Description

ABOUT THIS COURSE

This updated course is designed for all teachers of A-Level Music who are teaching Bach Chorale harmonisation regardless of examination board. This course provides a comprehensive guide to teaching chorale harmonisation from writing simple cadence patterns to creating A* Bach chorale harmonisations. The course will also be of benefit to all teachers looking to refresh and reinvigorate their teaching techniques, approaches and strategies for teaching harmony and harmonisation as a general part of the A-Level course; for raising attainment levels for students in their harmonic analysis of set works and for developing overall broader musicianship and wider perspectives to enable students to achieve high quality academic standards in music.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Improve the overall quality of your harmonic knowledge
• Increase your understanding of Bach chorale writing
• Gain further insight into what the exam boards are looking for
• Explore teaching strategies that will inspire your students to gain an A*

PROGRAMME

Introduction to Bach chorales

10.00 – 11.00am

• Exploring Bach’s harmonic language
• Identifying Bach cadence formulae: perfect and imperfect cadences

Morning break

11.00 – 11.15am

Creating idiomatic contrapuntal lines

11.15 – 12.00pm

• Using passing notes and auxiliary notes effectively to create elegant melodic lines
• Creating a flowing bass line to balance the soprano
• Understanding dissonance and creating harmonic tension through the effective use of suspensions

Writing complete Bach chorales: managing modulations

12.00 – 12.45pm

• Studying modulations in Bach chorales
• Identifying modulations from analysis of the chorale melody alone
• Managing modulations in a complete

Lunch

12.45- 1.45pm

Using chromatic chords effectively

1.45 – 2.30pm

• Identifying opportunities to use chromatic chords
• Incorporating the diminished seventh to maximise marks
• Enhancing the supertonic chord

Completing chorale phrases effectively

2.30- 3.00pm

• Identifying harmonic patterns in the middle of chorale phrases
• Completing the opening of a chorale phrase
• Avoiding exposed/hidden octaves/fifths and other common errors

Afternoon Break

3.00 – 3.10pm

Inspiring students to aim for, and achieve, an A*

3.10 – 3.45pm

•  Case study: exploring multiple harmonisations of a chorale
• Making a Bach chorale harmonisation outstanding
• Checklist for writing successful chorales