HARMONY 2 - 2022/3
Module code: MUS2058
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in a departure from previous academic years and previously published information, the University has had to change the delivery (and in some cases the content) of its programmes, together with certain University services and facilities for the academic year 2020/21.
These changes include the implementation of a hybrid teaching approach during 2020/21. Detailed information on all changes is available at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/coronavirus/course-changes. This webpage sets out information relating to general University changes, and will also direct you to consider additional specific information relating to your chosen programme.
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Module Overview
This module provides an opportunity for advanced study of harmony within the context of Anglo-American popular music of the past century from the standard jazz repertoire to progressive pop, rock, fusion and contemporary jazz.
Module provider
Music and Media
Module Leader
MERMIKIDES Milton (Music & Med)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 5
JACs code: W343
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
MUS1028 (Harmony 1) is a pre-requisite for this module
Module content
This module covers the main tonal principles of popular music harmony found in styles such as rock, pop, blues and standard jazz, as well as an introduction to more advanced concepts of contemporary jazz, progressive rock, pop and fusion. Indicative content includes:
- Chord construction (Triad, 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th chords)
- Diatonic chords of the major scale and minor scale.
- Borrowing from the parallel minor scale
- The diatonic cycle of 5ths
- The major and minor ii-V
- Secondary dominants (and related IIs)
- Tritone substituted dominants (and related IIs)
- Blues I7 IV7 and blues scales
- ii-Vs in motion
- Motif and melody chord relationship
- Types of Modulations and Bridges
- Contrapuntally Embellished Static Harmony (CESH)
- The minor descending line Cm Cm/Bb Aø
- I – bVI7(bIIIm7)
- Types of Parallelism
- Chromatic and other 2 Chord Vamps
- Slash, upper-structure and poly-chords
- Open, closed, Drop-II and Drop-III voicings
- Non-tertial harmony
- Intervallic structures (e.g. Zappa structures, µ chords etc.)
- Chord sequences and modal ‘islands’
Assessment pattern
Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
---|---|---|
Coursework | STANDARD JAZZ PORTFOLIO | 30 |
Coursework | CONTEMPORARY JAZZ AND POP PORTFOLIO | 40 |
School-timetabled exam/test | IN CLASS TEST (90 MINUTES) | 30 |
Alternative Assessment
None
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore and develop new theoretical concepts and practical skills.
The summative assessment for this module consists of:
Two compositional portfolios and commentaries demonstrating the theoretical and practical understanding of the module concepts in idiomatic creative practice.
Coursework 1 (30% of final grade): A portfolio of 2 pieces in a standard jazz style, each with a commentary (no more than 500 words), lead sheet and audio realisation. This is assessed on the basis of theoretical understanding and idiomatic application of the relevant module concepts, as well as quality of score production. (Learning outcomes 1-6).
Coursework 2 (40% of final grade): A portfolio of 2 pieces in a contemporary jazz or pop style, and one piece in any style. Each piece is to include a commentary (no more than 500 words), lead sheet and audio realisation. This portfolio is assessed on the basis of theoretical understanding and idiomatic application of the relevant module concepts, as well as quality of score production. (Learning outcomes 1-6).
In Class Test (30%). A 90 minute in class test focusing on the harmonic analysis of previously unseen material from a wide range popular and contemporary music styles.
Formative assessment and feedback
Students will be given a series of weekly compositional exercises. These are not assessed but will provide students with formative feedback via Surreylearn and in class. These exercises can also be used as foundations for the summative assessments.
Module aims
- To instill the theoretical principles and practical deployment of advanced harmony relevant across a range of popular music genres.
Learning outcomes
Attributes Developed | ||
---|---|---|
001 | Create convincing pastiches in lead sheet form of advanced examples from the main styles of popular music in terms of harmony, melody and form; | KPT |
002 | Adequately incorporate more advanced harmonic, melodic, and formal elements of popular songs into different styles; | KPT |
003 | Functionally analyse the harmony of any given example of music; | KCT |
004 | Adopt advanced harmonic theoretical and practical knowledge in wider creative practice. | CPT |
005 | Identify harmonic characteristics in a range of popular music styles. | KCPT |
006 | Prepare accurate and useful lead sheets | KPT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Overall student workload
Independent Study Hours: 128
Lecture Hours: 22
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The module consists of eleven two-hour lectures. The lectures will include theoretical and practical demonstrations of harmonic theory. Students will be expected to complete weekly aural, written, and/or compositional tasks.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MUS2058
Programmes this module appears in
Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
---|---|---|---|
Creative Music Technology BMus (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) BSc (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) BMus (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Music BMus (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2022/3 academic year.