The phrase 'practical theory' may seem to be a contradiction, but it is a term that "Practical Beginning Theory" has, since it's first edition in 1963, sought to embody by providing a comprehensive introduction to basic level theory that can be used in any teaching situation, even if other resource materials are limited or unavailable. In the new edition, the text continues its mission to be an all-in-one coursebook for music fundamentals. A third author has been added to revise and update the exercises in popular music and to integrate new electronic supplements into the text. A new chapter has been added to address jazz, pop, and blues and a CD of ear-training examples is now included with each copy of the book. The software package of the prior edition has been coordinated to the new CD and mounted to the Internet and exercises throughout the text have been revised to further emphasize real music instead of artificial textbook examples. In all, "Practical Beginning Theory" prepares students completely for the first semester of major-level music theory. In can be used at two- and four-year colleges and it is appropriate for pre-college students who are preparing to enter a music major or for advanced high school music theory courses.

布魯斯·本沃德（Bruce Benward），著名教育傢和學者。1943年，本沃德在印第安納大學取得音樂碩士學位，1950年，在伊斯曼音樂學院取得博士學位。在威斯康辛大學音樂學院音樂理論教授30年。之前20年，他在阿肯薩斯大學音樂教授及音樂係主任。1992年，本沃德博 士也任職弗羅裏達州立大學音樂理論專業客座教授。此外，他還擔任美國州立大學音樂學院聯閤會的主席。在他的職業生涯中，本沃德編著齣版瞭很多關於音樂理論及視唱練耳的書籍，並在全國範圍內開辦瞭很多工作坊。除此之外，他還是支持計算機輔助音樂教學的先鋒，並閤編瞭幾款計算機軟件。

芭芭拉·加維·傑剋遜（Barbara Garvey Jackson），阿肯色大學榮休教授。

布魯斯·R·傑剋遜（Bruce R. Jackson）林肯大學人文音樂兼職助理教授。齣版作品包括《g-d-G-C 變格定弦低音提琴的調音——曆史考察，理論基礎，教學研究和創作示範》。

譯者：

蔣瑀，中央音樂學院作麯係本科，美國密蘇裏大學堪薩斯城分校音樂作麯碩士。創作音樂作品體裁涉及室內樂、交響樂、音樂劇、及影視音樂等，並曾在中美各地上演。現居紐約，目前任職美國作麯傢交響樂團發展部，熱衷藝術、電影、旅行和美食。