Four-Part Harmony in Composition for SS 3

Class: SS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 15-16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Music
Topic: Composition
Subject Matter: Four-part harmony

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Define four-part harmony.
• Identify the four standard voices in SATB harmony.
• State at least three basic voice leading rules.
• Explain how chords are constructed in four parts.

Psychomotor Domain

• Write a simple 8-bar passage for soprano and alto voices, applying basic harmonic principles.
• Demonstrate how to arrange a simple folk song for a xylophone and other instruments, considering four-part harmony.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of balance and structure in harmonic composition.
• Develop an interest in composing and arranging music using harmonic principles.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable Music textbook for SS 3
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Whiteboard and markers
• Musical scores illustrating four-part harmony
• Staff paper and pencils
• Keyboard or piano for demonstrations
• Xylophone (if available for practical activity)
• Examples of folk songs for arrangement

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important as it provides students with foundational knowledge and practical skills in composing and arranging music using four-part harmony. Understanding these principles is crucial for developing well-structured and aesthetically pleasing musical pieces. It also prepares students for advanced music studies and practical musicianship.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have prior knowledge of basic music notation, scales, intervals, and chord construction (triads and seventh chords).

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Four-Part Harmony in Composition

Definition of Four-Part Harmony

Four-part harmony is a common method of arranging musical notes into four distinct melodic lines or voices, which are played or sung simultaneously to create a rich harmonic texture. These four voices typically include Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass (SATB).

The Four Standard Voices (SATB)

The four voices in standard four-part harmony are:

1. Soprano: The highest voice, usually carrying the main melody.
2. Alto: The second highest voice, typically harmonizing below the soprano.
3. Tenor: The third highest voice, usually sung by male voices in a higher range.
4. Bass: The lowest voice, providing the harmonic foundation and often outlining the chord roots.

Principles of Voice Leading

Voice leading refers to the melodic movement of individual voices within a harmonic progression. Key principles include:

1. Smooth Motion: Voices should move with as little melodic leap as possible, preferably by step or small intervals.
2. Avoiding Parallel Fifths and Octaves: Two voices should not move in the same direction, maintaining the same interval of a perfect fifth or octave. This creates a thin or empty sound.
3. Contrary Motion: When two voices move in opposite directions (one up, one down), it helps to create independence and balance.
4. Oblique Motion: One voice stays on the same note while another moves.
5. Doubling: In triads, the root is most commonly doubled. The fifth may also be doubled, but the third is rarely doubled unless necessary.
6. Range: Each voice should stay within its comfortable vocal or instrumental range.

Chord Construction in Four Parts

When constructing chords in four parts, each voice plays a note from the chord. For a triad (root, third, fifth), one note must be doubled. For a seventh chord (root, third, fifth, seventh), all four notes are usually present.

1. Root Position: The root of the chord is in the bass. The upper voices (soprano, alto, tenor) arrange the remaining chord tones.
2. First Inversion: The third of the chord is in the bass.
3. Second Inversion: The fifth of the chord is in the bass.

The arrangement of the upper voices determines the chord’s spacing (close or open harmony) and overall sound.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Explanation, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Practical Activity, Question and Answer, Discussion.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Review/Engagement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and reviews previous knowledge on basic chords and intervals. The teacher then introduces the topic of four-part harmony as an extension of chord construction.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to questions about chords and intervals and listen attentively to the introduction of the new topic.

Learning Point: Recap of basic harmony

Step 2: Definition and Voices of Four-Part Harmony

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines four-part harmony and explains the roles and typical ranges of the four standard voices: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass (SATB), using examples on a whiteboard or keyboard.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, ask questions, and identify the four voices as explained by the teacher.

Learning Point: Understanding SATB voices

Step 3: Principles of Voice Leading

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains and demonstrates the fundamental principles of voice leading, such as smooth motion, avoiding parallel octaves and fifths, contrary motion, and doubling, using simple chord progressions as examples.

Pupils’ Activity: Students observe the demonstrations, take notes, and ask clarifying questions about voice leading rules.

Learning Point: Voice leading rules

Step 4: Chord Construction in Four Parts

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how to construct triads and seventh chords in four parts, discussing doubling rules and the arrangement of voices in root position and inversions.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and try to apply the rules mentally to simple chord examples.

Learning Point: Four-part chord construction

Step 5: Guided Practice – Writing a Two-Part Passage

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to write a simple 8-bar passage for soprano and alto voices, focusing on smooth voice leading and basic harmonic progression. The teacher provides a simple melody for the soprano and guides the alto line.

Pupils’ Activity: Students attempt to write the 8-bar passage for soprano and alto on staff paper, applying the learned principles.

Learning Point: Two-part composition practice

Step 6: Discussion on Arranging a Folk Song

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher initiates a discussion on how the principles of four-part harmony can be applied to arrange a folk song for instruments like the xylophone and other accompanying instruments, emphasizing how each instrument can take a voice part.

Pupils’ Activity: Students contribute ideas and ask questions about arranging a folk song using four-part harmony.

Learning Point: Folk song arrangement application

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is four-part harmony?
2. Name the four standard voices in SATB harmony.
3. Mention two important voice leading rules.
4. How would you approach arranging a simple melody into four parts?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding four-part harmony

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on four-part harmony, its voices, and voice leading principles into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson content

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key learning points about four-part harmony and encourages students to practice composing and arranging using these principles. The teacher also corrects any final misconceptions.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and prepare for the next lesson.

Learning Point: Reinforcement of harmony concepts

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework/Project

Instruction: Apply the principles of four-part harmony to the following tasks:

1. Compose an 8-bar simple melody for soprano and harmonize it with an alto, tenor, and bass line, ensuring correct voice leading.
2. Choose a familiar folk song and write a four-part arrangement for it, specifying instruments or voices for each part.

Lesson Keywords

• Harmony – The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions.
• Composition – The act of creating original music.
• Soprano – The highest female or boy’s voice; the highest part in four-part harmony.
• Alto – The lowest female or boy’s voice; the second highest part in four-part harmony.
• Tenor – A high adult male singing voice; the third highest part in four-part harmony.
• Bass – The lowest adult male singing voice; the lowest part in four-part harmony.
• Voice Leading – The melodic movement of individual lines in a harmonic progression.
• SATB – An acronym for Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, referring to the four standard voices in choral or harmonic writing.

Differentiation

Support for struggling learners: Provide simpler melodies for harmonization and focus on only two or three voices initially. Offer pre-drawn staff paper with some chord outlines.
Extension for advanced learners: Challenge them to arrange a more complex folk song, or compose a short piece with modulations, applying more advanced harmonic techniques and voice leading rules.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, search YouTube for:

• “Introduction to Four-Part Harmony for Beginners”
• “Voice Leading Rules Explained”
• “SATB Chord Voicing Tutorial”

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have musical scores demonstrating four-part harmony, staff paper, and a functional keyboard or piano for live demonstrations. Review basic chord theory and voice leading rules yourself to confidently guide students. Begin by establishing a clear definition of four-part harmony and illustrating the roles of the SATB voices. Emphasize the importance of good voice leading through clear examples and demonstrations on the keyboard, pointing out common errors like parallel octaves and fifths. For the practical activities, start with the simpler 8-bar passage for soprano and alto to build confidence before discussing the folk song arrangement. During Step 5, circulate to provide individual feedback and correct errors in real-time. Students should copy the Board Summary notes in Step 8. Check for understanding throughout the lesson through questioning and observing their practical work. Encourage creativity while adhering to harmonic principles.