Harmony Courses

Emphasis on newer harmonic concepts to enable students to write and analyze tunes in the style of Mike Gibbs, Chick Corea, and others. Discussion and use of nonfunctional harmonic techniques including multitonic systems, constant cycles, and patterned material. Analysis of representative tunes.

Modal chord progression and melody using traditional, synthetic, and other modes. Analysis of modal jazz compositions. Modal voicings using characteristic tones and spacing considerations. Use of polytonal and polymodal relationships in original compositions.

This course will give a musical view of the solo careers of each member of the Beatles. As a group, their influence in the field of popular music is unparalleled. As separate artists, the unique musical qualities that helped to create the Beatles remains present in their solo work. The cross-pollination between all of them is obvious. This course will examine how each musician transitioned into and developed an individual musical path. It will help provide a deeper look at the Beatles' influence on these four musicians as well as uncover the stylistic similarities and differences between them. As the focus will be on harmonic and melodic content, students will be able to expand their musical vocabulary and understanding. Song form, arranging techniques, and lyric writing will also be addressed, giving a view of harmony and melody in a wider context. Examining each member's personal experiences and social environment will add depth and help students create a stronger connection between musical product and context.

A study of the music of this popular jazz fusion ensemble. Students will analyze original manuscripts and transcribed scores to discover the variety of harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic concepts used that make the music unique, and will write tunes that demonstrate their understanding of these elements. Selected compositions will be performed by the Yellowjackets Ensemble, ENFF-325.

The Music of Stevie Wonder is a harmony-driven course that builds on the Berklee core music curriculum foundation by examining the evolution of Wonder's music at a granular level. Topics covered include Wonder's harmonic language, melodic principles and use of melisma, lyrical approaches, and the ways in which these elements support the narrative structure of his compositions. Additional topics considered include recording and production techniques, use of technology, business-related issues, and biographical details.

This course is a study of the pervasive harmonic language and techniques of popular American song. The goal of this course is to foster an understanding of the harmonic ideas that have carried American music through the latter half of the last century, and to discover harmonic alternatives to the traditional tonal systems that pervade American popular music of this time. Students come to understand the contextual relationship between melody and harmony through observation of different song forms from different styles of popular music, including show tunes, jazz standards, blues, rock/pop/R&B, and through-composed works in the jazz idiom. Harmonic options, both diatonic and otherwise, will be observed through study of the scale(s) that relate to the chord/tonality of the moment.

A study of the evolution of the blues, combined with compositional application of various blues styles. Historical study focusing on the blues as a complete and complex form as well as the basic foundation for other styles. Analysis includes examination of harmonic movement, rhythmic and melodic construction, and lyric content.

The study of music fundamentals and their use in contemporary popular music for students with no prior literacy in music. This study includes aural analysis of contemporary songs, including form, chord quality, and the role of the rhythm section. It will lead to a basic understanding of harmony, bass lines, rhythmic language, and form.