The Ornaments

Students, try to play the song. Can you guess what song is that?

trill

Turn

Long Mordent

Lower mordent

Appoggiatura

Acciccatura

Ornaments

WHAT IS ORNAMENT?
Notes are added to a melodic line as a purpose of decoration. Just like a vase decorated with flowers.

THE HISTORY....
Music in the early days was often written as a skelaton of the melody, where the performer was expected to provide the improvisation to make the tune more interesting. In the 15th century, composers began to write in the ornaments as a guide to the player. Toward the end of the 17th century, most music was written exactly as it was to be played. By the Romantic period, a performer was not allowed to put in any of his own ornaments.

WHY ORNAMENTS?
The use of embellishments will make your performance more interesting and give you a chance to dazzle your audience with your brilliant execution. In the old days, if a player jazzed up pieces with his grand executions, the fun-loving listeners of the day would want him rewarded but if he went too far in his executions, the fun-loving audience would want him executed or at least censured for his exhibition of bad taste.



PLEASE MAKE SURE WHEN YOU PLAY ORNAMENTS,....
Don't change the timing of the piece just to fit an ornament in. For example, a trill on a quarter note in 4/4 time lasts exactly one beat no matter if it is played in sixteenths, thirtyseconds or triplets.

The Neapolitan Chord

Neapolitan chord (symbolized as N) is usually found in the minor key and in first inversion.

To simplify, neapolitan chord is a major triad with the lowered 2nd scale degree. For example ,

Chord ii of C minor= D , F , Ab

Neapolitan chord = Db, F , Ab (Do u notice above example in C minor?The Neapolitan chord is in first inversion, we call it as N6)

In 4 part writing;

1. The 3rd of N6 is doubled.

2.The N6 preceded by VI,iv or i and moves to V (or Ic-V) as below;

VI - N6 - V or iv - N6 - V or i - N6 - V

3.The resolution of the root of the N6 moves down, resulting an interval of diminished 3rd, if N6 resolves to chord V. (in other word, the b2 moves to leading note)

Other possibility? YES...

1. N6 may appear in root position or in 2nd inversion. In both cases, the bass will probably be doubled in a 4 part texture.

2. The neapolitan may occur in the major mode.

3. The Neapolitan might not serve as a pre-dominant chord.

4. Neapolitan chord may include a 7th .

What is suspension?

Common suspensions above the bass Bass suspension

WHAT IS SUSPENSION?

It's a Non-chord tone that delays a stepwise descent in a line.

Suspension has three stages: PREPARATION - SUSPENSION - RESOLUTION

There are four common types of suspensions; 9-8, 7-6, 4-3, 2-3

What is technical names?

In every scale note, there have names for each note. Can anyone name the technical names in order?

What is Interval?

An interval is the distnce between two notes. There are two kinds of interval : Melodic interval ( when the notes sounded one after ) look at the first alphabet of 'Melodic'. The 'M' like Zig Zag. Harmonic interval ( when the notes sounded togather ) just look at the first alphabet of 'Harmonic' The 'H' looks like a ladder, climbing up straightly.

What is ledger lines?

A staff is made up of five horizontal lines and four spaces.

Ledger lines is the extension of the staves. There are additional lines at both above and below which are parallel to the staff. Each ledger line contains one note.

What is triad

A triad is made up of three notes that stacked up in 3rds

There are 4 types of triads as shown above

Major triad - major 3rd, perfect 5th

Augmented triad - major 3rd, augmented 5th

Minor triad - minor 3rd, perfect 5th

Diminished triad - minor 3rd, diminished 5th

Concert Itinerary

Hello everyone,

The concert is coming again. It's on May 22nd. Are you all excited about it? This year's concert will be slightly different from the previous years.

For this year, we will have Best Performance Award for solo playing and in a group. We will also have games in between the concert. Games such as simple questions about theory or rhythm singing...like du-du--du-de-du-de.etc... and games like playing simple tune or scale on the piano. We have many presents awaiting for you all to grab!

We are looking forward to see you in the concert. Student, do give any suggestion about what kind of attire would you all like to wear. Think of something different, special and most importantly, comfortable for you all when performing.

For more details, please check out the letter that we will going to issue soon.

See you all

Best regards,

Yame Kimora & Gras Chin