Course Outline

Have you ever struggled to find just the right chord? Ever heard a great song, only to forget it by the time you can get to an instrument to figure it out? Ever had to come up with a harmony, only to find everything BUT? And how did that really cool groove go? What determines a harmony anyway? Ever thought of a great tune and wished there was a way to jot down the chords and melody, but you rarely carry staff paper? To me, ear training was like sign language to a deaf person. I think you‘re gonna like this stuff…

Melodic Ear Training:

• Meet your new friends: The 5 Note Scale
• Memorize, Sing, Perform the 5 note scale, SOLO
• Find The ONE, in your favorite songs on the radio or CDs
• Sing the 5 note scale Over Top Of your favorite songs on the radio or CDs
• Meet the cousins: 6 & 7
• Go home and write the melody over the words of a favorite song, in numbers

Chordal Ear Training

• Meet the 4 most popular chords at school: I, IV, V, vi
• Major vs. Minor chords; Tension and release
• The 1950’s progression
• Church music progressions; an introduction to taking off
• Write down a progression; Off the top of your head, or off a CD you have; THEN play it
• Write out some more progressions
• Meet the cousins, ii, iii, and vii Write out some more progressions - that include the cousins Chord Inversions
• Tonic or Not the Tonic?
• What’s the bass line?
• How is that chord spelled?

Here's what some of my students have said:

“ I have learned to listen for the chords much better then I could have a year ago. I have learned to like theory… to enjoy it.” Hannah (age 14)

“Since beginning, I’ve learned more about the actual theory side of my music. I’ve learned a lot… mostly about chord structure and scales. I enjoy that mostly because it pertains more to my practical playing. Woohoo!” Sean (age 16)

“What I have learned in theory class: All of the key signatures, how to identify time signatures better, how to recognize chords better, how to build chords on a scale, (which helped me in my piano lessons) and how to identify intervals…” Janelle (age 14)

“I learned that there is order to music. I have learned how to hear the notes in a different way. It was helpful when I was in band, with key signatures.” Jamie (age 14)

“Well, since I started theory class, I have learned quiet a few things. First, I learned chord structure and chord progressions. Second, I learned how to differentiate between major and minor chords, and other things of the like.” David (age 17)

“I learned a lot of stuff that I did not know before I was in this class, like chords, (That was a lot of fun) and scales. My favorite part was when we had to bring in CD’s. I have enjoyed theory a lot."
Abigail (age 11)