UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON

School of Music

MUS 331 AND MUS 530

BY PROFESSOR JOAN WILDMAN

This is the third in a series of articles written to accompany class activities for beginning jazz improvisation students. If you've not yet read the earlier pages, or if you wish to review previous concepts and materials go to Article 1 or Article 2.

ARTICLE 3

JAZZ HARMONY

Music can be defined as 'sounds organized in time', implying a horizontal procession of orderly silences and notes. Harmony, however, is often seen as a vertical sound arrangement. Thus, the process of listening to several chords in sucession might seem to interrupt musical time to allow the up-and-down examination of each chord member. As anyone knows, who has seriously worked with the development of ear-training skills, the seamless combination of horizontal and vertical listening is one of a young musician's most difficult challenges.

CONTENTS

  • Relaxation/Tension
  • Voice Leading

    --All Article 3 materials © by Joan Wildman--

    please send comments to

    jwildman@facstaff.wisc.edu