CONCEPT: THE STORY OF MUSIC. What is music? What is music theory? If music is a language, how does it speak? If music is a story, what is the plot?
EAR: SING AND WRITE IN TRADITIONAL PITCH COMMON CHRISTMAS TUNES USING PITCH CLASS NUMBERS (SEE LIST OF SONGS)
NOTES: TENUTO KEY SIGNATURE CHALLENGE LEVEL 3: www.musictheory.net/exercises/keysig/dh98yyddebyy
MELODY: WRITE OUT THE MELODY OF A SONG YOU MADE UP, IN BOTH TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL NOTATION. SEE IF OTHERS CAN READ IT.
HARMONY: CADENCES
ART: BEETHOVEN’S NINTH: VARIATIONS OF JOYFUL JOYFUL WE ADORE THEE (METER AND SYNCOPATION)
CWM: FINDING BASS LINES IN CCLI TOP 25 SONGS
THE STORY OF MUSIC
the end is near! a frank discussion about cadences
shostakovich and the meaning(s) of music
FOR FUN: THE TOMLIN FORMULA
Chris Tomlin has written and recorded many successful songs in the last couple of decades. With such a large sample of songs, can we find a melodic formula that all of them have in common? Yes, it turns out, we can! But it’s not just a formula for Tomlin songs; it’s a formula for any successful song.
MYTHBUSTERS, CADENCE VERSION
THE STORY OF MUSIC
1. Any good story has a plot: a beginning, middle and end. Music does the same, regardless of lyrics.
a. Beginning: We Are Home. We establish the character(s) and mood = we introduce the themes (motives and identifiers) and tonality/groove
b. Middle: We Leave Home. The plot thickens, as the simple action takes unexpected turns and conflict is introduced/increased = we modify and develop the material, leaving tonic
c. End: We Come Back. The conflict and the character(s) resolve = return of introductory materials and final cadence
d. Music theory is the study of how these stories are told, and how they are understood by the listener.
2. Let’s follow the plot of the lyrics of most country songs. The title is probably a common cliché or expression.
a. Verse 1 = Establishing characters. Last line introduces the catch phrase and title.
b. Chorus 1 = The title is the first or last line of the chorus, and seems to complete the verse.
c. Verse 2 = It turns out, the title has a double meaning, as this second verse takes on a new twist.
d. Chorus 2 = Same words, but now we understand it in a new way.
e. Bridge = The “true” center of the meaning of the song is a surprise third meaning of the catch phrase/title.
f. Chorus 3 = Same words, but yet another layer of meaning. Probably repeats and has a tag or other payoff.
g. Payoff = the final line of the chorus is changed this time, to add a surprising final twist or emotional power to the point of the song.
3. Scale Degree Tendencies. In Western music, the story of music is told through the use of scale degrees.
a. Some are stable. 1, then 5, then 3.
b. Some are unstable. 6 and 2 are not strongly unstable (being a whole tone away from 1, 5 or 3), but 4 and 7 are very unstable (being only a half step away from stable scale degrees).
i. The most unstable scale degree is 7. It strongly wants to move up to 8 (which is 1).
ii. The next most unstable scale degree is 4.
ILLUSTRATE:
1. Learn to play the harmonica! Write down what sounds when you blow, and what sounds when you draw.
2. Now let’s try it with three current country songs, and see if the form holds up pretty well.
a. Verse 1 = beginning, establishing character(s)
b. Verse 2 = twist of plot
c. Bridge = additional twist
d. Final chorus = resolution
3. And now let’s look at the same songs from a purely musical level. If there were no words, would the music still have the same basic plot?
4. Now let’s try a different genre of music, such as a Classical piece. Does it still work?
CELEBRATE:
OBJECTIVE QUIZ
CREATE:
Write a country song, or a contemporary worship song, following the formula above. Begin with a common cliché, and then unfold the lyrics. Be sure you have a catch phrase with at least 3 layers of possible meaning. Now write out the song.
DISCOVER:
FOR FUN: HEARING MELODIC PATTERNS
Here is your challenge for the week: Listen to the short audio found on CCLI SongSelect Top 100 (25) and find “home” in the melody of each tune. Your goal is to confidently identify the scale degree on the first listen. Until then, take as many listens as you need to answer with assured confidence.
What is the FIRST WORD in this snippet to be SUNG ON TONIC (scale degree 1, “home.”)? Type your answer in the document and send it to me.
1. Who you say I am:
2. What a beautiful name:
3. Reckless love:
4. This is Amazing grace:
5. Great are you, Lord
6. Build My Life
7. Living Hope
8. 10,000 Reasons
9. Lion and the Lamb
10. Good Good Father
11. O come to the altar
12. Glorious day
13. King of my heart
14. Lord I need you
15. Cornerstone
16. How great is our god
17. Do it again
18. Holy Spirit
19. In Christ alone
20. No longer slaves
21. My chains are gone
22. O praise the name
23. Tremble
24. Revelation song
25. Blessed be your name