In our Yio Chu Kang studio, Jenny conducts group music theory lessons and keeps her group size up to 4 students. Compared to other studios, this is a small group which enables her to cater to the needs of each student. A group setting reduces the amount of attention given to each student. However in this article I describe how Jenny leverages group work to aid in the understanding of music theory.
Group Lessons Duration
Depending on the students her typical theory group lessons does not exceed 1 year. The first 5 months of the course will cover some basic knowledge of harmony and unusual chords that are found in modern music. Also basic knowledge about melodic writing and the use of decorations for melody writing are covered. To ensure an orderly class progression, the following topics are covered in this particular order.
Four Part Writing
Students will take turn to arrange 4 part harmony on whiteboard using colorful magnetic notes. Each student will represent one voice in 4-part writing in the following music staff
-Soprano
-Alto
-Tenor
-bass
The rules and which note to double through are taught via games so that students can remember the rules. Colours are used to represent each voices that will help students see the movements of each voice’s melody. This is a fun way to learning music theory which will otherwise be rather dry and boring, especially for young children.
Key Signature & Modulations
After learning 4-part writing, Jenny will proceed to introduce decorations for melody writing. How to identify keys and modulations accurately will be taught as the entire piece will be marked wrong no matter how well the piece is written if the keys are identified wrongly.
During lessons each student will take turn to identify the keys and modulations, as a group each student will help to analyse the notes and students will take part in discussions to explain why each music modulates to the particular keys.
Key Signature & Modulations
Next Jenny introduces some unusual chords like Neapolitan 6th, Augmented 6th (Italian 6th, Frence 6th and German 6th) and diminished 7th chord.
Music Composition
After the introduction of unusual chords, past years test papers are done to demonstrate how to complete the questions 1 to 3 for music composition. In her classes music composition in group is fun as the students get to interact with other students and learn other students use of style or melodic ideas to smoothen up the melody and at the same time match with pre-designed chords. Do note that the music composition questions 1 to 3 take about 3 to 4 months to be fully mastered. However before the answers are written on the paper, white board activities are done where the students take turn to add the chords first. This is followed by filling in the notes and smoothening the melody by adding in decorations.
There after we will focus on questions 4 and 5. Most students find that questions 4 and 5 are more fun like a hide and seek games. They are expected to search for answers according to given instructions.
