Music Application and Theory

Syllabus

Lesson 1: Music Notation and Scales

• Pitch
• Rhythm
• Whole and Half steps in the Major Scale
• Major Pentatonic Scale
• Introduction to the Natural Minor Scale
• Introduction to the Drums and Drum notation
• Keyboard Corner: Major Scales
• Assignment 1.1: Major and Major Pentatonic Scales
• Assignment 1.2: Playing Major Scales

Lesson 2: Scales and Intervals

• Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths
• Intervals
• Natural Minor Scale and Minor Pentatonic Scale
• Identifying and Spelling Intervals
• The Bass
• Keyboard Corner: Natural Minor Scales
• Assignment 2.1: Natural Minor and Minor Pentatonic Scales
• Assignment 2.2: Playing Natural Minor Scales

Lesson 3: Triads, Major Key Triads, and Harmonic Function

• Triads
• Diatonic Triads in Major Keys
• Harmonic Function and Cadence
• Major Key Chord Progressions
• Keyboard Corner: Diatonic Triads in Major Keys
• Assignment 3.1: Diatonic Triads in Major Keys
• Assignment 3.2: Playing Diatonic Triads in Major Keys

Lesson 4: Triads in Natural Minor, Interval Inversion, and Imaginary Bar Line

• Diatonic Triads of the Natural Minor Scale
• Aeolian Harmony
• Chord Progressions in Aeolian Harmony
• Interval Inversion
• Imaginary Bar Line
• Keyboard Corner: Diatonic Triads of Natural Minor Scales
• Assignment 4.1: Interval Inversion, Diatonic Triads of Natural Minor Scales, and Imaginary Bar Line
• Assignment 4.2: Playing Diatonic Triads of Natural Minor Scales

Lesson 5: Triad Inversion, Voice Leading, and Cadence

• Triad Inversion
• Voicing
• Voice Leading
• Open and Closed Cadences
• Keyboard Corner: Chord Progressions in C major
• Assignment 5.1: Triad Inversion and Voice Leading
• Assignment 5.2: Playing Chord Progressions in C Major

Lesson 6: Functional Groups, Compound Meter, and the Blues

• Functional Groups
• Functional Substitution
• Compound Meter
• The Blues
• Keyboard Corner: Chord Progressions in A Minor
• Assignment 6.1: Voice Leading, Functional Substitution, and Rhythm Notation
• Assignment 6.2: Playing Chord Progressions in A Minor

Lesson 7: Sus Chords, 7th Chords, and Bass Lines

• Sus2 and sus4 Chords
• 7th Chords
• Bass Lines
• Approach Notes
• Keyboard Corner: 7th Chords
• Assignment 7.1: Project 1 (Writing Bass Lines with Chords)
• Assignment 7.2: Playing Bass Lines

Lesson 8: Major Key 7th Chords, 7th Chord Inversion, and Drum Grooves

• Diatonic 7th Chords in Major Keys
• 7th Chord Inversion
• Drum Grooves
• Bass and Drums
• Keyboard Corner: Diatonic 7th Chords of C Major
• Assignment 8.1: Project 2 (Adding Drum Grooves to Project 1)
• Assignment 8.2: Recording Project 2

Lesson 9: 7th Chords in Natural Minor, Modal Interchange, and Sixteenth-Note Rhythms

• Diatonic 7th Chords of the Natural Minor Scale
• Modal Interchange and Subdominant Minor
• Sixteenth-Note Rhythms and Imaginary Bar Line
• Sixteenth-Note Grooves
• Keyboard Corner: Diatonic 7th Chords in Natural Minor
• Assignment 9.1: Diatonic 7th Chords in Natural Minor, Modal Interchange, and Sixteenth-Note Rhythms
• Assignment 9.2: Playing Diatonic 7th Chords in Natural Minor

Lesson 10: Motific Development, Melody Writing, and Harmonization

• Motific Development
• Melody Writing in a Major Key
• Harmonization in a Major Key
• Keyboard Corner: Playing Project 3
• Assignment 10.1: Project 3 (Short Composition in a Major Key)
• Assignment 10.2: Playing Project 3

Lesson 11: Compound Intervals, Tensions, and More Melody Writing

• Compound Intervals
• Tensions
• Melody Writing in a Minor Key
• Harmonization in a Minor Key
• Keyboard Corner: Playing Project 4
• Assignment 11.1: Project 4 (Short Composition in a Minor Key)
• Assignment 11.2: Playing Project 4

Lesson 12: Song Form, Dynamics, and Score Format

• Song Form
• Markings for Dynamics and Articulation
• Repeats and Endings
• Score Format
• Keyboard Corner: Playing Project 5
• Assignment 12.1: Project 5 (Longer Composition with Bass and Drums)
• Assignment 12.2: Recording Project 5