Class #1

1. Class #1 • Things computer • SongWriter purchase and/or installation and setup • MIDI interface—later class • Website • http://webspace.ship.edu/dwritz/Theoryhome.html • Notes, assignments, communication there • Email • Prefer address other than SU? Please write down and give to me. • Suggest publishing address list for class members • Syllabus • On line • Questions?

2. …to work! • Today: • 1. Calligraphy data entry and familiarity with SongWritersoftware • 2. Piano keyboard familiarity • 3. Intervals • 4. Rudiments of music–melody • Steps • Skips or leaps • 5. Tetrachords • 6. Audiation and sight-singing

3. Intervals • Distance or difference in pitch between 2 tones • Size • Bottom pitch is 1; count up letters. Top pitch number is interval size • E.g., G up to E: G=1, A=2, B=3, C=4, D=5, E= 6. This interval is a 6th. • Quality • Augmented: top tone is ½ step too high to fit major scale of bottom tone • Major (2, 3, 6, 7) Perfect (4, 5, 8) top tone fits into major scale of bottom tone • Minor (2, 3, 6, 7) Diminished (4, 5, 8) top tone is ½ step too low to fit major scale of bottom tone • Diminished(2, 3, 6, 7) Doubly diminished (4, 5, 8) top tone is two ½ steps too low to fit major scale of bottom tone • For now, we will consider ONLY M2, m2 Keyboard can help!

4. Tetrachord Magic • Tetrachords • 4-tone scales • 4 qualities: • lydian ≈ augmented • Major ≈ major(In a sense, the “gold standard”) • Minor ≈ minor • Phrygian ≈ diminished • Quality determined by configuration of intervals • Whole step, i.e., M2 (Major 2) • Half step, i.e., m2 (minor 2) • Virtually all 8-tone scales comprise 2 tetrachords , each of a certain quality • All 12 major scales actually use only 12 major tetrachords

5. Tetrachord Magic for Tuesday, Sept. 3 • Tetrachords.mus • Compose all four tetrachords on these pitches: Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab, A, Bb B Add measures as needed Change final bar to a double bar • Play each tetrachord on piano • Major scales • Create new file: CLICK SongWriter open program CLICK Leadsheet clean manuscript paper PRESS Ctl + e scroll view meas1 write C M tetrachord in quarter notes m2 write G M tetrachord m3 write D M tetrachord m4 write A M tetrachord Save as “Major Scales” • Play each major scale on piano Explain the relationshipof these tetrachordsto the major scales.

6. ASAP--Settle tools issues • Computer availability • MIDI keyboard availability if desired • SongWriter • Purchase • Install • Explore • Use for 9/3 assignment

7. Class 2 work • Sept 3; NO CLASS Aug 29 • Check progress: • software installation • Look over tetrachord, major scale assignments • Questions on 9/3 assignment? • Echo-play on piano • Derive major key signatures from major scales • Use Major scales file • Perfect is good enough! • The Perfect intervals • 4, 5, octave • Sight-sing

8. Parting Thot: Igor Stravinsky referred to “the tyranny of the infinity of possibilities” in which his creative mind considered so many options that he could be overwhelmed and unable to choose from among them. We want to avoid that dilemma, so our materials are limited at the beginning: intervals, tetrachords, major scales