Scales: Patterning
Goal: To practice patterns of four notes within major and minor scales.
Out of Tempo
Speaking, singing, playing.
Solfege, numbers, letters.
Beginning
- Teacher prompts, “Speak four adjacent notes from a major or minor scale." For example: 2, 3, 4, 5, speaking them in numbers, letters, solfege, and half step — whole step patterns.
- Students do so.
Intermediate
- Teacher prompts, “Choose those same four notes from above. Here's the number 1 note of the scale. Sing them up and down.”
- Students do so.
Advanced
- Teacher prompts, “Choose another group of four adjacent notes that has the same interval content as the first pattern you chose. Is it possible in major or minor?”
- Students do so.
In Tempo
Teacher sets up a time signature in two, three, four or compound meter in a slow tempo. Students choose a rhythm pattern that would allow four notes to fit in the measure.
Speaking, singing, playing.
Beginning
- Teacher sets up a tempo, time signature and tonality.
- Teacher prompts, “Here’s scale degree 1 of the key, sing four adjacent notes starting on a different scale degree in tempo.”
- Students do so.
Intermediate
- Teacher sets up a different tempo, time signature and tonality and prompts, “Here’s the high scale degree 1, sing four adjacent notes starting on a different scale degree in tempo.”
- Students do so.
Advanced
- Teacher prompts, “Here’s the low scale degree 1, sing four adjacent note starting on a different scale degree downward toward the low 1.”
- Students do so.
- Teacher prompts, “Here’s the high scale degree 1, sing four adjacent notes starting on a different scale degree upward toward the high 1.”
- Students do so.