Berklee
Musicianship: Tensions, Harmonic Function, and Modal Interchange
Berklee

Musicianship: Tensions, Harmonic Function, and Modal Interchange

George W. Russell, Jr.

Top Instructor

28,118 already enrolled

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.9

(400 reviews)

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule
Approx. 10 hours
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.9

(400 reviews)

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule
Approx. 10 hours
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

  • Describe Chord tensions and their role

  • Describe The concept of Harmonic Function

  • Aurally identify chord progressions and chord qualities

  • Identify Modal Interchange chords in a composition

Details to know

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Assessments

5 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Developing Your Musicianship Specialization
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There are 5 modules in this course

Welcome to Musicianship: Musicianship: Harmonic Function, Modal Interchange, and Tensions (also known as Developing Your Musicianship III)! Here we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your course experience.

What's included

1 video4 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

This week, we will explore the key of Eb Major and B minor. We will also learn about chord tensions and harmonic function, or, in other words, how chords function within a tonal center. We will continue to develop our ears by aurally identifying chord progressions and chord qualities.

What's included

6 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review

This week, we will explore learn a new chord progression, the I II- V I. If you took Developing Your Musicianship, you may remember the VII-7b5, but this week, we'll learn about diminished chords. We'll also continue to train our ears to hear chord progressions and qualities.

What's included

5 videos3 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

This week, we will explore the concept of modal interchange, or borrowing chords from a parallel tonality. We'll also learn a new chord progression that showcases modal interchange, the bVI bVII I progression. Finally, we will continue to train our ears to hear chord progressions and qualities.

What's included

5 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review

This last lesson will focus on preparing you for your final course project: writing and performing a 16-bar song. We will run through a brief overview of the concepts you have learned over the past few weeks that you will be able to apply when you complete your project. We will also learn about suspended chords and we will continue our ear training practice.

What's included

8 videos3 readings1 assignment1 peer review

Instructor

Instructor ratings
5.0 (42 ratings)
George W. Russell, Jr.

Top Instructor

Berklee
10 Courses159,787 learners

Offered by

Berklee

Recommended if you're interested in Music and Art

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4.9

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