Musicianship: Tensions, Harmonic Function, and Modal Interchange

About this course: After a tremendous response from learners on Coursera, Berklee Online has created a Developing Your Musicianship specialization, and this course is the third course in the series. If you have a general understanding of music theory or if you have completed Developing Your Musicianship I and II, this course will continue to help you understand musical concepts, enabling you to create and perform contemporary music. Taught by Berklee College of Music professor George W. Russell, Jr., the course includes four lessons that delve into an intermediate level of harmony and ear training. The course will introduce you to new key signatures, and explore how they are constructed. You will continue to train your ear, learning to differentiate between the various intervals and chords that were explored in Developing Your Musicianship I and II. You will learn how to borrow chords from parallel tonalities (modal interchange), and how to write more common chord progressions. The course culminates with an assignment that asks you to compose and perform a composition using popular chord progressions. As with Developing Your Musicianship I and II, this course is designed to share the joy of creating music.

Who is this class for: This course is for learners who wish to develop musical skills and gain a working knowledge of music theory and ear training. This course is designed as the third course in the Developing Your Musicianship specialization. We recommend completing "Developing Your Musicianship" and "Musicianship: Chord Chars, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys" before enrolling in this course.

Created by:  Berklee

• Taught by:  George W. Russell, Jr., Professor

  Harmony/Piano

Basic Info Course 3 of 4 in the Developing Your Musicianship Specialization Level Intermediate Commitment 4 weeks of study, 3-5 hours a week. Language English Hardware Req You will need recording device to record an .mp3 of your performance. How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

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Berklee Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through the study and practice of contemporary music. For more than half a century, the college has evolved to reflect the state of the art of music and the music business. Berklee serves distance learners worldwide through its award-winning online extension school, Berklee Online.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Welcome to Musicianship: Harmonic Function, Modal Interchange, and Tensions



Welcome to Musicianship: Musicianship: Harmonic Function, Modal Interchange, and Tensions (also known as Developing Your Musicianship III)! Here we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your course experience.


1 video, 7 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Welcome!
2. Reading: A Note From George
3. Practice Quiz: What Are Your Goals?
4. Reading: Connect on Facebook and Twitter
5. Reading: Learner Support
6. Reading: Peer Review Assignments
7. Reading: Course Certificates
8. Reading: Course Resources
9. Reading: How to Record Yourself for Your Assignments
10. Discussion Prompt: Share Your Music Theory Resources

Lesson 1



This week, we will explore the key of Eb Major and B minor. We will also learn about chord tensions and harmonic function, or, in other words, how chords function within a tonal center. We will continue to develop our ears by aurally identifying chord progressions and chord qualities.


6 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: What You Need To Know
2. Reading: Lesson 1 Study Guide
3. Video: Eb Major and Chord Tensions
4. Video: Harmonic Function
5. Video: Ear Training Practice with Chords
6. Video: Ear Training Practice with Chord Progressions
7. Video: Lesson Review and Practice for the Week
8. Peer Review: Write Diatonic 7th Chords in the Key of Eb Major
9. Reading: Check Your Work: Write Diatonic Chords in the Key of Eb Major and C minor

Graded: Eb Major and Tensions

WEEK 2


Lesson 2



This week, we will explore learn a new chord progression, the I II- V I. If you took Developing Your Musicianship, you may remember the VII-7b5, but this week, we'll learn about diminished chords. We'll also continue to train our ears to hear chord progressions and qualities.


5 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: Review From Lesson 1
2. Reading: Lesson 2 Study Guide
3. Video: The II- V I Progression
4. Discussion Prompt: The II- V I Progression
5. Video: The Diminished 7th Chord
6. Video: Ear Training Practice
7. Video: Lesson Review and Practice for the Week
8. Peer Review: Write Chord Progressions in the Key of Eb Major
9. Reading: Check Your Work: Write Chord Progression in the Key of Eb Major

Graded: The II- V I Progression and Tensions

WEEK 3


Lesson 3



This week, we will explore the concept of modal interchange, or borrowing chords from a parallel tonality. We'll also learn a new chord progression that showcases modal interchange, the bVI bVII I progression. Finally, we will continue to train our ears to hear chord progressions and qualities.


5 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: Review from Lesson 2
2. Reading: Lesson 3 Study Guide
3. Video: Modal Interchange
4. Video: Key of D Major and the bVI bVII I Progression
5. Video: Ear Training Practice
6. Video: Lesson Review and Practice for the Week
7. Peer Review: Write in the key of D Major and B Minor
8. Reading: Check Your Work: Write in the key of D Major and B Minor

Graded: D Major and Modal Interchange

WEEK 4


Lesson 4



This last lesson will focus on preparing you for your final course project: writing and performing a 16-bar song. We will run through a brief overview of the concepts you have learned over the past few weeks that you will be able to apply when you complete your project. We will also learn about suspended chords and we will continue our ear training practice.


8 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: Review from Lesson 3
2. Reading: Lesson 4 Study Guide
3. Video: Suspended Chords
4. Video: Preparing For Your Final Project - Part 1
5. Video: Preparing For Your Final Project - Part 2
6. Video: Ear Training Practice
7. Video: Write a 16-Measure Song
8. Video: Giving and Receiving Feedback
9. Reading: Advancing Your Knowledge and Skill
10. Video: Congratulations!

Graded: Chords
Graded: Write a 16-Measure Song