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Online Music Theory Lessons: Turn Sound Into Skill

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Online Music Theory Lessons

TURN SOUND INTO SKILL

Fun music theory no matter what instrument you play
Empower yourself with the clarity of our expert video lessons

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https://youtu.be/2tUm6C1II94?rel=0

Your Instructor, Aron Bernstein

Aron Bernstein, music teacher and founder of Breaking Barlines

About Aron

When adult students ask me if it’s too late to learn music, I love using myself as an example.

I did not play or read a note of music until I was nineteen. All through high school, I would watch musicians play, and think they lived in some tangent reality that was closed to me. Then, in April 1993, I did something on a whim. I decided I was going to learn.

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Do you have questions? What do you want to learn?
Our contact form is at the bottom of the page.

*Background sheet music images are from Symphony in A Flat by Aron Bernstein.

Watch Aron Teach!

Aron Bernstein has been a music teacher and composer for 27 years.
He holds a Masters Degree in Theory and Composition from Western Oregon University, and a Bachelor of Music from San Francisco State University.

See clips from classes taught by Aron Bernstein.

Teaching Samples


What My Students Say

The Best Thing About Saturdays

My electronic keyboard sat, covered and ignored, for years. Then I took a piano course from Aron and started practicing and began to read music. I took two piano courses and a rhythm-in-world-music course from him. Those sessions were the best thing about Saturdays. He made the classes fun. The breadth and depth of his knowledge of music are remarkable, but what makes Aron a top-line teacher is his love of music and his ability to convey that to each student as an individual. I was one of the few who came with no music experience but I never felt lost or ignored.

Chris Langlois Piano and Music Theory Student

Learning After Retirement

I am a recent retiree, and one of my goals was to relearn the piano after 2 years of grade school lessons. I had the good fortune to enroll in Aron's college classes. He has a remarkable ability to create a safe environment for learning and trying out new skills, and he makes it fun to challenge yourself! Aron provides guidance on how to maximize your practice time, and the solfege makes it easy. I also appreciate how Aron incorporates music theory into each lesson, giving you a deeper understanding of what is happening and increasing your independence. I plan on continuing lessons with Aron — it is fun, challenging, and rewarding!

Mary Denise Smith Retired and Learning to Play Music

Patience and Enthusiasm

Aron Bernstein is an excellent teacher. His teaching is unusually clear. He goes the extra mile to make music theory accessible to all levels of musicianship. He has that rare quality of patience and enthusiasm in his teaching. If you want to study music theory, don’t hesitate to enjoy learning with Aron.

Joe and Christine Toscano Music Theory Student

Incredible Music Teacher

Aron is an incredible music teacher. I loved escaping to his class each week. He creates a balanced curriculum of theory and improvisation, studying different pieces and creating your own work. He is easygoing and encouraging, and always answered any random questions I had. There were a lot of gaps in my musical education, and he helped me fill in the blanks and get a firm grasp of the concepts. I would recommend him to anyone looking to work on their musical talent!

Bethany Amsler Music Student

Professor and Lifelong Student

I am an interdisciplinary humanities professor and a lifelong student, always searching for high-quality courses on subjects that interest me, such as music. I studied a little piano before, put my studies on hold for a long while, and thought I could never get to play it but Aron Bernstein’s approach and teaching revived my interest and quickly activated my incipient knowledge. Aron’s courses really work! Somehow he has figured the “magic combination” that all teachers seek: how to blend content, pedagogy, and enthusiasm to generate clarity, motivation, and solid learning. He makes both theory and practice accessible and enjoyable in a pressure-free environment that makes students feel encouraged and confident, allowing them to make progress from day one. As an educator myself, I deeply appreciate his well-thought-out, carefully constructed, practical, and elegant methodology. In addition to being a superb teacher with ample and robust experience, he is an extremely kind and empathetic person, he’s always available to his students, answers questions efficiently, with a smile on his face, and has a great sense of humor.

Dr. Isabel Jaén Portillo, Portland State University Music Theory Student

Google Review

Aron's educational videos are very professional, engaging, and fun! I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed them being that I expected musical theory to be a drier subject. I actually do have some musical training but I've been learning so much from Aron! For example, I'd always had to memorize the notes in a given key and its key signature which was frustrating at times and did end up limiting me. Aron's technique is so much more helpful!
I enjoy the little jokes he makes in the videos and the worksheets help solidify the lesson. The videos aren't very long so watching one or two actually can change your life but doesn't feel like a big commitment. I've enjoyed it so far and plan to continue taking advantage of my subscription. Thank you Aron! I'm looking forward to learning more from you!

Alexis Aschenbrenner Music Theory Student

Best Choice for Music Education

Accessible, comprehensive, and engaging are just some of the words I use to describe Breaking Barlines, the music theory program Aron Bernstein is designing and creating. There are currently at least 40 lessons (with more being added monthly) on multiple topics including Scales, Rhythm, Chromatic Harmony, and Counterpoint. Each lesson includes a video and a downloadable tutorial, worksheet, and answer key. Want to go back and review? No problem. A subscription to Breaking Barlines is inexpensive and allows you to go back and review any lesson at any time ... or jump ahead to the specific module that interests you. If you want to learn music theory but can't afford the time out of the middle of your day to get to class or the tuition, Breaking Barlines is the best choice for you to get the musical education you want. Aron Bernstein is making music theory accessible, comprehensive, engaging, and affordable.

Mary Ann Aschenbrenner

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Blog — Recent Posts

A Farewell to Mary Kogen

August 1, 2022

There are teachers who genuinely make a difference in your life, and I was proud to have been a … [Read More...] about A Farewell to Mary Kogen

Weekly Music Challenge: 7/18/22

July 18, 2022

Test your theory chops with the weekly challenge from Breaking Barlines! You’ll find a new question … [Read More...] about Weekly Music Challenge: 7/18/22

Weekly Music Challenge: 7/11/22

July 11, 2022

Test your theory chops with the weekly challenge from Breaking Barlines! You’ll find a new question … [Read More...] about Weekly Music Challenge: 7/11/22

Weekly Music Challenge: 6/20/22

June 21, 2022

Test your theory chops with the weekly challenge from Breaking Barlines! You’ll find a new question … [Read More...] about Weekly Music Challenge: 6/20/22

Get Social

Breaking Barlines offers several ways to get your questions answered by the instructor and connect with other students.
Here are some options:

  1. Answer the weekly Music Theory Challenge.
  2. Join us on the Breaking Barlines Facebook Page
  3. Follow the Breaking Barlines Instagram Feed
  4. Check out our YouTube Channel — Breaking Barlines

Music Theory Challenge

Each Monday morning Aron Bernstein will post a new Music Theory Challenge question on our Blog page. Use your knowledge to answer the question by leaving a comment on the post.

On Friday he will provide the answer and publish the best guesses.

This is just one more fun way to be a part of the Breaking Barlines community.

Instagram Feed

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A glass of Malbec? Nope, an evening of board erasi A glass of Malbec? Nope, an evening of board erasing!
Groans welcome! Learn music theory with Breaking B Groans welcome! Learn music theory with Breaking Barlines...you won't see this in a lesson about augmented 6th chords anywhere else!
Learn Music Theory the FUN way with Breaking Barli Learn Music Theory the FUN way with Breaking Barlines! CLICK the picture to watch my latest sample video: Augmented 6th Chords. Spice up your cadence by taking it to Italy!
My easy video lessons are dynamic and grounded in REAL music, so you'll see the theory at work in the music you're interested in. No plodding through drills and academic exercises: I'll show you the tricks that make music theory USEFUL! 
From the Youtube channel you can go directly to my website and SIGN UP to get full access to the course! That's 44 video lessons, plus tutorials and answer keys. It's an awesome resource for teachers, students, or anyone who wants to know how music works!
There are teachers who genuinely make a difference There are teachers who genuinely make a difference in your life, and I was proud to have been a student and friend of Portland’s own Mary Kogen. In a career more than five decades long, she taught piano and pedagogy at Eastern Illinois University and spent 26 years on the faculty at Portland State, striving always for the humanity and self-enhancement in music. And as for Breaking Barlines, I can confidently attribute a good deal of my own teaching methods to her influence. I was one of countless music teachers whose lives were touched by Mary's warmth, unmatched humor, and her commitment to bringing music into people's lives and souls. Though her time is ended, the light she left belongs to us all, and it will not go out. Thank you, Mary.
Working now on Breaking Barlines video #45: Augmen Working now on Breaking Barlines video #45: Augmented 6th Chords. This is part one, the Italian 6th, and in part 2 I'll change my passport to Germany and France! Using solfege, straightforward graphics, and above all the sound to teach these slick harmonies!
Brahms Trauma...it exists, afflicting millions of Brahms Trauma...it exists, afflicting millions of Brahms lovers every year. These are the four measures that come after this week's music theory challenge. Apparently, four against nine wasn't enough to get you up in the morning, so here's EIGHT against nine! Enjoy!
Two ways to get your printable tutorials, workshee Two ways to get your printable tutorials, worksheets, and answer keys! Find them individually below each video lesson (at right), or in complete format at the bottom of each module (at left). With an inexpensive membership you get COMPLETE access to all 44 video lessons plus the printable materials. Everything you need to learn music theory, and then some!
Almost finished: Video 44, the Cadential 6/4 Chord Almost finished: Video 44, the Cadential 6/4 Chord! Learn why a I chord takes on a whole new meaning when you put it in second inversion! Click the profile link to visit Breaking Barlines and see the whole course!
When someone mentions music theory, what's the fir When someone mentions music theory, what's the first thing to pop into your mind? Exactly! If it's not taught well, it's dry, intimidating, and not much use. But FUN music theory doesn't have to be a contradiction in terms. That's why I created Breaking Barlines, a dynamic online course grounded in real music, decades of teaching experience, and a lot of laughs. Follow @breakingbarlines and click the profile link to check out the website!
Creating and editing video #44: The Cadential 6/4 Creating and editing video #44: The Cadential 6/4 Chord.  This will be released at the end of May as the next video lesson in my Diatonic Harmony Module!
FUN music theory: a contradiction in terms? Not wi FUN music theory: a contradiction in terms? Not with Breaking Barlines! Make music theory work for you with my online course. My easy video lessons are dynamic and grounded in REAL music, so you'll see the theory at work in the music you're interested in. No plodding through endless drills and academic exercises: I'll show you the tricks that make music theory USEFUL! 
Sign up for a monthly membership and get full access to the course! That's 43 video lessons, plus worksheets and answer keys. It's an awesome resource for teachers, students, or anyone who wants to get to the bottom of music!
What a semester! I really hope to have the privile What a semester! I really hope to have the privilege of teaching music again at Lewis and Clark College. Nearly 30 students this term, and I'm proud of every one of 'em!
The music of Queen with the Oregon Symphony at the The music of Queen with the Oregon Symphony at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland. 
Brent Havens, Conductor
MiG Ayesa, Lead Vocalist
Daniel Clemens, Bass and Vocals
Powell Randolph, Drums and Vocals
George Cintron, Guitar and Vocals
Adam Michaelson Irizarry, Keyboards and Vocals
All done teaching Music Theory Fundamentals at Lew All done teaching Music Theory Fundamentals at Lewis and Clark College in Portland. There's a strange, mixed feeling in an empty classroom just after the last student has handed in their final exam. Have I done enough? If there's a next time, how can I do it better?
My wife Erin and I at the Keller Auditorium (yes, My wife Erin and I at the Keller Auditorium (yes, we're the EArons!) to see Hamilton. I completely recommend experiencing this phenomenon of stylistic integration, genius lyrics, and singing that will lift you from deep despair to riotous laughter.
Someone broke my counterpoint! Learn the rules of Someone broke my counterpoint! Learn the rules of dissonance so you can break them! Screen shot from the new video on third species counterpoint!
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Online Music Theory Lessons That Do the Impossible: They're FUN and they WORK! Providing 27+ years

Learn Music Theory the FUN way with Breaking Barlines! CLICK the picture, and for a limited time you can watch my ENTIRE new lesson on the Cadential 6/4.I'm Aron Bernstein, and I've been a music teacher for 27 years. My easy lessons are dynamic and grounded in the music you want to hear. No plodding through drills and academic exercises: I'll show you the tricks that make music theory USEFUL! If you like what you see, SIGN UP to get full access to the course! That's 45 video lessons, plus tutorials and answer keys. Just Click SUBSCRIBE on the home page. It's an awesome resource for teachers, students, or anyone who wants to know the how and why of music! ... See MoreSee Less

The Cadential 6/4 - Breaking Barlines

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Learn Music Theory the FUN way with Breaking Barlines! CLICK the picture, and for a limited time you can watch my ENTIRE new lesson on the Italian 6th.I'm Aron Bernstein, and I've taught music for 27 years. My easy lessons are dynamic and grounded in the music you want to hear. No plodding through drills and academic exercises: I'll show you the tricks that make music theory USEFUL! If you like what you see, SIGN UP to get full access to the course! That's 45 video lessons, plus tutorials and answer keys. It's an awesome resource for teachers, students, or anyone who wants to know the how and why of music! ... See MoreSee Less

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Augmented Sixth Chords: The Italian Sixth - Breaking Barlines

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Learn Music Theory the FUN way with Breaking Barlines! CLICK the picture to watch my latest sample video: Augmented 6th Chords. Spice up your cadence by taking it to Italy!My easy video lessons are dynamic and grounded in REAL music, so you'll see the theory at work in the music you're interested in. No plodding through drills and academic exercises: I'll show you the tricks that make music theory USEFUL! From the Youtube channel you can go directly to my website and SIGN UP to get full access to the course! That's 44 video lessons, plus tutorials and answer keys. It's an awesome resource for teachers, students, or anyone who wants to know how music works! ... See MoreSee Less

Music Theory: Augmented 6th Chords

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Impartial Partials! CLICK the image to see the answer to this week's Music Theory Challenge.SIGN UP for a membership with Breaking Barlines and make music theory work for you! It's an awesome resource for students and teachers alike. Just click "Learn More Here" at the bottom of the blog post. Learn theory the right way: fun, encouraging video lessons grounded in real music! ... See MoreSee Less

Weekly Music Challenge: 7/18/22 - Breaking Barlines - Overtones

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Take the Weekly Music Theory Challenge from Breaking Barlines. This week: Overtones on Overload! CLICK THE IMAGE to see the challenge, and post your answer on the blog. Then come back Friday, July 22nd to see if you're right!SIGN UP for a membership with Breaking Barlines and make music theory work for you! Just click "Learn More Here" underneath the blog post. 44 video lessons and counting! Learn theory the right way: it's fun, grounded in real music, and based on 27 years of teaching experience! ... See MoreSee Less

Weekly Music Challenge: 7/18/22 - Breaking Barlines - Overtones

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  • Tell us about yourself. What is your experience level in music? What would you like to see in an online music theory course? Your input will become future video lessons.

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