Transposing I-IV-V
Found in: Accompaniment
Tanya M., California
Once students are comfortable finding I-IV-V in any key, how do you go through the transposition process? Do you do one key a week, multiple keys per week? Do you use both Amazing Grace and Auld Lang Syne? Separately or at the same time? Do you use any other songs? Do you work on other accompaniment projects or wait until you have processed through all the keys?
Robin Keehn, Washington
I like to start with Amazing Grace and right in class have them transpose it into one or two different keys. I start by having them write I-IV-V above each chord (whichever fits) so they aren’t thinking about that. It’s usually very easy for students. If I’ve used a student to demonstrate it in class and everyone is clear, I’ll have them do at least two keys a week and tell them they can do the same thing with Auld Lang Syne. I don’t use other songs initially because I want them to feel successful and this is a slam dunk. I think if you have some other songs in mind that are simply I-IV-V, you can add them when you want. Yes, I keep working on other Accompaniment projects at the same time.
Gordon Harvey, Australia
For this task, I highly recommend Elizabeth Gaikwad’s Songs for Children, Songs for Everyone, and Songs for Christmas. She has included I IV V charts for all or most songs in each book. I like to give students lots of I IV V transposition projects with lots of pieces to keep it interesting.