Forward: What this book is, and what it is not

“…to be gifted is to possess the capacity of work…”
—William Thomas McKinley

No single book, treatise, or theory about music can cover every topic nor can it be everything to everyone. Therefore, it is important for me to clarify what this book is and what it is not.

While many of the ideas, concepts, exercises, and strategies are broadly applicable to many musical approaches, styles, and domains, this book is not intended to be a “one size fits all” solution for understanding and/or composing music. Nor should it be.

As my experience and training are almost exclusively within the domain of Western music, and it is there that the primary focus of this text will center, with the understanding that this great musical tradition does not exist in isolation nor is it divorced from the world’s other diverse and rich musical traditions. Furthermore, I do not assert that Western musical traditions are in any way superior to others and, where possible, I will encourage the student to engage in additional exploration, as well as attempt to shine a light on voices within the Western tradition that may have been underrepresented for reasons that lie beyond the scope of this text.

The information and ideas within this text are an amalgamation of concepts and processes drawn from my own practice as a professional composer and teacher over the past thirty plus years, enveloping what I’ve learned from others, both past and present. I am deeply indebted to all those who have taught me, either directly or through their instruction, writings, and music, including George Russell, Joe Maneri, Robert DiDomenica, Malcolm Peyton, William Bolcom, Ted Pease, Randy Feltz, Vincent Persichetti, Milton Babbitt, George Pearle, Glenn Gould, Paul Hindemith, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Barry Harris, Arnold Schoenberg, Alan Forte, Elliott Carter, Harold Blatter, Samuel Adler. and my father, William Thomas McKinley.