Which theory outlines eight stages from aural experiences to theoretical understanding, culminating in audiation as the goal?

• A. Three main vocal parts involved in creating sound
• B. Air supply (diaphragm), vibrator (larynx), resonator (pharynx and mouth cavity)
• C. Core Repertoire List
• D. Music Learning Theory

Answer: (D)

Music Learning Theory, developed by Edwin Gordon, describes a progression of eight stages through which learners develop musical understanding. It starts with rich listening experiences where patterns are heard and sung or clapped back, then moves toward internalizing those patterns so they can be recalled and used without the sound present. The goal is audiation—the ability to hear, understand, and think about music in the mind as if it were being heard aloud. This internal hearing enables students to anticipate rhythms and melodies, recognize relationships, and apply concepts in performance, improvisation, and eventually notation. In short, the eight stages chart a path from immediate listening and reproduction to deeper understanding and mental access to music, with audiation at the center. The other options describe aspects of voice production or unrelated concepts, not a theory about how people learn and internalize music.