Chromatic Intervals: Landscaping
Goal: To set up improvisations using chromatic intervals using the chromatic wedge.
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 Interval Smorgasbord for ideas.
Beginning
- Teacher sets up a slow tempo in two-four, three-four, four-four, or six-eight and prompts, “Singing one note per measure, sing down a half step, up a whole step, down a minor third, etc., until all intervals have been sung.”
- Students do so with teacher’s accompaniment, then a cappella.
Intermediate
- Teacher sets up a slow tempo in 2, 3, 4, or six-eight and prompts, “Singing one note per measure, sing up a half step, down a whole step, up a minor third, etc, until all intervals have been sung."
- Students do so with teacher’s accompaniment, then a cappella.
Advanced
- Teacher sets up a slow tempo in 2, 3, 4, or six-eight and prompts, “Two students singing one note per measure, sing at the same time the beginning and intermediate versions of the Chromatic Wedge.” This results in a harmonic version of the exercise.
- Students do so with teacher’s accompaniment, then a cappella.