Syllabus - Hands on (Draft: 210623-1912-Nyx) page 1 FN: Syllabus-HOH-Hands-on-Harmony-2021-Nyx-210623.gd

Hands on Harmony Syllabus Instructor: Deborah Henson-Conant Live Sessions with Q+A: June 23-26 What is this document? This is a companion document to the three section handouts, which include more detailed notes and images from the trainings. Those handouts are currently linked here: Handout A - Handout B - Handout C The purpose of this document is: ● A concise overview of the course ● A way for you to track your progress ● A place to take notes about your questions and takeaways Course Description

In “Hands on Harmony” we start with a SINGLE NOTE and then go through the 3 phases of chord-construction: Expansion, Alteration, & Substitution, all at your own pace.

Most importantly, this is taught specifically for harpists - using the way our instrument works - with lots of 'hands-on' examples so you can practice what you're learning and literally get it 'into your fingers.' The class covers the four quadrants of basic tonal and harmony as well as covering ‘families’ of chords and basic modulation skills. You go as far as you want each session, then apply what you learn in the exercises, warmups and tunes. This essential course is always available for “at your own pace” learning.

The self-paced classroom includes a series of video trainings, each of which includes a downloadable audio file. All course materials are downloadable as PDF or MP3 files. Concepts to Look For

These may not be explicitly outlined in the course - think of them as themes throughout the course to guide your notes and learning.

1. Expansion 2. Alteration (Functional notes vs Color tones) 3. Substitution 4. Reordering (Voicing) 5. Families 6. Progression Syllabus - Hands on Harmony (Draft: 210623-1912-Nyx) page 2 FN: Syllabus-HOH-Hands-on-Harmony-2021-Nyx-210623.gd

Section A: Building Chords & an Intro to Progressions

Class Objectives How to read CHORD SYMBOLS and what the different elements of the symbol mean. How to EXPAND chords, from single notes to triads, 7ths, 9th, 11ths and 13th and when that's likely to sound good (or bad!)

Page Titles Selected Practice (Nyx’s Pick)

Welcome to Hands-on-Harmony! Download the Hands-On-Harrmony Handouts

Chords and How to Build Them Build a chord by first playing the root, then adding the 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc. (12:49 or 04:52)

The Family of C: How to Play Chords and Play 1-6-2-5 progression root only, as block Progressions chords, then incorporate and noodles

Student Takeaways and Tips from DHC: Practice different left hand chord voicings as Passing Tones, Subprogressions, and found on the “Voicings You Can Use When You Different Left Hand Chords Noodle” handout (01:22 or 11:37)

The 1-6-2-5 Progression in the Keys of F & G Practice moving levers into C, F, and G keys (01:25 or 00:28)

Student Takeaways: Playing 1-6-2-5 Practice creating progressions with any Progression in C, F, and G chords-try to make them sound good if they don’t right away (01:40 or 02:04)

Exploring the A Minor Scale, Modes, Play through the scale for each mode in every Progressions key that works on your harp (01:58 or 14:22)

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Section B: Dominant Chords & Chord Progressions

Class Objectives How PROGRESSIONS work, how to look for them in the music you already play and how you can use them for improv, or to practice the skills of expanding, altering and substituting chords. Progressions: How sequences of chords create harmonic 'movement' and what progressions you're likely to see over and over again in jazz and improv.

Page Titles Selected Practice (Nyx’s Pick)

Chord Positions in C Major and A minor Play a tonic-mediant-sub-mediant progression in C major (07:19) and A minor (09:44)

How to Create and Alter Dominant Chords In A harmonic minor create a major dominant chord then resolve to the minor tonic (04:37)

The 2-5-1-6 Progression Play the 2-5-1-6 progression on the “Progression Touchstone C” handout (01:41)

Student Takeaways: The 2-5-1-6 Progression Play 2-5(b9)-1-6 (02:04) and 1-6-4-5(b9) (03:37)

Playing the Pachelbel Canon in C Pachelbel canon progression in the handout “Progression Touchstone C”(01:01 & 03:25)

Student Takeaways: Pachelbel’s Canon Play a V7(b9) every time you play a V7 or V chord in any piece of music! (00:27)

Progression 4 and The Diminished Chord When playing Progression 4 call out the names & numbers of the chords as you play them (00:44)

Student Takeaways: Progression 4 Incorporate Progression 4 into a song in C major that you know (01:06)

Modulating Using 2-5-1 Play the 2-5-1-6-2-5-1 Progression in C (01:28)

Student Takeaways: The 2-5-1 Modulation Use the 2-5-1 progression to improvise from one Exercise and the Course key to the next (02:54)

Ear Candy Create an Eb7 chord (when tuned in Eb) by raising the C lever (08:11)

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Section C: Chord Families & Modulation

Class Objectives How ALTER chords - by adding a b9, #9, b5 or #5 - to make them richer (and what chords you'll be most likely to want to alter!). How to SUBSTITUTE one chord for another to 'reharmonize' a piece, which substitutions are simplest, and which chords you're most likely to substitute

Page Titles Selected Practice (Nyx’s Pick)

Meet the C Family Play more complex chords listed in handouts

Student Takeaways: “Meet the C Family” Play the various seven chords (major 7, dominant 7, minor-major 7, and minor 7) in C (07:58)

Descending in “Meet the C Family” Play the descending bassline as shown in the “Meet the C Family” handout (02:26)

The Gsus Chord Play a sus4 or sus2 chord in any key (01:17)

Meet the G Family Play through the “Meet the G Family” handout

Student Takeaways: “Meet the G Family” Play a triad, move your 3rd finger to the 4th scale degree to play a sus4 chord (05:34)

Modulating Exercise 1 Modulate from one key to the next (03:16)

Student Takeaways: Modulating Exercise 1 Practice the minor exercises on the “Modulating Exercise 1” handout (02:22)

The 2-5 Progression in Modulating Exercise 1 Think of music as moving through moods (key areas) instead of moving from chord to chord

Analyzing the “Modulating Tune Practice” Play “Modulating Tune Practice” handout Handout and Student Takeaways speaking aloud the keys as you modulate (01:03)

Reharmonizing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” Pick a tune and a chord, everytime you see it replace it, extend it, or add a b9 to it (13:07)

“Season of the Night” and Course Wrap-Up Play through “Season of the Night” (01:07)

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Course Resources Table of Contents ● Welcome Pack ● Handout-Handout ● Bitesize Starters ● Downloads - Leadsheets & PDFs ● Harmonic Animal Drawing for Alterations Practice ● Chord Family Transformer Syllabus - Hands on Harmony (Draft: 210623-1912-Nyx) page 6 FN: Syllabus-HOH-Hands-on-Harmony-2021-Nyx-210623.gd

OUTTAKES, STAGING & RESEARCH - Ignore this part - this is us thinking about what to do next!

This was a version Nyx made as a possible way to re-structure the class into 5 modules.

Module Topic Class Objectives Practice

Module 1 Chord How to read CHORD SYMBOLS Symbols & and what the different elements of Expanding the symbol mean. How to Chords EXPAND chords, from single notes to triads, 7ths, 9th, 11ths and 13th and when that's likely to sound good (or bad!).

Extension: How to build chords up from single notes to triads, 7th chords, 9th & 11th chords

Module 2 Alter & How ALTER chords - by adding a Substitute b9, #9, b5 or #5 - to make them Chords richer (and what chords you'll be most likely to want to alter!).

Alteration: How to add flavor to a chord by raising or lowering specific notes (eg: b9, #9, b5, #5, etc.)

How to SUBSTITUTE one chord for another to 'reharmonize' a piece, which substitutions are simplest, and which chords you're most likely to substitute Syllabus - Hands on Harmony (Draft: 210623-1912-Nyx) page 7 FN: Syllabus-HOH-Hands-on-Harmony-2021-Nyx-210623.gd

Substitution: How to 'reharmonize' music by using one chord to substitute for another (eg: using an Amin as a substitute for a C Maj chord)

Module 3 Chord How PROGRESSIONS work, Progression how to look for them in the music you already play and how you can use them for improv, or to practice the skills of expanding, altering and substituting chords.

Progressions: How sequences of chords create harmonic 'movement' and what progressions you're likely to see over and over again in jazz and improv

Module 4 Modulation How to MODULATE from one key to another using a "diversion" and a power progression.

Modulation: How to shift from key to key smoothly

Module 5 Lead Sheets!

Basic Theme of Section A (Nyx) 1. Building Chords from Scale Tones 2. Symbols 3. Chord Voicings 4. Simplify Chords: Focus on Root

Basic Theme of Section B (Nyx) 1. Roadmap of Progressions 2. Families of Chords 3. ii-V-I Progression Syllabus - Hands on Harmony (Draft: 210623-1912-Nyx) page 8 FN: Syllabus-HOH-Hands-on-Harmony-2021-Nyx-210623.gd

4. Dominant Chord

Basic Theme of Section C (Nyx) 1. Families of Chords 2. Suffixes of Chords 3. Harmony Effects 4. ii-V-I Modulation 5. Altering Dominant Chord 6. Substitution Third Below Syllabus - Hands on Harmony (Draft: 210623-1912-Nyx) page 9 FN: Syllabus-HOH-Hands-on-Harmony-2021-Nyx-210623.gd