Embedded Files
Objectives
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Recognize and transcribe the chords for examples from the repertoire that feature the singer/songwriter, hopscotch, doo-wop, and puff schemata.
Improvise melodies over each of the schemata above, incorporating asymmetrical meter, 2:3 polyrhythm, or syncopation.
Demonstrate further proficiency in sight-reading rhythms and melodies in asymmetrical meters.
Preparation for Class
Preparation for Class
Watch
Watch
Hearing I-iii-IV-I in "Puff the Magic Dragon"
(Cynthia Gonzoles, 4 mins)
Hearing I-iii-IV-I in "Puff the Magic Dragon"
(Cynthia Gonzoles, 4 mins)
Explore
Explore
Build a few of the new chord schemata (e.g. I-V-vi-IV, I-iii-IV-IV, or IV-V-vi-I) in a chord player and practice singing the bassline of the progression and arpeggiating the chords.
In-Class Activities
In-Class Activities
Improvisation
Improvisation
Rhythmic Improvisation (Asymmetrical Meters): Continued practice from Unit 3-5.
Melodic Improvisation over Other Schemata: Improvise a melody over each of the following progressions. Links are provided for backing tracks. Try arpeggiating each chord first, using solfège until you've internalized which scale degrees are in each chord. If you need a visual guide, create a chord grid using the grids in previous lessons as models. As an added challenge, try adding some 2:3 polyrhythms and syncopations into your improvisation.
Singer/Songwriter (I - V - vi - IV) in C major, F major, D major or a rotation (vi - IV - I - V) in G major
Hopscotch (IV - V - vi - I) in F major
Puff (I - iii - IV - V) in E major or a Minor Puff (i - bIII - iv - iv) in A minor
Chord Loops from Pop Repertoire (See the "Major" tab and look for the schema above)
Sight Reading
Sight Reading
Sight-Singing (Modal Melodies): Continue practice sight-reading melodies in the section "Modes."
Sight-Singing (Skips in IV and V): Continue practice sight-reading melodies in all sections.
Rhythm Sight-Reading: Continue practice sight-reading rhythms in the sections "5/8 and 5/4 Meters" and "Other Meters with Unequal Beats."
Try performing the rhythms over the top of a rhythmic backing track in 5 or 7 (From Trevor de Clercq's Index of Rhythm Grooves)
Aural ID and Dictation
Aural ID and Dictation
Aural Anthology: See the "Asymmetrical Playlist" at the top of the page to practice identifying different asymmetrical meters in popular music. Identify the meter, then count and conduct along with the recording.
Theory Anthology (Asymmetrical Meters): Practice transcribing rhythms and melodies in asymmetrical meters. Check out the examples in both the Theory and Aural anthology pages to the right.
Theory Anthology (Other Common Schemata): Select examples from the theory anthology to use for schema ID. See sections for the Singing/Songwriter, Hopscotch, Doo-Wop, and Puff progression. Listen to the progression and identify the schema you hear first. Then transcribe the progression using Roman numerals, chord symbols, and correct harmonic rhythm.
Once you're comfortable identifying chord schema, select one or two examples to transcribe both the melody and chords.
Identifying Schemas: Work through the Open Music Theory worksheet (.pdf| .docx). A Spotify playlist is provided here.
Additional Practice
Additional Practice
Auralia:
Melodic Dictation: Levels 9a–9b
Meter Recognition: Levels 4a–4c
Pop Chord Progressions: Levels 5a–6
Rhythm Dictation: Level 12
Musition:
Rhythm Tapping: Levels 10a, 10b
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