Dr. David Nivans is a retired professor of music and the author of four books on music theory. He has a Ph.D. in historical musicology from UCLA. During his graduate studies at UCLA, David Nivans took an interest in the music of Johannes Brahms, which subsequently became the focus of his Ph.D. dissertation.  David Nivans's teaching experience includes music fundamentals, harmony, counterpoint, musicianship, music appreciation, history of rock music, music and art appreciation, music history, world music, and historical surveys of jazz and popular music.  His books provide the reader with an introduction to basic music theory, or beginning music theory, specifically: music fundamentals, lead-sheet terminology, beginning harmony, and advanced harmony.