ASSIGNMENT

The class project is for you to download, print out and complete the short series of written exercises on scales and modes that I have provided for you. Then scan or shoot a high-resolution photo of your completed work and upload your file to Dropbox or Google Drive and post the link to it in the Project Gallery.

Please refer to the “Attached Files” section of this course to access the charts that I reference during the video lessons.

STEPS

1. I’ve uploaded the class notes and the exercises to the Attached Files section of this class. Please download those materials and print out the sheet with the four exercises on it and grab a pencil and eraser. Please note that I tried to fit all of the exercises onto one page so when you print the Scales & Modes exercises sheet you might need to tell your printer to "fit the page" in the Page Sizing options.

In the class notes I’ve included a Circle of Fifths chart. If you’re not familiar with key signatures you’ll want to keep this chart nearby so that you know how many sharps or flats there are in each key.

2. For Exercise I you’ll use the notes that I’ve already filled in and add sharps or flats to create each major scale listed. To know how many sharps or flats to add and to which notes to add them to you’ll have to know your key signatures. If you don’t have them memorized just reference the Circle of Fifths chart. Write in the sharp or flat in front of each note. For you beginners out there, the sharp or flat symbol goes before and to the left of the note head of the note that you’re adding it to.

3. For Exercise II you’ll be practicing your minor scales. For this exercise write out the notes for the scales. I would recommend using quarter notes for the scale just to keep things simple. Again you’ll have to know which sharps or flats belong in each scale. I recommend first adding in the notes of the scale, for example for the D harmonic minor scale first add in the notes D, E, F, G, A, B, C, and D using quarter notes. Then ask yourself how many sharps or flats are in the key of D minor and add those in. Then you know that the harmonic minor scale has the raised 7th scale step. So ask yourself "do I have to add or remove any sharps or flats from the 7th scale degree for it to be a raised 7th"? And then write that in.

4. For Exercise III you’re going to name the natural minor scales related to the major scale listed and write in the notes for those scales. The first one is E major. Ask yourself how many sharps or flats does the key of E major have? If you’re not sure or you want to double check then reference the Circle of Fifths chart. Once you have that information then count up six notes from E. Remember to find the relative minor scale count up six notes from the tonic note of the major scale you’re working in. At that point you have all of the information that you need to build the relative natural minor scale of E Major. So write that natural minor scale using quarter notes.

5. For Exercise IV you’re working off of the F major scale and you’re going to build the modes that I’ve listed. To complete this exercise you need to know how many sharps or flats are in the key of F major and then think about the order of the modes. Ionian is built off of the tonic note, in this case F. Dorian is built off of the second scale degree, in this case G, and so on all the way up the F major scale. Once you have that figured out you know which scale degree and note to start each mode on. So fill those notes in using quarter notes.

6. Once you’ve completed all four exercises either scan or take a high-resolution photo of your exercise sheet and upload the file to Dropbox or Google Drive and post the link to your file in the project gallery. I’m happy to check your work and give you notes on your assignment.

While filling in these exercises it might be helpful to have your instrument in front of you.

Remember the goal of this exercise is to build and solidify your knowledge of scales and modes and sharing your results with your classmates so that we learn together.

To get you inspired I’ve created a Spotify playlist for this class. It has great examples of music writers that had a strong command of scales and modes and who were able to apply these concepts intelligently and creatively. Listen to the class playlist here.

If you are not able to access Spotify here is the list of works included in the playlist so that you can find them and listen to them e.g., on Amazon or iTunes:

The Beatles – Norwegian Wood
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 5
Johannes Brahms – Symphony No. 4
Claude Debussy – Nocturnes
Claude Debussy – La cathédrale engloutie
Franz Liszt – Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Modest Mussorgsky – Boris Godunov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade
Jean Sibelius – Symphony No. 4
10. Jean Sibelius – Symphony No. 6

I'm looking forward to seeing your work!

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Fabian Pijpers

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