Course Description

 

Teacher: Art Matthews Duration: 12 Weeks Frequency: 1 Hour per Week Enrollment: 3-5 people (3 minimum) Call 669-9191 for more information

In this course you will learn how to really hear what is going on in the harmony and chord progressions of the songs you hear or perform. The course is designed by Art Matthews and it uses a step-by-step approach to learning how to analyze and notate chord related harmonic activity. You'll learn to properly notate the four triads and the five basic seventh chords on the staff in their root position form. You'll also learn to understand the relationships between chords by using diatonic analysis.

Through transcription exercises and the study of "Standard" songs from artists such as Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Stevie Wonder and more, you'll build a better awareness of the harmonic activity of any song that you hear or perform. Your ability to transcribe music and transpose music will be enhanced along with your confidence as a musician and performer.

After passing this course you should be able to:

• Define and understand harmonic terminology
• Aurally Identify the Twelve Major Scales
• Write the Twelve Major Scales on the staff
• Aurally identify the four triads in their root position form
• Write the four triads in their root position form on the staff
• Aurally identify the five basic seventh chords in their root position form
• Write the five basic seventh chords in their root position form on the staff
• Aurally identify ascending and descending intervals in basic melodic lines

Prerequisites

Students should have studied an instrument for at least two years and have knowledge of reading treble staff or bass staff notes. Students should also be well-versed in intervalics.

Students should have basic skills in computer operation. (A basic computer course is available at Ted's.)

Enrollees must pass a preliminary aptitude test to qualify for course entry. All others may sign up for private instruction.

Harmonic Ear Training and Notation Syllabus

Week 1: Major and Minor Triads

• Understanding The Terms
• Major Tetrachords and Pentachords
• Minor Tetrachords and Pentachords
• Major Triads
• Minor Triads
• Notation Exercises and song examples
• Computer Activities

Week 2: Diminished & Augmented Triads

• Diminished Tetrachords & Pentachords
• Augmented Tetrachords & Pentachords
• Diminished Triads
• Augmented Triads
• Notation Exercises and song examples
• Computer Activities

Week 3: Major7 ths and Minor7 ths

• Major 7 th Scales (Ionian Mode)
• Minor 7 th Scales (Dorian Mode)
• Major 7 th Chords
• Minor 7 th Chords
• Notation Exercises and song examples
• Computer Activities

Week 4: Dominant 7 th & Dom.7 th sus4 Chords

• Dominant 7 th Scale (Mixolydian Mode)
• Dominant 7 th Chord
• Dominant 7 th Sus4 Chord
• Notation Exercises and song examples
• Computer Activities

Week 5: Minor 7b5 ths & Diminished 7 ths

• Minor 7 th b5th (Locrian2) ( AKA 1/2 Diminished2 )
• Diminished Scale
• Minor 7 th b5th Chord
• Diminished 7 th Chord
• Notation Exercises and song examples
• Computer Activities

Week 6: Mid-Term Exam

• Students will take an exam based upon skills they have acquired in the course.

Week 7: Major and Minor Triad Inversions

• Major Triad Inversions
• Minor Triad Inversions
• Notation Exercises and song examples
• Computer Activities

Week 8: Diminished Triad Inversions

• Diminished Triad Inversions
• Notation Exercises and song examples
• Computer Activities

Week 9: Major7 th & Dominant7 th Inversions

• Major 7 th Chord Inversions
• Minor 7 th Chord Inversions
• Notation Exercises and song examples
• Computer Activities

Week 10: Min. 7 th & Min. 7b5 th Inversions

• Minor 7 th Chord Inversions
• Minor 7b 5 th Chord Inversions
• Notation Exercises and song examples
• Computer Activities

Week 11: Course Recap and Miscellany

• Diatonic Triads
• Diatonic Sevenths
• Chord Progressions
• Song Analysis
• Teacher-Provided Material Analyzed
• Student-Provided Material Analyzed

Week 12: Final Exam

• Students will take an exam based upon skills they have acquired in the course