Unit 7-2: Pivot Modulation

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Transcribe the melody and chords for a song selection that includes an abrupt or pivot chord modulation.
Demonstrate further proficiency in recognizing examples of modulation in song from the repertoire and identify key relationships.
Sight sing and improvise melodies that modulate to a closely-related key.
Demonstrate further proficiency in sight reading, improvising, and transcribing rhythms that incorporate 16th note rests and ties with subdivisions in compound time.

Preparation for Class

Reference Aids

Diatonic Common Chord Modulation Handout
Source: Toby Rush (Music Theory for Musicians and Normal People)

Closely-Related Keys
Closely-related keys are those within 1 sharp/flat of the original key. On the circle of 5ths, this is the relative major/minor and the major and minor key on the left and right on the circle.

A Circle of Fifths diagram is shown, with major keys in uppercase letters around the outer circle and their relative minor keys in lowercase letters inside, closer to the center. The diagram is organized clockwise in ascending fifths. Starting at the top and proceeding clockwise, the outer circle shows: C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#/Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F. The inner circle shows the relative minor keys: a, e, b, f#, c#, eb/d#, bb/a#, f/g#, c/db, ab, eb, d. Each major key is accompanied by its corresponding major scale in standard musical notation. Each minor key is accompanied by its corresponding natural minor scale in standard musical notation. Numbers with flats and sharps are shown between the major and minor keys, representing the number of flats or sharps in each key's key signature.

In-Class Activities

Improvisation

Rhythmic Improvisation (16th Note Rests in Compound): Continued practice from Unit 6-2.
- - Rhythm Grid with Takadimi syllables
  - Rhythm Grid without rhythmic syllables
Melodic Improvisation (Modulation): Continue practice with melodic improvisation. (See the exercise in Unit 7-1.)

Sight Reading

Melodic Sight-Reading: Continue sight-reading melodies in the section "Closely-Related Keys."
Rhythm Sight-Reading: Continue sight-reading rhythms in the section "Adding 16th Rests & Ties."

Sight Singing: Modulation

Rhythms: Compound Subdivisions

Aural ID and Dictation

Continued practice listening for modulation and determining keys, with a focus on transcription.

Aural Anthology: Continued practice listening for modulation and identifying keys. See the section "Modulation ID."
Theory Anthology: Listen to examples that modulate in the sections "Direct (or Abrupt) Modulation" and "Pivot Chord Modulation). Identify the key that the selection modulates to, then transcribe the melody and harmony.

Aural Anthology: Modulation

Theory Anthology: Modulation

Assignment

Assignment 7-2

NEXT STEP

Next Unit: Extended Harmony

Additional Practice

Auralia:
- Modulation: Levels 5–6
- Rhythm Dictation: Level 7e–h
- Rhythm Element Dictation: Level 4h–i
- Two-Part Rhythm Dictation: Levels 9a–9b
Musition:
- Rhythm Tapping: Level 6e

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