Lesson 1: Introduction to Functional Harmony - Introduce the concept of functional harmony and its importance in music. - Explain the three primary functions of chords: tonic, dominant, and subdominant. - Play examples of chords in different keys to demonstrate their functions. - Assign a listening activity for students to identify functional chords in a piece of music.
Lesson 2: Tonic Function - Review the concept of tonic function and its role in establishing a sense of stability. - Teach students how to identify tonic chords in different keys. - Provide examples of songs that prominently feature tonic chords. - Assign a composition activity where students create a short melody using tonic chords.
Lesson 3: Dominant Function - Introduce the concept of dominant function and its role in creating tension and leading to resolution. - Teach students how to identify dominant chords in different keys. - Play examples of songs that use dominant chords to create tension. - Assign a listening activity for students to identify dominant chords in a piece of music.
Lesson 4: Subdominant Function - Explain the concept of subdominant function and its role in providing contrast and preparing for resolution. - Teach students how to identify subdominant chords in different keys. - Provide examples of songs that use subdominant chords to create contrast. - Assign a composition activity where students create a short chord progression using subdominant chords.
Lesson 5: Harmonic Progressions - Introduce the concept of harmonic progressions and their importance in functional harmony. - Teach students common chord progressions, such as I-IV-V and I-V-vi-IV. - Play examples of songs that use these progressions. - Assign a listening activity for students to identify chord progressions in a piece of music.
Lesson 6: Cadences - Explain the concept of cadences and their role in providing a sense of resolution. - Teach students common cadences, such as authentic, plagal, and half cadences. - Play examples of songs that use these cadences. - Assign a composition activity where students create a short musical phrase ending with a cadence.
Lesson 7: Modulations - Introduce the concept of modulations and their role in changing keys within a piece of music. - Teach students common modulation techniques, such as pivot chords and common-tone modulation. - Play examples of songs that feature modulations. - Assign a listening activity for students to identify modulations in a piece of music.
Lesson 8: Chromatic Harmony - Explain the concept of chromatic harmony and its use in adding color and tension to music. - Teach students common chromatic chords, such as secondary dominants and augmented sixth chords. - Play examples of songs that use chromatic chords. - Assign a composition activity where students incorporate chromatic chords into a short progression.
Lesson 9: Voice Leading - Introduce the concept of voice leading and its importance in creating smooth and melodic chord progressions. - Teach students basic principles of voice leading, such as avoiding parallel fifths and octaves. - Play examples of songs that demonstrate good voice leading. - Assign a composition activity where students create a short chord progression with proper voice leading.
Lesson 10: Analysis of a Song - Choose a popular song and guide students through a detailed analysis of its functional harmony. - Have students identify the tonic, dominant, and subdominant chords, as well as any modulations or chromatic chords. - Discuss the overall effect of the functional harmony on the song’s mood and structure.
Lesson 11: Review and Practice - Review the concepts of functional harmony covered in previous lessons. - Provide practice exercises for students to identify functional chords and progressions in different keys. - Play examples of songs for students to analyze and identify the functional harmony.
Lesson 12: Final Project - Assign a final project where students compose a short piece of music using functional harmony principles. - Students should incorporate tonic, dominant, and subdominant chords, as well as cadences and possibly modulations or chromatic chords. - Have students perform or share their compositions with the class, discussing their use of functional harmony.