to Hindemith or to Xenakis