Group Composition Progression
Found in: Composition & Improvisation, Curriculum
Elisa J., New Jersey
I’ve been trying a few of Kristin Fairfield’s song writing tips lately. I tried to do the group chord progression where I ask my students to give me 4 random chords. I actually forgot to limit it to all whites or all blacks but anyway, this is one that a group came up with. Am Bb Csus F. I was worried about the suspended chord but I tried it. First I just played it as a 1:1 ratio then 1:2 then 1:3. Then I used a little acc variation. It was so cool!
Shanta H., Minnesota
Speaking of Kristin’s songwriting tips, we had fun with one last week too. We used Jennifer Lee’s beautiful note flash cards – everyone picked one and we took turns rearranging them into the order we liked best. We ended up with: C#-G#-D#-E-B. Their assignment was to come up with a LH for this string of notes. Everyone, including me, came up with something different and it was a ton of fun!
This was my level 1 class – about 5 lessons in.
All my classes LOVE those flash cards, by the way. They BEG for an excuse to get them out—Oh, Miss Shanta, will you quiz us on chords?
Original discussion started April 19, 2012