Keyboard
Scalar Quizzes
The following criteria apply for all the scalar quizzes:
- play ascending and descending, in single notes (octaves not necessary)
- minimum tempo of quarter = 60, playing in steady quarter notes
- you may play on any instrument
- you may opt to sing, in which case you you need to sing at pitch (switching octaves as needed) and with full note names including accidentals, for ex. “D, E, F-sharp, G-sharp, A…”
- for extra credit, play modal triads (i.e. using only pitches belonging to the mode) going up and down the scale. This is practical only on keyboard, guitar, and other harmony instruments.
The scalar quizzes are cumulative: on any quiz date I may ask you to play material from any prior quiz.
Quiz 1: major-family diatonic modes Be able to play Lydian, Ionian, and Mixolydian starting on any white note.
Quiz 2: minor-family diatonic modes Be able to play Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian, and Locrian starting on any white note.
Quiz 3: pentatonic Be able to play the minor and major pentatonics (pent modes I & II) starting on any pitch.
Quiz 4: major-family diatonic modes, II Be able to play Lydian, Ionian, and Mixolydian starting on any pitch.
Quiz 5: minor-family diatonic modes, II Be able to play Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian, and Locrian starting on any pitch.
Quiz 6: pentatonic, II Be able to play the major pentatonic in "scalar thirds" (which are mostly p4, actually) in G-flat and any one other key.
Quiz 7: WT and Lydian dominant Be able to play the WT and Lydian dominant scales starting on any pitch. You do not need to learn all 7 modes of the Lydian dominant, just the one.
Quiz 8: octatonic Be able to play a W-H octatonic scale beginning on any pitch. Extra credit: do H-W as well.
Quiz 9: grand finale Be able to play all the material in the above quizzes.