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Counterpoint 1

Counterpoint is the technique of writing independent melodic lines that work together to create effective music. This linear perspective has influenced some of the most popular songs and artists in the 20th century, including the music of the Beatles, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, and many other contemporary artists—even hip-hop and techno artists. The study of Counterpoint is essential knowledge for songwriters, composers, and musicians who want to strengthen their compositional skills.

 

This course explores the mechanics of basic contrapuntal technique, focusing on how melodies interact with one another. The course begins with writing a simple melodic line that works with an existing melody. You will then learn to add complexity, and you will study motivic manipulations of sequence, inversion, retrograde, and other variations. The course also explores various canonic techniques, including simple, mirror, crab, and mensuration canons. This course uses musical examples from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th century periods

The goal of the course is to give you a broad overview of counterpoint and improve your compositional skills, regardless of stylistic preference.

 

At the end of each week, you will be asked to write a short piece of music

Lesson 1.-   Introduction to Counterpoint and Review of Tonal Harmony Concepts

Lesson 2.- What is Counterpoint. The Single Melodic Line

Lesson 3.-   Principles of Two Voice Counterpoint

Lesson 4.-   Ratios, Phrases and Form

Lesson 5.-   Non-Chord Tones

Lesson 6.-   Motivic Manipulation

Lesson 7.-   Writing Two Voice Counterpoint and Writing in Minor

Lesson 8.-   Simple Canon at the Octave 

Lesson 9.-   Advanced Harmonic Techniques: Canon by Inversion. Canon at other intervals

Lesson 10.- Invertible Counterpoint

Lesson 11.- Advanced Motivic Manipulation. Riddle Canons. More elements of Form. Binary Form.

Lesson 12.- Imitative Counterpoint. Imitation and Puzzle.

Final Project​​

JCHA1. Jazz Composition and Harmony 1

  • 12 Weeks

Jazz Composition and Harmony 1 will help you learning harmony so that you hear and recognize chord progressions and use them creatively in your playing and writing. Through a combination of activities—listening, thinking, visualizing, analyzing, playing and writing—you'll open your ears and deepen your understanding of the inner workings of harmony in a broad range of contemporary styles. And you'll be able to equip yourself with the best chord scale choices for arranging, composing and improvising. Mastering the mechanics of harmony's chord progression patterns is an indispensable tool for both players and writers, and will help improvisers, composers, and arrangers deepen their understanding of the inner workings of a broad range of contemporary styles including standard tunes, popular music and jazz. On a weekly basis, you will be asked to write musical pieces and analyze jazz scores Lesson 1.- Modes and Key Signatures. Major and Minor. Tendency Tones Lesson 2.- Intervals and inversions Lesson 3.- Triads in first and second inversions Lesson 4.- Seventh Chords and Lead Sheet Symbols Lesson 5.- Sixth Chord and Sus Chord Lesson 6.- Major Mode: Diatonic Chords, Chord Scales, Harmonic Tensions, Guide Tones Lesson 7.- Cadences, Phrases and Periods Lesson 8.- Harmonic Progressions Lesson 9.- Diatonic Reharmonization Lesson 10.- Non Chord Tones Lesson 11.- Melodic Considerations 1: Motive and Motivic Manipulation, Antecedent and Consequent Phrases, Interval Patterns Lesson 12.- Melodic Considerations 2: Melodies based on Guide Tones, Compound Lines, Pitch Contour and Range. Final Project

€600.00
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