Harmony, Rhythm, and Form

This unit develops practical command of harmony, rhythm, and musical form by expanding triads into seventh chords, analyzing chord progressions, and applying key signatures and intervals on keyboard and guitar. Students will also refine rhythmic reading and performance (including compound and irregular meters), explore dynamics and acoustics, and connect historical and genre contexts to arranging, lead sheets, and basic improvisation.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze triads, seventh chords, and their inversions in major and minor keys and identify common chord progressions on the staff and keyboard or guitar
• Apply key signature knowledge and relative minor relationships to accurately notate, transpose, and visualize key centers across staff, piano, and guitar
• Demonstrate rhythmic proficiency by performing and notating simple, compound, and irregular meters, beats, rests, triplets/duplets, and appropriate dynamic markings
• Evaluate musical form and texture by identifying sonata and rondo structures, relating historical developments (e.g., Boethius, organum) to practice, and harmonizing melodies from lead sheets for arrangement and basic jazz/rock/pop improvisation