Harmonic Progressions: Call and Response
Goal: To prepare improvisations using harmonic progressions in different styles that can include chromatic embellishment and modulation.
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 Harmony Smorgasbord for ideas.
Beginning
- Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Using chord progression x, I start and student A takes the next measure and we trade back and forth, for eight measures."
- Student does so.
Intermediate
- Student B sets up as above and prompts, “Using chord progression x, I start and student C takes the next measure and we trade back and forth, for sixteen measures."
- Student does so.
Advanced
- Student D sets up as above and prompts, “Using chord progression x, I start for the first four measures, then student E takes the next four measures, then student F takes the next four measures, and we trade back and forth, for sixteen measures." For example: student D = four measures, student E = four measures, student F = four measures, student G = four measures of progression x.
- Students do so.