1. An introduction to music history
To know the different periods in the progression of western classical music and to understand how musical characteristics developed through this time.

2. Initial questions When did music begin?
Why do we talk about ‘western’ and ’non western’ musics?
Is there a clear definition between popular music and classical music?

3. Timeline – Western Art Music
Dates
Musical Period
Historical Events
The Medieval Period
The Renaissance Period
The Tudor period – Henry VIII etc
The Baroque Period
Louis XIV in France, several Europpean conflicts including the Franco-Dutch wars
The Classical Period
The Georgian Era
The Romantic Period
The Victorian Era
Now
The Twentieth Century
The Edwardian Era Post WW1 / Pre WW2 / Post WW2

4. The modern period 1900-Present day
To understand the contextual characteristics of jazz music.

5. Naming chords
In grade 5 theory, you will have name chords within a piece using Roman numerals.
You will also have to state the inversion that these chords are in. There are two different methods to do this.
Remember, before you start, you must figure out which key your given extract is in.

6. Inversions – method 1
The first method of working out inversions involves using the letters A B and C.
If the first note of the chord is at the bottom, this chord is in root position and is called chord A.
If the second note of the chord is at the bottom, this chord is in first inversion and is called chord B.
If the third note of the chord is at the bottom, this chord is in second inversion and is called chord C.

7. Inversions – method 2
You can also use the traditional Baroque method of figured bass to state your inversions. To do this, we use the fractions 5/3, 6/3 and 6/4.
If the first note of the chord is at the bottom, this chord is in root position and is called chord 5/3. This is because the other two notes in the chord are 3 and 5 intervals above.
If the second note of the chord is at the bottom, this chord is in first inversion and is called chord 6/3. This is because the other two notes in the chord are 6 and 3 intervals above.
If the third note of the chord is at the bottom, this chord is in second inversion and is called chord 6/4. This is because the other two notes in the chord are 6 and 4 intervals above.

8. Example
Lets work through an example.

9. To understand the contextual characteristics of jazz music.

10. African roots Slave trade from 16th Century
Started off mainly as vocal music
Simple harmonies
Pentatonic Scales
Call and Response
Percussion
Polyrhythmic

11. Plantation songs Songs to accompany work Repetitive Rhythmic
Call and Response

12. blues C F G Folksong Often contained lyrics
Followed a strict pattern of 3 lines poetry.
12 bar blues C F G

13. Ragtime Scott Joplin 1868-1917 Inventor of Jazz Swinging syncopation
2 bar break
Stride piano
March like

14. Socio Political COnditions
Emancipation of slaves
African American's could move to urban areas
New Orleans
Mississippi came under American rule in 1803
Provided a ‘melting pot’ of cultures
Rise of Creole population

15. Traditional jazz Creole subculture Brass band tradition Blues
Substantial
migration
of rural
Blacks
Musical of
all cities
New Orleans

16. Modern jazz instruments
Drum Kit
Piano
Harmonica
Electric Guitar
Bass Guitar
Vocals

17. Features of the music Use of improvisation Wide note range
Heavily ornamented
Use of slides and bends
Scalic
Use of broken chords / arpeggios
Fast notes / Triplets
Syncopation
Swung / Dotted rhythms
Walking Bass Line

18. Jazz chords
There are typical chords in jazz music that are called ‘added chords’ – some extra notes can be added to the normal chords
E.g. C chord – CEG  add the 6th note of the scale = A
Therefore, a C jazz chord = CEGA
This is known as a C6 chord (the 6th note of the scale is added to your chord)

19. Chords taks
Using the tones and semitones pattern work out what 4 notes you will need to create a 6th chord from one of the following:
F_ _ _
G _ _ _

20. Chords Task - Answers
Using the tones and semitones pattern work out what 4 notes you will need to create a 6th chord from one of the following:
FACD
GBDE

21. Composers Duke Ellington Charlie Parker Miles Davis Louis Armstrong
Dizzie Gillespie
Oscar Peterson
George Gershwin
Dave Brubeck

22. Improvisation task
In pairs, have a go at improvising around a 12 bar blues. One person will play the chords, the other will be improvising. Once completed, swap over.
The chords you will be using are:
E flat major – E flat, G, B flat (chord 1)
A flat major – A flat, C, E flat (chord 4)
B flat major – B flat, D, F (chord 5)
The person improvising will improvise around the pentatonic scale on C sharp – black keys only.

23. Homework
Listen to any piece by George Gershwin. Be prepared for discussion next week.
General revision for the upcoming mock exam.
Keeping up with your listening diaries.