“So, you want to write a Minuet?”—Historical Perspectives in Teaching Theory

Abstract

The article discusses the applicability of Joseph Riepel’s Anfangsgründe zur musicalischen Setzkunst (1752–1765) to today’s music theory classroom. Riepel’s treatise, a lively dialogue between a teacher (Præceptor) and a student (Discantista) transcends historical boundaries, allowing students to gain hands-on experience with concepts that otherwise remain abstract. In the spirit of Riepel’s treatise, I do not merely discuss how Riepel’s Præceptor teaches the student to write minuets, but I describe how I use these instructions in the music theory classroom while providing a sample of my teaching materials.

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