Triads: Landscaping
Goal: To set up melodic improvisations using triads in all positions with focus on 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 with a basic pulse and prompts, “Here is a major triad in root position. Using the third of this triad as a new root, sing another major triad in root position." For example: a D major triad/F# = the third becomes an F# major triad.
- Students do so.
Intermediate
- Teacher sets up as above with a basic pulse and prompts, “Here is a major triad in root position. Using the root of this triad as the third, sing another major triad." For example: a Bb major triad/Bb = the root becomes a Gb major triad.
- Students do so.
Advanced
- Teacher sets up as above with a basic pulse and prompts, “Here is a diminished triad. Using the fifth of this triad, sing an augmented triad." For example: in an A diminished triad, Eb = the fifth. It then becomes an Eb augmented triad.
- Students do so.