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Melody: Patterning



Goal: To use patterns to improvise four (or more) note combinations (and focus can be on larger intervals of sixths, sevenths, and octaves using major, minor, whole tone, and pentatonic scales).


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 Melody Smorgasbord for ideas.

Beginning

  1. Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Here’s a four note melody. Sing the same pattern on a different scale degree.”
  2. Students do so.

Intermediate

  1. Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Here are two four note melodies. Repeat the first pattern and sing the second pattern on a different scale degree.”
  2. Students do so.

Advanced

  1. Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Here’s a four note melody. Repeat the same pattern on a different scale degree, then sing the same pattern backwards, then again on another different scale degree.”
  2. Students do so.