Describing Music
MODES
Next Page
iN BETWEEN OUR VIRTUAL LESSONS...
We will have some "mini" lessons to help us learn more about our newest tool from the previous virtual lesson! You'll learn a little bit more about the tool itself, but more importantly you'll see and hear different ways that tool can be used on a song. Then, you can use what you've learned in your mini-lesson on your next journal entry!
Next Page
Follow each step in order
Click on each box in order to go through the mini-lesson. If you jump around things might get confusing!
1. Definition
2. Listening
3. Examples
4. Assignment
Musical MODES
In our last virtual lesson, we learned that modes are super connected to scales like we learned about earlier this marking period.
In fact, we defined a music mode as; A musical scale, with a specific order of whole and half steps.
We're not going to worry about the exact order of whole and half steps today. Instead, let's dive right into exploring what these different modes sound like!
Next Page
First, I have a question. How many different musical modes do you think exist?
Next Page
There are actually 7 different kinds of musical modes!
DORIAN
IONIAN
LYDIAN
(Fancy word for Major)
MIXO-LYDIAN
AEOLIAN
(Fancy word for Minor)
PHRYGIAN
LOCRIAN
We've already learned about Major and Minor, but don't worry we're not going to have to learn about ALL 5 of the others. But there is one of the five that I'd like to share with you...
Back to Lesson Steps
Listening for MODES
Remember, the order of whole and half steps that make up a mode, give the mode a certain kind of feeling to it. Composers use different kinds of modes to try to make you feel certain emotions while listening to their songs.
Let's remind ourselves of how Major and Minor modes could make us feel when we listen to them. We'll also learn which one of those special modes we'll focus on, and learn about what emotions or feelings we could have while listening to that mode!
Next Page
Composers will write a song in a Major mode if they want the song to sound happy, exciting, or triumphant. The song could also feel bright, warm, or pleasing. Songs in Major generally make us feel good.
major
Listen to this song. What are three adjectives you would use to describe this song in Major?
Next Page
minor
Composers will write a song in a Minor mode if they want the song to sound sad, or sometimes scary. The song could also feel moody, haunting, or spooky.
Listen to this song. What are three adjectives you would use to describe this song in Minor?
Next Page
The new mode we're learning today is Phrygian mode! (Fridge-ee-in)
phrygian
Composers will write songs in Phrygian if they want the song to feel dark, intense, or like the song comes from somewhere far away! While songs in minor may sometimes sound scary, phrygian can often take it to a whole new level!
Listen to this song. What are three adjectives you would use to describe this song in Phrygian?
Back to Lesson Steps
EXAMPLES
Normally at this point we go;
"I don't really know what to write about"
Luckily with modes, there isn't much to write about other than just naming the mode you think a song is, and maybe adding some descriptive adjectives to say why you think it's in that mode!
For this mini-lesson, I will actually NOT be showing you an example of how I would write about modes, because I think you all know exactly what to write about! Instead, I will show you the song that will be part of your assignment, so that you can practice before submitting.
Next Page
listening example
What mode (major, minor, or phrygian) do you think this song is in?
Why do you think that? What emotions do you feel when listening to this song?
Back to Lesson Steps
assignment
Here's what you need to do to get credit for this mini-lesson.
step 1
Think about the name of the NEW mode that we explored in this mini-lesson.
Remember what mode you thought the song in our example was, and what emotions you felt while listening that made you choose that mode.
step 2
Submit the name of our new mode AND the mode you thought the example song was (and why!) into our assignment labelled "DM: Modes Submission." Please write in complete sentences!
step 3
Next Page
TO BE CONTINUED... We'll finish up learning about MODES in next week's virtual lesson!
Send me a Canvas Inbox message if you need help with anything!
Describing Music: Modes
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Transcript
Describing Music
MODES
Next Page
iN BETWEEN OUR VIRTUAL LESSONS...
We will have some "mini" lessons to help us learn more about our newest tool from the previous virtual lesson! You'll learn a little bit more about the tool itself, but more importantly you'll see and hear different ways that tool can be used on a song. Then, you can use what you've learned in your mini-lesson on your next journal entry!
Next Page
Follow each step in order
Click on each box in order to go through the mini-lesson. If you jump around things might get confusing!
1. Definition
2. Listening
3. Examples
4. Assignment
Musical MODES
In our last virtual lesson, we learned that modes are super connected to scales like we learned about earlier this marking period.
In fact, we defined a music mode as; A musical scale, with a specific order of whole and half steps.
We're not going to worry about the exact order of whole and half steps today. Instead, let's dive right into exploring what these different modes sound like!
Next Page
First, I have a question. How many different musical modes do you think exist?
Next Page
There are actually 7 different kinds of musical modes!
DORIAN
IONIAN
LYDIAN
(Fancy word for Major)
MIXO-LYDIAN
AEOLIAN
(Fancy word for Minor)
PHRYGIAN
LOCRIAN
We've already learned about Major and Minor, but don't worry we're not going to have to learn about ALL 5 of the others. But there is one of the five that I'd like to share with you...
Back to Lesson Steps
Listening for MODES
Remember, the order of whole and half steps that make up a mode, give the mode a certain kind of feeling to it. Composers use different kinds of modes to try to make you feel certain emotions while listening to their songs.
Let's remind ourselves of how Major and Minor modes could make us feel when we listen to them. We'll also learn which one of those special modes we'll focus on, and learn about what emotions or feelings we could have while listening to that mode!
Next Page
Composers will write a song in a Major mode if they want the song to sound happy, exciting, or triumphant. The song could also feel bright, warm, or pleasing. Songs in Major generally make us feel good.
major
Listen to this song. What are three adjectives you would use to describe this song in Major?
Next Page
minor
Composers will write a song in a Minor mode if they want the song to sound sad, or sometimes scary. The song could also feel moody, haunting, or spooky.
Listen to this song. What are three adjectives you would use to describe this song in Minor?
Next Page
The new mode we're learning today is Phrygian mode! (Fridge-ee-in)
phrygian
Composers will write songs in Phrygian if they want the song to feel dark, intense, or like the song comes from somewhere far away! While songs in minor may sometimes sound scary, phrygian can often take it to a whole new level!
Listen to this song. What are three adjectives you would use to describe this song in Phrygian?
Back to Lesson Steps
EXAMPLES
Normally at this point we go;
"I don't really know what to write about"
Luckily with modes, there isn't much to write about other than just naming the mode you think a song is, and maybe adding some descriptive adjectives to say why you think it's in that mode!
For this mini-lesson, I will actually NOT be showing you an example of how I would write about modes, because I think you all know exactly what to write about! Instead, I will show you the song that will be part of your assignment, so that you can practice before submitting.
Next Page
listening example
What mode (major, minor, or phrygian) do you think this song is in?
Why do you think that? What emotions do you feel when listening to this song?
Back to Lesson Steps
assignment
Here's what you need to do to get credit for this mini-lesson.
step 1
Think about the name of the NEW mode that we explored in this mini-lesson.
Remember what mode you thought the song in our example was, and what emotions you felt while listening that made you choose that mode.
step 2
Submit the name of our new mode AND the mode you thought the example song was (and why!) into our assignment labelled "DM: Modes Submission." Please write in complete sentences!
step 3
Next Page
TO BE CONTINUED... We'll finish up learning about MODES in next week's virtual lesson!
Send me a Canvas Inbox message if you need help with anything!