Harmonic Progressions: Patterning
Goal: To prepare improvisations using harmonic progressions of different styles of music that can also 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, “Sing a melodic pattern in two-four based on the following harmonic progression: one, four, five, one – one harmony per measure, each measure repeated twice.”
- Students do so.
Intermediate
- Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Sing a melodic pattern in three-four based on the same harmonic progression – one harmony per measure, each measure repeated twice, but the downbeat should be dissonant.”
- Students do so.
Advanced
- Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Sing a melodic pattern in four-four based on the same harmonic progression – one harmony per measure, each measure repeated twice, but the downbeat and third beat should be dissonant.”
- Students do so.
The process continues with a variety of harmonic progressions that can come from classical music, blues, jazz, or other styles.