Major, Minor and Scale degrees / In this collection the elementary steps are taken to develop a sense of tonality and the role of the 7 scale degrees in major and minor. We learn simplified hand signs to represent the scale degrees, and practice to quickly recognize and play/sing them. The collection ends with two videos about improvising chained melodies that travel around through the circle of players.

6 - Chain melodies in Minor. In this video the students practice to improvise short melodies in the key of d minor. There is a simple rule: melodies should continue always from a neighbor note of the previous melody, creating chains. Because of the rule one should (sub)consciously keep track of the final scale degree of the previous melody.

Practice: practice this with a fellow student, choose a key and let the melodies flow back and forth.

3 - Scale degrees in Minor. Minor scales have more coloristic possibilities because of the use of major/minor 6 and major/minor 7. This video shows additional hand signs for b3, b6 and b7. It discusses harmonic, melodic and natural minor, and the melodic logic that leads to their respective use. It ends with a short discussion of the lamento. 

5 - Chain melodies in Major. In this video the students practice to improvise short melodies in the key of D major. There is a simple rule: melodies should continue always from a neighbor note of the previous melody, creating chains. Because of the rule one should (sub)consciously keep track of the final scale degree of the previous melody.

Practice: practice this with a fellow student, choose a key and let the melodies flow back and forth.

2A - Background explanation. This is a short explanation about the place of the notes in the scale, and their relative tension towards each other. The 'gravity' of the tonic triad and the relationship of the other notes to the notes of the tonic triad.

4 - Further practice in Minor. The practice consists of copying small phrases in the key of d minor, first on the instrument, then followed by singing the same phrase with correct hand signs. In the second part of the video the students are improvising short phrases on the spot, and all others copy.

Practice: play along with the video and learn with the students! (the key is d minor)

1 - Scale degrees in Major. Different notes of the scale have different personalities, different levels of tension. This video shows how to recognize the position of the notes in the scales. A system of simplified hand signs is introduced. Recognition of simple phrases inside the major key is practised by singing, playing and using numbers/hand signs. In the last part, students improvise simple melodies for the others to recognize.

2 - Further practice with call and response. The practice consists of copying small phrases in the key of D major, first on the instrument, then followed by singing the same phrase with correct hand signs. In the second part of the video the students are improvising short phrases on the spot, and all others copy.

Practice: play along with the video and learn with the students! (the key is D major)