A Practical Approach to Harmony

The main objective of this book is to teach music theory through practical activity. Its aims at developing comprehensive musicianship by means of thorough understanding of the materials provided, providing guidance in stylistic analysis and authentic performance, and giving an opportunity for students to integrate what they learn into practice, improvisation, and composition. The material of this book can be used by students in any area of specialization (by singers, instrumentalists, educators, theorists, etc.). The main objective of this book is to teach music theory through practical activity. Its aims at developing comprehensive musicianship by means of thorough understanding of the materials provided, providing guidance in stylistic analysis and authentic performance, and giving an opportunity for students to integrate what they learn into practice, improvisation, and composition. The material of this book can be used by students in any area of specialization (by singers, instrumentalists, educators, theorists, etc.). This book takes the student on an exciting musical journey following the path of music history from the birth of harmony through the late Baroque. The musical examples and excerpts included within are taken from the masterworks of the classical repertoire. These examples support practical work with exercises, dictation, worksheets for composition, analysis, bass figuration and realisation. In addition, all solutions are provided. / Formation Musicale

Waste Not Thy Time-Rolly Brown has been practicing the Guitar for 50 years and in that time he?s developed a large armamentarium of tools to aid and motivate himself and his students.In this two hour DVD starting with his ruleof ?half work half play? he shares many of these ideas interspersed with teachings to help you better enjoy and understand music and the guitar from a simple ?nuts and bolts? point of view. Whatever style of music you play youwant ways of practicing rhythm harmony and melody the 3 building blocks of music.Whether you flatpick or fingerpick play bluegrass jazz or folk music; whether you?re trying to learn your first F chord or looking fora method of practicing arpeggios to inform your jazz solos this video offers tools and advice to improve your playing.The topics covered include:On Creativity and Structuring Your TimeScales andModesHow To Rapidly Master New ChordsArpeggios: Bridging the Gap Between Chords and MelodyRight Hand TechniqueUsing a MetronomePracticing with Rhythm TracksSample PracticeRoutines

Learn the rules of harmony with this easy-to-follow guide. How To Blitz! Four-Part Harmony is the perfect resource for musicians of all ages. Designed to be a quick reference book rather than anintricate explanation of the workings of four-part harmony this book uses the figured bass system to indicate types of chord. How To Blitz! Four-Part Harmony works in conjunction with the blitzbooks.com website where you can download all sorts of free resources to help you with your study including games manuscript test papers and materials to help with practical exampreparation. Written by renowned educator and author Samantha Coates the BlitzBooks series has brought fun and laughter to the areas of music theory instrumental technique and sight reading. Coates' engagingapproach to theory and sight reading has already made BlitzBooks the most popular range of theory and sight reading books in Australia and they are now finally available in the UK. 

Learn Unlimited Ways to Harmonize Melody Lines and Progressions-Discover the approach that Jazz players have been using for years and open up a virtually unlimited world of harmony through chord substitution. The topics covered in this comprehensive guide include:Harmonised major minor and pentatonic scalesChromatic alterationSecondary dominant substitutionTritone substitutionQuartal harmonyUsing all 12 tones in every keyChord substitutions as applied to 12-bar bluesTheories of advanced harmony are presented here in a manner that is both practical and accessible to the guitarist wishing to extend their playing and improvising vocabulary enabling you to have seemingly infinitepossibilities at your fingertips! The manipulation of chords is an essential part of the Jazz approach but this book has plenty to offer the composer and arranger as well as the performer. Every lesson is covered by a generous number of exercises examples and even short pieces all of which will fire your imagination and inspire your playing.

Learn to use and understand advanced jazz harmony! This book reveals the post-bop jazz innovations established by such iconic jazz artists as John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Clare Fischer, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea, as taught at Berklee College of Music. You will learn techniques such as multitonic systems, the principles of non-functional pattern development, unusual use of deceptive motion and resolution of dominants, frequent modulation, use of specialized voicing techniques, and tension-driven melody/harmony relationships. You will learn to: construct advanced jazz sonorities and contexts; build sophisticated, expressive melodies based on advancedchord progressions; understand how chord progressions relate to the psychology ofmusical expectation; articulate nuanced musical sensibilities for harmonicobscurity, surprise, and ambiguity; use characteristic post-bop conceptual approaches to harmonicprogressions, such as multitonic systems and the Axis System; create non-functional chord patterns, with depth and clearcontour; and more! / Tous instruments / Berklee

Noted jazz pianist, composer, recording artist and educator Andy LaVerne has drawn from his decades of experience playing with master musicians from Getz to Lovano to create this comprehensive compendium of contemporary moving voicings. Quartal, quintal, drop 2, dominant 7b9/diminished, triadic, whole tone and chromatic performance proven voicings pioneered by McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Andy himself are presented and fleshed out in all twelve keys. This book picks up where others leave off, enabling you to replace static chords with voicings that move melodically, dramatically, and gracefully over the entire range of the keyboard. Firmly rooted in contemporary jazz theory, the emphasis is on practical performance applications. Andy ties it all together with illustrations of comping choruses for five standard jazz tunes. Chords in Motion satisfies a long awaited need in actual comping situations, and shows you how to move chords through varying harmonic rhythms. FINALLY ' a book that gives you moving voicings, and sets them in motion in all twelve keys. Chords in Motion is a valuable resource for all keyboardists, arrangers, and instrumentalists. Activate, animate, and energize your comping with this encyclopedic volume. 156 pages, spiral bound for easy opening. Andy carries the flame of jazz piano tradition and just great music. He always inspires me. Chick Corea This is a great book! I am going to sit down and play through this!! I am always telling my non-piano playing students how important it is to work with (and internalize) the sounds that we live with all our lives as Jazz musicians. Coltrane spent years sitting at the piano and so should all of us!!! John Patitucci Berklee College of Music One thing about Andy'he is complete as can be and has been consistently so for years in both his teaching materials and playing. He is completely knowledgeable in such a way that when I play with him, I know he KNOWS!! Plus he is one of the smoothest and polished of players around. Great book'encyclopedic in content. Dave Liebman Founder, Artistic Director, International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ) I've played and recorded with Andy LaVerne many times over the years and in many different settings and he's always come up with the hippest, most interesting chords in the most musical way! His way of playing and looking at chords inspires me as a drummer and his rhythm section partner to play things that are in turn inspiring to the rest of the band. This book, helps musicians, understand, in a clear thoughtful presentation, how to go about getting this together. Billy Drummond Jazz Drummer, Educator, Juilliard, NYU Chords in Motion is an outstanding and comprehensive guide by Andy LaVerne, whose encyclopedic knowledge, decades of experience and brilliance as a performer and educator make this an invaluable handbook of modern jazz piano harmony. Its user-friendly, intelligent design enables musicians to expand their harmonic palette and potentially transform their playing, writing and arranging. Chords in Motion is an invaluable contribution to jazz musicians! Lynne Arriale Jazz Pianist, Composer, Educator, Associate Professor of Jazz Piano, Director of Small Ensembles, University of North Florida Chords in Motion is exactly the book I'd expect from Andy LaVerne. It's clear, openhearted and inspiring, as has been every conversation I've had with Andy over the years. Long a fan of his playing, I have enjoyed this look behind the curtain at how Andy LaVerne formulated his signature style. One other thing -- any pianist, no matter his/her approach, will gain insight into what will surely be new and exciting musical directions. Pete Malinverni Jazz Pianist, Educator, Director of Jazz Studies, SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music What a great resource for expanding the harmonic palette! Chords in Motion is a must have for the aspiring young jazz pianist as well as the seasoned veteran. Another winner from Andy! Paul Schmeling Jazz Pianist, Educator, Chair Emeritus, Piano Department, Berklee College of Music In Chords in Motion, I recognize chords and sounds that have inspired me to compose and play: harmony from the music of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner. This book is well organized, and from the beginning gets you playing. Each chord structure is explained and developed. There is plenty to practice. I especially like the exercises using contrary motion, arpeggiation and pivot, and the application to tunes. The reader will be tempted to stop on every page and compose. I found the Lost Chord, but won't tell you the page number. Bert Ligon Jazz Pianist/Guitarist, Composer, Arranger, Educator, Director of Jazz Studies, University of South Carolina Ever wonder how to move harmony around instead of repeating the same chord voicing over and over' Then Chords in Motion is a must have book for you! Andy has included a ton of information that will open up your comping and should keep you busy with new ideas for a long time! I highly recommend it! Dan Haerle Jazz Pianist, Composer, Author, Educator, Professor Emeritus, University of North Texas Chords in Motion is an essential guide to expanding one's conception of modern Jazz Piano Harmony. Andy LaVerne has managed to outline in a very practical and concise way, modern principles of piano chord voicings, as they pertain to the Jazz Pianist's primary group function of comping. David Hazeltine Jazz Pianist, Composer, Educator, SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music Chords in Motion should be fun to take into the practice room to explore new ways of sustaining harmonies over the entire register of the piano. It is encyclopedic and thorough in its content. No stone is left unturned! Stephany Tiernan Pianist, Composer, Educator, Chair, Piano Department, Berklee College Of Music Chords In Motion is an excellent practicing resource that provides a garden of harmonic sonorities for a musician to choose and explore at the piano. I like the way that Andy has made the information accessible to any level of student. I look forward to discovering some different sounds with this book. Phil DeGreg Jazz Pianist, Author, Educator, University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music I am delighted to recommend Andy LaVerne's Chords In Motion to aspiring jazz pianists! Andy is a superb pianist, very capable of addressing this topic. Prior to pianists like McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, and others, most pianists were content to have acquired a small handful of chord voicings, generally with the chord roots on the bottom of the voicings. Though 'rootless voicings' were adopted in later years, they were primarily for the left hand and generally only used the 3rd or 7th on the bottom. But now the serious jazz pianist needs to be able to move his or her voicings in a more diatonic manner, as shown in Andy's book. Jerry Coker Jazz Saxophonist, Author, Educator Andy LaVerne's Chords in Motion is a study of encyclopedic scope on the use of harmonies based on fourth intervals in the context of jazz harmony. There is a wealth of information in terms of voicings, voice leading and chord/scale relationships and their application to common harmonic formulae (ii-V, etc.) and the chord progressions used in blues and common standard tunes. Jazz musicians interested in this vocabulary should find this book to be a useful launching pad for exploring this important corner of the world of jazz harmony. Bill Dobbins Jazz Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Author, Educator, Professor of Jazz Studies, Conductor, Coordinator Jazz Composition and Arranging, Eastman School of Music Chords in Motion is a highly detailed, informative and filling-in-the-gap text. It's an important and welcome addition to the jazz piano literature, which can be applied to any level of proficiency. Stefan Karlsson Jazz Pianist, Educator, Professor/Jazz Studies Division, University of North Texas Fantastic pianist Andy LaVerne has put together an amazing, detailed, and incredibly comprehensive guide for effectively implementing quartal and related voicings. He has honed in on the 'secret' to using these structures musically and creatively: moving the voicings through changes in logical and interesting ways. Clearly presented, extremely thorough, and loaded with information, Chords in Motion is a must-have for any pianist! Martin Bejerano Jazz Pianist, Composer, Educator, Assistant Professor, Jazz Piano, Frost School of Music University of Miami Chords in Motion is an in-depth look at fourth and related voicings that give an atmosphere that you want to improvise on. We play over the voicing, not the chord symbol. Chords in Motion targets that modal atmosphere that horn players love playing over. Love this book - can't wait to start practicing it! Jerry Bergonzi Jazz Saxophonist, Composer, Author, Educator, New England Conservatory I was thrilled when Jazz Piano Great Mulgrew Miller agreed to write a quote for this book. I was deeply saddened to hear of Mulgrew's passing just days before publication. All who loved Mulgrew and his music will sorely miss him, and are grateful for the rich musical legacy he left us. Rest easy, Mulgrew. Andy LaVerne

Book and CDCreated by two of the country's leading jazz educators the book and CD is designed as a practical guide for teachers at all levels with hundreds of musical examples. It provides practical guidance for GCSE Standard Grade a comprehensive view of jazz incorporating swing Latin rock and African music written vamps for keyboard accompaniments a step-by-step approach to teaching improvisation guidance in arranging for the classroom clear discussion of jazz harmony in various styles along with hints on directing. The accompanying CD gives a clear idea of how some of the music examples should sound.

The Piano Improvisation Handbook offers a comprehensive overview of the practical skills and theoretical issues involved in mastering all forms of Piano improvisation including classical jazz rock and blues.Whereas most books offer little more than models for imitation and exercises for practicing this one adopts an approach specifically designed to encourage and enable independent creative exploration. The book contains a series of graded tutorial sections with musical examples on CD as well as an appendix listing useful scales chords voicings and progressions across all keys a bibliography and a discography.In addition tosections outlining how melody harmony rhythm texture and form work in improvised Piano music giving distinctive emphasis to the interconnectedness of classical and jazz improvisation there are sections devoted to explaining how ideas can be developed into continuous music and to exploring the process of finding a personal style.

An Instrumental Approach-Learn to improvise like an instrumentalist! Artful vocal jazz improvisation requires knowing the changes and all musicians need to understand what is happening on the musical landscape. This book will help you hear understand and apply jazz theory so that you can solo as a complete musician. Each lesson offers a core musical concept related to harmony melody and rhythm integrating skills such as conducting and analysis and reinforcing them with practical exercises. The accompanying audio tracks demonstrate techniques and let you practice improvising with piano accompaniment.The audio is accessed online using the unique code inside each book and can be streamed ordownloaded. The audio files include PLAYBACK+ a multi-functional audio player that allows you to slow down audio without changing pitch set loop points change keys and pan left or right.

Amazing Phrasing is for any keyboard player interested in learning how to improvise and how to improve their creative phrasing. This method is divided into three parts. Melody From scales to arpeggios from using licks riffs and runs to playing 'outside ' this section focuses on melodic strategies for improvisation. Wondering what to do with your right hand when it's time for you to take the lead' Not sure how to build a solo from start to finish' Here's where to begin. HarmonyWhether comping or soloing harmony is essential to improvisation and this section covers it. Need to harmonize a melody in your right hand' Wantto learn to comp with your left hand while soloing with your right' Need some common chord progressions to practice' How about some two-handed voicings for your combo playing' Want to add chord extensions or create a bass line' Rhythm and StyleSwing laying back shaping your phrases with accents...this last section puts the finishing touches on your improvisational technique. You'll learn approaches to working with and around other musicians and you'll practice comping and soloing over progressions in various styles - from rock to bossa nova to swing to bebop.

For an aspiring jazz instrumentalist playing piano is one of the most important skills for developing a jazz vocabulary. Bob Mintzer is a renowned jazz composer arranger saxophonist pianist bandleader educator and member of the group the Yellowjackets. His new book is designed for the instrumentalist who is not an accomplished piano player but wants to acquire basic jazz piano skills and jazz vocabulary. The book includes etudes that make players aware of the sound texture cause effect and function of jazz chords and harmony. The 22 piano etudes feature a variety of styles tempos chord progressions and a the book also includes a chord voicing glossary. Mintzer offersa practical guide with a realistic approach.

Par RAYNER JONATHAN. The Music Factory is a comprehensive, innovative and practical music course, covering Key stage 3 of the National Curriculum and GCSE. The core of The Music Factory is a flexible Teacher Resource Book , containing 120 practical activities for classroom music-making. This book aims to provide teachers with a comprehensive source of ideas, approaches and starting points. Each of the five chapters focus on a conceptual area: Rhythm and Metre - Pitch and Melody - Harmony - Structure and Form - and Timbre and Texture. Each chapter has four sections, progressing from elementary to more advanced material - and each section contains six main activities, each presenting a framework for music-making focused around a particular idea, and involving whole-class, group or individual work. The activities explore a variety of musical styles, and seek to reveal the similarities and individual characteristics of each. Some activities share a stylistic focus, such as aspects of North Indian classical music, or the 12-bar blues. This is a fantastic resource for teachers and, whenever possible, suggested listening is drawn from a range of musical cultures. / Niveau : Assez Facile / Répertoire / Tout Instrument

What exactly are the steps that lead to ability? In which order should they been taken? What will be required to master each one? These are questions the author has explored in this book resulting in a rather unique one-thing-at-a-time approach to studying improvisation - one that incorporates discipline technique creativity and musical intuition. Each topic is explained and demonstrated using written musical examples and it is accompanied by suggested exercises and a sample daily practice schedule which can be modified to fit your own needs or liking. The book has been used by the Performance Studies Department of the Berklee College of Music in Boston forteaching improvisation since September 1988. It brings significant new insight to the art of jazz improvisation and should be an important addition to jazz pedagogy. Crook's approach to improvisation is a refreshing alternative to the usual 'learn your scales and good luck' methods. This book adresses the elements of rhythm meldody and harmony in a manner that truly provides the student with a process and practice routine which enables the delvelopment of an improvisational technique so essential to the creative jazz musician.