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Contents

​Dedicated to the Hands-on Understanding of Keyboard Musicianship

Dedicated to the training and teaching of up to two dozen students with divergent interests, abilities, and preparation ranging from complete novices to well advanced. 
 
Hands-on training for the rhythmic integration of chord progressions with melodies with an emphasis on reading and playing the pitch intervals in melodies and chords. 
 
Understanding teaches perception of rhythm symbols, pitch locations, expression markings, scales, and chord structures. A variety of styles will also be experienced. 
 
Keyboards are the unique instruments that support melody, harmony, and rhythm. The selections and arrangements in this course are suitable for keyboards or pianos. 
 
Musicianship is more than sight-reading, tone production, and recital. It embraces harmonizing from lead sheets, ear training, improvising, and composing new music. 
 
Musicianship is knowing how music works the way it does from the inside out.

Implements the Harmonizing Instruments Strand of the Core Music Standards

  1. Essential Elements

    ​Approximately 100 musical elements are presented, exemplified, and practiced through 300 practical activities. Rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic elements are introduced incrementally throughout the course. The first half of this course provides a concise primer in C major of both notation and chording that is illustrated with 38 arrangements of sixteen melodies. These 50 pages are followed by the transposition of elements and melodies to F and G major and conclude with a summary of minor chords and modes; 116 pages total.

  2. Authentic Melodies

    ​Both the 10 core melodies and 17 secondary melodies are utilized to illustrate elements of theory and accompaniments in four keys. The melodic phrases are mostly in a five-note range. However, hand change and expression techniques are introduced. There are ten specific composition exercises distributed within the course that begin with a three-note repetition and contrast AABA form in four measures. These exercises conclude with a notated and accompanied sixteen-measure melody that incorporates repetition, retrograde, sequence, inversion, and 1st and 2nd endings.

  3. Content Indexes

    ​The Rhythm Index lists the location of these elements in bold Italic along with other rhythmic signs and terms. The Chords Index lists the location of the I, IV, and V7 chord progressions in three keys plus the progressions from the Minor Category. Five special progressions are also listed below Melodies on page viii. There is an indication of where right-hand melodic patterns are to be improvised from six chord progressions.

  4. Course Design, Page 1

    ​This course is suitable for youth, adults, and seniors. It is a curriculum designed for the classroom, but it is also appropriate for private teaching and self-instruction. The content of this course can be taught in its entirety or by inserting selective sections into the sequence of other materials. Course materials include subject matter comparable to that of introductory music theory and piano method books (except touch technique) while incorporating a significant emphasis on improvisation and an exploration of composition.

  5. Course Design, Page 2

    ​This course is suitable for youth, adults, and seniors. It is a curriculum designed for the classroom, but it is also appropriate for private teaching and self-instruction. The content of this course can be taught in its entirety or by inserting selective sections into the sequence of other materials. Course materials include subject matter comparable to that of introductory music theory and piano method books (except touch technique) while incorporating a significant emphasis on improvisation and an exploration of composition.

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