ABSTRACT

One challenge in the theory classroom is connecting abstract concepts students learn to practical musical experiences. This lesson plan grounds modal mixture in popular music from all over the dial, including the Beatles, Queen, Billy Joel, Radiohead, Green Day, Bruno Mars, and Death Cab for Cutie, among others. Through listening exercises, sight-singing, harmonic dictation, and analysis, students will learn to quickly recognize and analyze borrowed chords, will be able to sing through the tendency tones, and will be able to articulate the expressive effect of the chord.