What you'll learn

You learn to use the three different minor scales.
You learn to construct chords onto a given scale.
You learn concepts of harmonic analysis of music pieces
You learn to use the Roman Numeral Notation for the ease of transposing songs.
You learn to understand the chord progression of one outstanding classical masterpiece.
You learn about the correlation between chord progression and emotions.
You learn how to construct musical forms and how to re-compose a musical piece.
You learn how to improve your improvisational skills

Course content

5 sections • 16 lectures • 57m total length

Basic Facts And Literature Review8:42
You get to know:

- How different scholars analyze Puccini´s aria "E Lucevan le Stelle"

- The first Piano Arrangement of the Tosca Opera

- The caracteristic Motive of the aria

- An Overview of th whole course
Handout - Section I15:00
With this handout you can calmly review all subjects and illustrations presented in the video of this section.

The Minor Scales3:31
You learn:

- How to analyze the tonality of a given music piece

- The characteristics of natural, harmonic and melodic G-Minor scales

- The differences between the ascendant and descendant melodic minor scale

- Why the harmonic minor scale has an exotic sound
The Minor Chords4:36
You learn:

- How to construct chords upon every scale tone

- How the chord names are built

- The special dcharacteristic of the dominant seven chord

- Chords with diminished fifth

Chord with non scale tones
Puccini´s Chord Progression3:41
You learn:

- the chord progression of the whole aria

- How to read the chord symbols
Puccini´s Aria: Score + Chords4:00
In this lecture you get the score with chord symbols so that you can practice the whole piece at your piano or keyboard
Puccini Chords in Roman Numeral Notation5:31
You learn:

- How chords are described in Roman Numeral Notation

- The advantages of the Roman Numeral Notation

- How the Roman Numeral Notation makes a transposition of a given musicpiece easier

- The transposition of our aria from g-minor to a-minor
Handout - Section II17:00
With this handout you can calmly review all subjects and illustrations presented in the videos of this section.

Harmonic Expectancy And Emotions7:37
You learn:

- How the use of scales contribute to the use of certain chord progressions

- How the violation of the expectancy of chord progressions evoke emotions of tension

- How Puccini achieved intense emotions by systematical violations of the expectancy of certain chordprogressions
Handout - Section III16:00
With this handout you can calmly review all subjects and illustrations presented in the video of this section.

Develop a New Musical Form6:36
You learn:

- How to analyze the time structure of Puccini´s aria

- A step by step process of changing the time structure of the aria

- A time structure that fits better our listening habits

- The meaning of Asymmetry in time structures

- How to construct a music piece out of one chorus
Improvise New Melodies7:59
You learn:

- how to analyze a given improvisation
Let´s Improvise Together4:35
In this lecture you get an acompanying pattern for your own improvisation exercises, based on the new time structure of Puccini´s aria. This means you will here invent your own "derivative composition"
Handout - Section IV12:00
With this handout you can calmly review all subjects and illustrations presented in the videos of this section.

Requirements

Basic knowledge of piano playing
15 minutes daily practice time
A piano (or keyboard), minimum 49 keys, optimum 72 keys to 88 keys
A laptop or tablet to put it beside or upon your instrument.

Description

Harmony is the basis of composition and improvisation, band-playing, songwriting, musical interpretation and understanding the emotions of music.

Analyze, play and Improvise the most famous dramatic Tosca aria "And The Stars Were Shining" (E Lucevan le Stelle) of the great Opera Composer Giacomo Puccini.
Learn scales, chords and notations, progressions and their emotional repercussions, music structure and improvising techniques, all in one.
Derive your own music from classical musical material.

The course shows you step by step the whole compositional process from the harmonic analysis of Puccini´s dramatic aria “And the Stars were Shining" through to your own personal improvised interpretation.

Th aria is well known for its induction of strong emotions. The aria´s chord progression which is shown in full detail during the course explains in depth these parts of high emotional arousal.

To meet the needs also of the advanced beginner there are introductory videos about the concepts of scales and chord-construction.

This course is designed especially for the enthusiast of classical and modern music who wants to improve his harmony knowledge and who wants to learn compositional and improvisational techniques.

Who this course is for:

Lovers of classical AND modern popular music who wish to improve their understanding of music
Music enthusiasts who want to learn the classic and modern western harmonic framework
Musicians who want to compose own and personal songs
Piano players who want to to enhance their skills and motivation
Intermediate and advanced piano players finding "holes" in their improvisational and songwriting skills
Music teachers who want to know new approaches for a motivating music class

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction2 lectures • 24min

Analyzing Puccini´s "E Lucevan le Stelle" Harmony6 lectures • 38min

From Scales and Chords to Emotions2 lectures • 24min

Re-Composing the Original4 lectures • 31min

Epilogue2 lectures • 6min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: