Principles and Practice in Four-Part Harmony for SS 3

Class: SS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 17 years
Duration: 60 minutes
Subject: Music
Curriculum Theme: Harmony
Previous Lesson: Ensemble and Group Per
Topic: Harmony
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 voice parts in a harmonic texture.
• State the basic principles and rules of voice leading in four-part harmony.
• Explain common harmonic progressions.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of correct voice leading for musical balance.
• Develop patience in applying harmonic rules to musical examples.
• Demonstrate an interest in analyzing harmonic structures in music.

Psychomotor Domain

• Harmonize a short melody in four parts using basic chords.
• Analyze the chords used in a given piece of four-part music.
• Demonstrate correct doubling and spacing of chords.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2014 Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC)
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable music theory textbook for SS 3
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Whiteboard and markers
• Musical scores or charts showing examples of four-part harmony
• Keyboard or piano for demonstration
• Handouts with melodies for harmonization practice

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding four-part harmony is fundamental to comprehending Western classical music and many contemporary genres. This lesson provides students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to construct and analyze harmonic progressions, which is essential for composition, arrangement, and performance.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils/students should have a basic understanding of musical notation, intervals, triads (major and minor), and simple chord progressions.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Principles and Practice in Four-Part Harmony

Definition of Four-Part Harmony

Four-part harmony is a common method of arranging musical notes for four distinct voices or instrumental parts. These parts are typically named Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass (SATB), covering a wide range of pitches from high to low. The goal is to create a rich, balanced sound where each voice moves smoothly and logically.

The Four Voice Parts (SATB)

1. Soprano: The highest voice, usually carrying the melody.
2. Alto: The second highest voice, often harmonizing below the soprano.
3. Tenor: The third highest voice, typically sung by male voices or played by instruments in a similar range.
4. Bass: The lowest voice, providing the harmonic foundation.

Basic Principles of Four-Part Harmony

Effective four-part harmony adheres to several principles to ensure clarity, balance, and smooth voice leading:

1. Chord Construction: Chords are typically built from the bass note upwards in thirds. In four-part harmony, one note of a triad (root, third, or fifth) must be doubled to achieve four notes.
2. Doubling:
   1. In root position triads (I, IV, V), the root is most commonly doubled.
   2. The third of a chord is rarely doubled, especially in major chords, as it can create a strong, sometimes harsh, sound.
   3. The fifth can be doubled, but it is less common than doubling the root.
3. Spacing: The distance between adjacent upper voices (Soprano-Alto, Alto-Tenor) should generally not exceed an octave. The distance between Tenor and Bass can be larger, up to two octaves.
4. Voice Leading: Each voice should move smoothly, preferably by step (seconds) or small leaps (thirds, fourths). Large leaps should be avoided, especially in inner voices.
5. Parallel Motion:
   1. Forbidden Parallels: Parallel octaves and parallel perfect fifths between any two voices are strictly forbidden. These create a hollow sound and diminish the independence of the voices.
   2. Allowed Parallels: Parallel thirds and sixths are generally allowed and often desirable for smooth harmony.
6. Contrary Motion: When two voices move in opposite directions (one up, one down), it helps maintain voice independence and is highly encouraged.
7. Oblique Motion: One voice stays on the same note while another moves, contributing to smooth transitions.
8. Direct Octaves and Fifths: Occur when two voices move in the same direction to an octave or a perfect fifth, with the upper voice leaping. These are generally avoided, especially between outer voices (Soprano and Bass).
9. Crossed Voices: Generally avoided, where a lower voice sings higher than an upper voice (e.g., Alto higher than Soprano). This can obscure the harmonic structure.

Practice in Four-Part Harmony

Harmonizing a melody involves selecting appropriate chords and distributing their notes among the four voices while adhering to the principles of voice leading.

1. Analyze the Melody: Identify the key, time signature, and harmonic implications of the melody notes.
2. Choose Chords: Select primary chords (I, IV, V) that fit the melody notes for each beat or measure. Secondary chords (ii, iii, vi) can add colour.
3. Distribute Voices:
   1. Place the melody in the Soprano voice.
   2. Determine the Bass line, often moving by step or fifths to support the chosen chords.
   3. Fill in the Alto and Tenor voices with the remaining chord tones, ensuring good voice leading, proper doubling, and correct spacing.
4. Check for Errors: Carefully review the harmonization for forbidden parallels (octaves, fifths), direct octaves/fifths, poor voice leading (large leaps), and incorrect doubling or spacing.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Review/Engagement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils/students, reviews the previous lesson on basic harmony and triads, and introduces the concept of four-part harmony as an extension of their previous knowledge.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students respond to greetings and recall previous knowledge on harmony and triads.

Learning Point: Harmony concepts reviewed

Step 2: Definition and Voice Parts

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines four-part harmony and explains the role of each of the four voice parts (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass), using musical examples on the whiteboard or keyboard.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students listen, ask questions, and identify the voice parts in the examples provided.

Learning Point: Four-part harmony definition

Step 3: Principles of Doubling and Spacing

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the rules for doubling notes within a chord (e.g., doubling the root in I, IV, V chords) and proper spacing between voices, demonstrating with examples on the keyboard.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students observe the demonstrations and practice identifying correct doubling and spacing in given examples.

Learning Point: Doubling and spacing rules

Step 4: Voice Leading Rules (Parallel Motion)

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the concept of voice leading, focusing on parallel motion. They specifically highlight and demonstrate forbidden parallels (octaves and fifths) and allowed parallels (thirds and sixths).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students listen, identify forbidden and allowed parallel motions in examples, and ask clarifying questions.

Learning Point: Parallel motion rules

Step 5: Voice Leading Rules (Contrary and Oblique Motion)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Comparison

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains and demonstrates contrary motion and oblique motion as effective voice leading techniques, comparing them to parallel motion.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students observe and understand the different types of voice motion.

Learning Point: Contrary and oblique motion

Step 6: Practical Harmonization

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides a simple melody and guides the pupils/students through the steps of harmonizing it in four parts, demonstrating chord selection and voice distribution on the board.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students participate in the guided harmonization, suggesting chords and voice movements.

Learning Point: Melody harmonization practice

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 are the four voice parts in four-part harmony?
2. State two rules for doubling notes in a chord.
3. Why are parallel octaves and fifths forbidden in four-part harmony?
4. Briefly explain how to begin harmonizing a melody.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Four-part harmony assessment

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

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

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

Learning Point: Board summary recording

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key aspects of four-part harmony, emphasizing the importance of applying the rules consistently for good musical results. They encourage pupils/students to practice analyzing and harmonizing melodies.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students listen attentively and ask any final questions.

Learning Point: Lesson concepts reinforced

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework/Practice Exercise

Instruction: Harmonize the following short melody in four parts, ensuring correct voice leading, doubling, and spacing. Use primary chords (I, IV, V) in C major.

1. Melody: G – F – E – D – C (in C major, quarter notes)
2. Analyze a short chorale excerpt (provided by teacher) and identify any parallel octaves or fifths.

Lesson Keywords

• Harmony – The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions.
• Four-part harmony – A musical texture arranged for four distinct voices (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass).
• Voice leading – The melodic movement of individual voices in a harmonic progression.
• Parallel octaves – Two voices moving in the same direction, maintaining an interval of an octave. (Forbidden)
• Parallel fifths – Two voices moving in the same direction, maintaining an interval of a perfect fifth. (Forbidden)
• Contrary motion – When two voices move in opposite directions.
• Oblique motion – When one voice stays on the same note while another moves.
• Doubling – Repeating a note of a chord in a different octave or voice.

Differentiation

Support: For pupils/students struggling with voice leading, focus on harmonizing only two voices (Soprano and Bass) first, then gradually add Alto and Tenor. Provide simpler melodies with fewer chord options.

Extension: For advanced pupils/students, challenge them to use secondary chords (ii, iii, vi) in their harmonizations or analyze more complex harmonic progressions from a musical score. Introduce concepts like inversions and non-chord tones.

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search on YouTube for: “Four-part harmony rules SS3 Music” or “Voice leading principles music theory”