scale theory
Composition Ending Chord
I’ve got a question for you. During each lesson, I have my students do an improvisation or play their composition. I just received a short composition in which the piece doesn’t end on a tonic key. I texted her mom about that, and she said…
Incorporating More Music Theory
Looking for advice from the music theory nerds in our community. I’d like to incorporate more theory for some of my teens and students in higher levels. What do you use? Books? Online tools? This is for students in levels 7 and up, who are…
Scales
I am going deeper into “scale” with my more advanced students in the Development Levels and in Accompaniment 2. Having come from a very extensive classical musical training, I understand scale, key signature, and advanced theory. However, a student has asked me, and I ask…
Teaching Minor Scales
Can someone recommend to me how they teach their students the Minor Scales? I teach major scales in the order of the circle of fifths. Then, I usually start with natural minor, and show the relationship with the relative major, since they have the same…
Solace of the Wind Key
Jazz program.The key of Solace of the Wind. First off I might say it’s C Minor with it’s key signature and initial chord but it’s the final chord that’s supposed to be the final arbiter, right? And that’s A flat Minor. In fact the whole…
Roman Numerals for Amazing Grace Variation 2
I have a question about the Amazing Grace Variation from book two. How would you write the last line in I IV V format – from the vi, then F/D, F/G, and Fm. You wouldn’t write IV/2nd would you? Is it IV/6th? I have a…
0246135 Order
Have a random question about 0246135 in Accompaniment 2 (I checked simpedia and here before posting): What is the reason we go in the particular order of notes on the keyboard by skipping up to F# from E and back down to its natural scale…
Lowercase Roman Numeral Chords
In Accompaniment 2 (Scale Tone Chords and Transposition), Why doesn’t Neil use or mention the fairly standard nomenclature of scale degrees where the Roman numeral is capitalized when MAJOR or lower case when minor (I ii iii IV V vi vii)? He says that the…
Scale Journey 3s and 4s
I don’t understand the “scale journey on the keyboard.” I know a lot about scales and can play them all, but my understanding is this is playing the scales using 3 fingers of the LH and 4 of the RH starting in various positions on…
Major 7th and Dominant 7th
I had a student with extensive prior experience ask the difference between a maj 7th and 7th today so I hope this question makes sense. Is Bb the dominant 7th in the key of F? Cmaj7 is C, E, G, B. C7 is C, E,…