Secondary

The study of music at GCSE or A level requires a good understanding of the “rules” of harmony and how to apply them to many different areas of music.  Whether it is a Bach chorale or a Beethoven symphony, the ability to grasp the compositional techniques that are being used is invaluable.  These techniques can then be applied to students own compositions to ensure they are well constructed.  It is also important to know how to break the rules in an intelligent way so that more complex pieces can still retain the integrity of a well-composed piece.

However, the study of harmony soon becomes very complex as students study more challenging works and more contemporary compositions. SeeChord can really help to unravel the mysteries of even the most complex harmonic passages. Entire pieces can be studied and the overall harmonic shape discussed easily, or the intricacies of a particular phrase or cadence can be broken down and studied in great detail.

SeeChord provides a platform for debate and discussion at a far higher level than has previously been possible. Any aspect of harmony can be represented by SeeChord and then the composers’ intentions or the listeners’ experience can be explored.

A number of pilot schemes have been conducted in Secondary schools and results have shown that students’ understanding of music can be greatly increased in just a few lessons.

If you are interested in using SeeChord or hosting a pilot scheme in your school then please contact us with your ideas

SeeChord can help to visualise the structure of any harmonic sequence, however random it may seem at first.  The following topics are a good place to start:

Basic harmonic movement
Major and Minor keys
Relative majors and minors
Cadences
Modulation
Chords
Chord Progressions
Substitutions
Modes
Structure
Bach chorales
Harmonization
Composition
Analysis

If you want a personalised service to help with a particular piece, whether it be an original composition or a set work, visit our services page to find out how we can help.
Teaching with SeeChord