Hear That!
a harmony course for creative pianists
As heard at the MTNA National Conference!
a harmony course for creative pianists
As heard at the MTNA National Conference!
THE CHALLENGE
Are you struggling with understanding the "harmonic grammar" in the music? Do you desire to play with more expression? Are you frustrated by "dry analysis" without creativity?
Whether you have years of formal training or you are self-taught, learn the Harmonic Expression™ 4-step Process to quickly transform notes into meaning!
Hsing-ay Hsu, Steinway Artist and former University of CO faculty, presents a 6 week harmonic analysis intensive with a fun contest and the chance to win great prizes.
THE STRATEGY
Lead with the question "What For"? Questions to consider:
*What does an understanding of the composer's harmonic language allow me to do with my playing?
*How do I translate the Tension-Release moments and the emotions implied by the choice to chords to make my playing more conversational and spontaneous?
*How does my understanding help me organize the musical material
I will guide you towards discerning the nuances and multiple options that is the fruit of careful score study and fluency in music theory, one step at a time.
THE TRANSFORMATION
Crack the harmonic code! Get the skills to see the compositional designs hidden in plain sight, and help your audience savor the harmonic intensity of every "magical moment"...
While having FUN! Celebrate all your incremental steps. I will meet you where you are and guide you with my step by step process for lasting change, so that you have all you need to open your heart to the most emotional element of Western tonal music: the HARMONY!
For the first time in my life, when I am playing, I find myself wondering where is this going? What is [the composer] doing? Instead of just playing the notes. Marge H.
Two Formats
I now have tools and techniques to improve my aural skills, to examine scores in multiple ways, and to be creative with improvisation. Memorization is easier. I also enjoyed the community of learners and Hsing-ay's teaching style. John W.
In our consumer culture, when we buy audiobooks and TV show seasons, more time is associated with more value. However, in learning, more time and effort doesn't automatically produce better results. The strategy has to be coherent. As for teaching, the majority of my time is spent creating brevity for you, in a way that Beethoven cut out all the unnecessary notes so that only the most indispensable notes reach the audience's ears.
This process is Transformation-Driven. It is not a comprehensive "memorize-everything" preparation towards an exam; it is about helping you pinpoint exactly what YOU need to do practically, at this moment in your journey, to be more creative!
*NO rabbit holes trying to do your own DIY diagnosis
*NO wasted time reinforming the wrong habits
*NO procrastination for getting this important work done
ESTIMATED WORK TIME weekly:
(For Group Sessions: 45minute Live Zoom Masterclass + 15minutes Social Learning)
1-2 hours homework, depending on your speed and goals. Plan ahead on set times to do the work in bite-size increments that fit well with your life.
ELIGIBILITY:
Lifelong Learners & Music Teachers who play the piano. Age 14+.
Intermediate to Advanced Level.
MUSICAL PREREQUISITE:
Ability to read music and play (or sing) comfortably from treble & bass clefs, hold a major triad mentally and sing it, and find the dominant chord aurally and visually. We will use piano scores.
*Earn points for Saturday Zoom attendance and weekly video submissions.
*During Week 5, each participant will give points to another participant other than themselves.
*The participant with the most points becomes the "Hear That Champion" and earns
1. $250 Scholarship for Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, CO, in August.
2. "Performance & Analysis One-hour Private Session" with Hsing-ay at Aeyons Global Online Music Studio (Value $160)
3. Interview on Youtube Channel "HsingayHsu"
Let's Crack the Code Together!
Questions? thenutmegstudio@gmail.com.
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/NutmegStudioNYC