Triads: Call and Response
Goal: To set up melodic improvisations using triads in all positions with focus on Neapolitan Sixths, mixture and chromatic mixture.
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 Triad Smorgasbord for ideas.
Beginning
- Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Student A sings a c minor triad.”
- Student A does so.
Intermediate
- Student B sets up as above and prompts, “Student C sings a d minor triad in either root position or first inversion.”
- Student C does so.
Advanced
- Student D sets up as above and prompts, “Student E sings a c minor chord then a D-flat major chord in first inversion.”
- Student E does so.