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Harmonic Progressions: Landscaping



Goal: To hear and remember the differences between I, IV, and V in both major and minor keys with first and second inversions.


Out of Tempo

Beginning

  1. Teacher plays one as both a melody and a triad and identifies it.
  2. Teacher plays four as both a melody and a triad and identifies it.
  3. Teacher plays five as both a melody and a triad and identifies it.

Intermediate

  1. Teacher plays all three chords in the order one, four, five.
  2. Students speak the roman numerals and the pitches of each chord.

Advanced

  1. Teacher plays all three chords in the order one, four, five.
  2. Students sing notes of each chord in the order one, four, five from the root of each chord.

In Tempo

Beginning

  1. Teacher chooses a time signature: two-four, three-four, four-four, or six-eight.
  2. Teacher plays the progression one, four, five, one in root position in a time signature, one chord per measure.
  3. Students sing the bass line only, one note per measure, one chord per measure in root position.

Intermediate

  1. Teacher plays the one, four, five, one progression in a time signature repeating each chord five times while singing the chord tones of each chord up and down: "Doe, Mi, Sol, Mi Doe." Then teacher adds one measure rest so that each combination lasts 6 measures.
  2. Students sing back the chord tones of each chord in succession using solfege while teacher continues to accompany at the piano.

"Doe Mi Sol Mi Doe (rest)"

"Fa La Doe La Fa (rest)"

"Sol Ti Rey Ti Sol (rest)"

"Doe Mi Sol Mi Doe (rest)"

Advanced

  1. Teacher plays the one, four, five, one progression in a time signature repeating each chord five times while singing the chord tones of each chord up and down: "Doe, Mi, Sol, Mi Doe." Then teacher adds one measure rest so that each combination lasts six measures.
  2. Students do not sing the I chord but sing only one of the other chords as the teacher continues to play the progression in tempo.

More Advanced

Teacher plays the one, four, five, one progression in tempo in a time signature but in keys other than C major.