Augmented Sixth Chords: Landscaping
Goal: To prepare improvisations using augmented sixth chords (Italian, French, and German).
Out of Tempo
All Levels
“Out of Tempo” exercises are not presented separately in Ear Training III and Ear Training IV improvisations. Should any exercise prove difficult performed in tempo, out of tempo versions of the materials in Ear Training III and Ear Training IV can be modeled on Ear Training I and Ear Training II approaches to out of tempo improvisations.
In Tempo
Teacher sets up a tempo, time signature, tonality, and rhythms.
Phrases can be four to thirty-two measures in length depending on the student’s ability.
Start with one note per measure and add different rhythms as students become more comfortable with the exercise. For more confident students, use non-repeating notes and rhythm patterns.
Students sing one, two, three, or four notes per measure.
Speaking, singing, playing.
Refer to the Seventh Chord Smorgasbord for ideas.
Beginning
- Using an electric keyboard or other sustaining instrument, with a basic pulse, teacher prompts, “I am playing the notes of an Italian augmented sixth chord. Student A sings them from bottom up.”
- Student A does so.
Intermediate
- Using an electric keyboard or other sustaining instrument, with a basic pulse, teacher prompts, “I am playing the notes of a French augmented sixth chord. Student B sings them from bottom up.”
- Student B does so.
Advanced
- Using an electric keyboard or other sustaining instrument, with a basic pulse, teacher prompts, “I am playing the notes of a German augmented sixth chord. Student C sings them from bottom up.”
- Student C does so.