MTDC Theory Class I
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MTDC Theory Class I


MTDC:
2 - 6p.m.
Saturdays

Mr Benjamin Yeo:
benictus@yahoo.com.sg

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Question & Answer ONLY

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Mr Benjamin Yeo
Monday, August 23, 2010, 8/23/2010 10:10:00 PM

It's the awesomest stolen song from Canon.




Saturday, November 21, 2009, 11/21/2009 09:15:00 PM




Sunday, October 25, 2009, 10/25/2009 01:05:00 PM

HELLO EVERYBODY :D

I was confused of certain stuffs in class so i emailed mr yeo to clarify.
as he had requested, im posting up the questions and answers. :D

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Q1. If i wanna find the minor of Major C, it would be Minor A right? (cos its counting 3 semitones down right?)

Yes, the RELATIVE minor of C Major is A minor. Counting 3 semitones down basically applies when you want to find the relative key signature of Minor from Major. Similary, if you want to find the key signature of the MAJOR, you count 3 semitones UP from the minor (opp. direction).

Q2. I'm still not too sure how to change the chords from major to minor ....for example, how to change the chord "c,e,g" to minor?

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking here. Let me know if I've interpreted your question correctly:

Let's start with a triad (for e.g., in C-major) containing the notes - C-E-G [this is your C major triad - I'm not sure why you wrote C-D-E, these three notes you wrote do not form the C-major chord].
Picture the C-E-G on the stave.
Notice the interval between C-E at the bottom is a MAJOR 3rd interval?
Notice the interval between E-G at the top is a minor 3rd interval?
Therefore, a triad with such interval-characteristics gives you what we call a MAJOR triad (always take reference from the bottom interval).

Let's move on now to look at a minor triad -
I will use the example based on D (the second degree of the scale), thus the notes involved will be D-F-A.
Picture the D-F-A on the stave
Notice the interval between D-F at the bottom is a minor 3rd interval? [as opposed to the initial MAJOR 3rd interval we find in a major triad?]
Notice the interval between F-A at the top is a MAJOR 3rd interval?
Therefore, a triad with such interval-characteristics gives you what we call a minor triad (always take reference from the bottom interval).

Now that you know the characteristics of a MAJOR triad and a minor triad, plot out the triads using your C-major scale. Since I've already done C and D for you, you can try plotting triads from E onwards (i.e., E, F, G, A, B). For example, your E-triad will be made up of notes E-G-B, F triad will be made up of notes F-A-C. After plotting all the notes, I'd want you to figure out the interval of the bottom two notes and the top two notes like what I did previously and you decide for yourself the nature of that particular triad - whether is it major-ish or minor-ish.

When you're done, you will realise a very special case for B-triad. B-triad contains the notes B-D-F. You will realise the bottom interval is a minor-interval and the top interval is also minor! In such a case, this is a new characteristic that we discover of what we call a diminished triad.


When you are done with plotting the whole set of notes, you will then discover that Chord I, IV and V are MAJOR TRIADS. We also call these chords PRIMARY CHORDS.
You will also discover Chord ii, iii, vi are minor triads. And lastly, not forgetting the special case of Chord viio which is a diminished triad. Take note of the BIG roman-numeral for MAJOR TRIADS and the small roman-numeral for minor, and diminished triads (with a small circle), they are different in order for us to recognise the nature of the triad!

DONE, YIKTIN :D




Saturday, October 24, 2009, 10/24/2009 06:05:00 PM
Evaluation 1

Dear all,


PART 1:


We have learnt about the primary chords - I, IV, V [notice the "BIG" roman numerals] and we have also discovered that progression I-IV-V-I is very common in music we hear.


Using your knowledge about the nature of Substitute chords, can u figure out some of the possible substitute chords for the following? -


1. Chord I
2. Chord IV
3. Chord V




PART 2:


Listen to "Beyond the Highlands" (B.Yeo); and use whatever knowledge or concepts that you have learnt to comment on the music.

Link: http://www.imeem.com/people/Qi0WVp/music/PuPbY0Er/benjamin-yeo-beyond-the-highlands/

Fundamentally:


1. What is the overall structure? How many sections are there?
2. Is this piece in a major or a minor key?
3. Any moments in the piece that struck you?
4. Any other comments?



Please reply to the post and share with the class for both PARTS 1 & 2. Your response will be considered as part of my evaluation of you for this course.

Best wishes,
BY




Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 10/14/2009 05:28:00 PM
Major & Minor Scales?

Dear all,

keep up the posting of your interesting clips, it's been quite an eye opener for us all.

Just to interrupt a little as I post something for you to think about, which we will also discuss in class:

We have learnt about major and minor scales and how different they will sound.
After some listening, how would you describe the nature of both types of scales?
-That is, what can you say/feel about major scales, and minor scales?
-What emotions do they depict - are they always true?

Looking forward to your reply.

BY




Thursday, October 8, 2009, 10/08/2009 04:33:00 PM
Check this out man :D



aint this cool ? :D just saw this on youtube and went ,'WOW'.

naw, just kidding. it's just that this blog is SO dead.

so erms, the song they're playing is , ' Internet Symphony, Eroica ' by the composer Tan Dun.

If you guys are wondering who Tan Dun is, he composed one of the grade 5 piano pieces called, Staccato Beans.

Enjoy your super long break from mtdc alright ? Good luck for your EOY




Something else to brighten up your day/afternoon/evening :



Cheers :D
Melissa




Sunday, September 27, 2009, 9/27/2009 10:48:00 PM

Hi! saw some thing cool on youtube. It's Numb by Linkin Park on Mario Paint:




Basecodes: vehemency