WHAT IS THIS SESSION ? SING AND STRUM: Building Harmonic Skill and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Building Harmonic Skill and Understanding Through Singing and Ukulele

Michigan Music Conference — Saturday, January 18, 2020 Heather N. Shouldice Eastern Michigan University Amy L. Sierzega Ann Arbor Public Schools

SING AND STRUM:

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WHAT IS THIS SESSION ?

In this approach to harmonic understanding, the instrument acts as an extension/vehicle for expressing inner musicianship.

This session will focus on harmonic skills & audiation. Progression for building harmonic skills and understanding Singing & audiation, then ukulele application 2

WHAT IS THE INSTRUMENT FOR?

There are two main ways in which audiation and instruments interact.

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AUDIATION & INSTRUMENTS

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One's audiation is informed by the instrument the instrument is an extension of what one can already audiate.

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PROGRESSION OF HARMONIC SKILLS

Tonal Center (resting tone/home tone) Resting Tone Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Bordun/Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Functions Tonic/Dominant Chords Tonal Improvisation Over Chords/Progressions Songwriting! 5

Sing Resting Tone Toy Toss (“Monkey Monkey”—B. Bolton) Other ideas (see handout) Play Resting Tone Pluck E string on ukulele (E-Phrygian)

Tonal Center

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PROGRESSION OF HARMONIC SKILLS

Tonal Center (resting tone/home tone) Resting Tone Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Bordun/Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Functions Tonic/Dominant Chords Tonal Improvisation Over Chords/Progressions Songwriting! 7

Sing Resting Tone Ostinato “Donkeys Love Carrots”—Traditional Other ideas (see handout) Play Resting Tone Ostinato Pluck C string on ukulele (C-Major)

Resting Tone Ostinato

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PROGRESSION OF HARMONIC SKILLS

Tonal Center (resting tone/home tone) Resting Tone Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Bordun/Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Functions Tonic/Dominant Chords Tonal Improvisation Over Chords/Progressions Songwriting! 9

Sing I-V Ostinato (parallel or alternating) “Donkeys Love Carrots”—Traditional Other ideas (see handout) Play Resting Tone Pluck C and/or G strings on ukulele (for C-Major)

Tonic/Dominant Bordun/Ostinato

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PROGRESSION OF HARMONIC SKILLS

Tonal Center (resting tone/home tone) Resting Tone Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Bordun/Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Functions Tonic/Dominant Chords Tonal Improvisation Over Chords/Progressions Songwriting! 11

Sing Patterns, Label Functions, “Translate” Sing tonal patterns (neutral syll. then solfege) Label/recognize tonic/dominant functions “Translate” patterns (associate solfege) “Rig a Jig Jig”—Traditional Play/Reinforce Skills on Ukulele Use first three open strings for major tonic in C-Major

Tonic/Dominant Functions

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PROGRESSION OF HARMONIC SKILLS

Tonal Center (resting tone/home tone) Resting Tone Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Bordun/Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Functions Tonic/Dominant Chords Tonal Improvisation Over Chords/Progressions Songwriting! 13

Sing Chord Roots & Tones; Label Functions “Hello Everybody”—E. Holsaret/C. Bailey Other I-V and i-V songs (see handout) Play Chords and Chord Tones on Ukulele! C-Major and G-Major for I and V functions Additional functions/chord roots/progressions!

Tonic/Dominant Chords

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PROGRESSION OF HARMONIC SKILLS

Tonal Center (resting tone/home tone) Resting Tone Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Bordun/Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Functions Tonic/Dominant Chords Tonal Improvisation Over Chords/Progressions Songwriting! 15

Sing Patterns and Melodies Improvise patterns (alone & over tonic ostinato) Add more pattern functions! Improvise an ending (“Unfinished Song”—H.N. Shouldice) Chord roots to a familiar song: Sing chord roots Sing song over chord roots Sing chord tones over chord roots Improvise new melody! Play Chords on Ukulele and Improvise!

Tonal Improvisation

• ver chords/progressions

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PROGRESSION OF HARMONIC SKILLS

Tonal Center (resting tone/home tone) Resting Tone Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Bordun/Ostinato Tonic/Dominant Functions Tonic/Dominant Chords Tonal Improvisation Over Chords/Progressions Songwriting! 17

Sing progressions and melodies Create a melody over a given progression Can use a familiar chant or poem! Create a progression & melody Songwriting “from scratch”! Transfer the skills to ukulele!

Songwriting using chords/progressions

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Tonic (F) Dominant (C or C7)

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Sing progressions and melodies Create a melody over a given progression Can use a familiar chant or poem! Create a progression & melody Songwriting “from scratch”! Transfer the skills to ukulele!

Songwriting using chords/progressions

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Thank you!

Heather N. Shouldice Eastern Michigan University hshouldi@emich.edu Amy L. Sierzega Ann Arbor Public Schools sierzega@a2schools.org

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