Accompanying skills (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

Pass/Fail

Objective

You will learn basics of piano accompaniment, in order to work and accompany as a music pedagog. After you've finished the study module, you are able to play triads and four-note chords, inversions, most common chord progressions, transpose as well as accompany broad variety of musical genres according to your musical orientation. Beyond accompanying according to chord symbols and notes you'll practice freedom around the composition and harmonizing a simple tune. You'll understand the meaning of dynamics and ergonomy. You'll be able to accompany taking into consideration you level of skills, strengths and aim to support the interpretation of a solist.

After the study module you are able to accompany with piano a repertoire according to your musical orientation. You understand the elements that are essential to different musical genres. You'll accompany from chord symbols and notes, and free your playing from the written material taking into consideration your level of skills. You have rehearsed steadily and shared your learning results during the contact lessons.

Content

During the study module you'll explore triads, four-note chords, inversions, most common chord progressions (for example II-V-I, circle of fiths, blues), transposing, harmonizing, prima vista -playing, ergonomy, meaning of dynamics, accompanying from chord symbols and notes according to a musical genre, and freeing your playing from the notated material.

Materials

J. Moser. Rock Piano Book vol 1 and 2 ISBN 9783795721787
Pop/jazz- music exercises and pieces
Classical music exemples and notes

Study material and learning tasks will be shared during the course.

Teaching methods

Target learning outcome

You know how to use piano and keyboards to accompany with different kind of musical styles. You can utilize the piano or keyboard as an instrument of accompaniment in your teaching and if necessary you can transpose your output.

Content

Triads and fourth chords. Note reading and transposing exercises. All-round ability to play different kind of musical accompaniment styles.

For classical students the focus in on playing from the real chords and learning to play easy piano accompaniments of pedagogical repertoire and learning to make and play easier arrangements on accompaniments.

For pop/jazz students the focus is on learning the most common chord progressions and rhythm patterns in rhythm music as well as adapting the matters in own teaching and accompaniment. Students are encouraged to use improvisation and think outside the written sheet music.

Exam schedules

For classical students in the end of the course there is a group exam where each student will perform one accompaniment that has been practiced during the course. In addition there is an easy sight reading accompaniment.

For Pop/jazz students in the end of the course (april-may) there is an exam (individual) where know-how of the main subjects are measured:
- Volitional music piece accompanying or playing solistic
- 12 Bar Blues accompanying and with improvisation
- II - V - I chord progression (major/minor) in every key and diatonic circle of 5ths in two sharps/flats
- Rhythm patterns practiced during the course
- Real Book prima vista

Retake possibilities:
There is a retake possibility if student doesn’t meet the requirements of main subjects mentioned before

Student workload

Contact lessons 26h

Independent practising (study material, learning tasks, repertoire, observation) 105h

In all 135h

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Pass (S):

You are able to accompany with piano a repertoire with variety of musical genres, emphasizing you musical strengths. You are able to use accompany skills in a work of a music pedagog.

Fail (0):

You are not able to accompany with piano a repertoire with variety of musical genres, and you don't recognise you musical strengths. You are not able to use accompany skills in a work of a music pedagog.

Further information

You'll utilize self- and peer review as a part of continuing learning of accompanying skills.