Aaron Good

Abstract

Educators have many systems to help students understand rhythms, fingerings, note
names, phrasing, and dynamics. Systems for helping students understand harmonic
relationships are largely absent from school band rooms. The established standard has
teachers using pianos or electronic tuners while teaching unison relationships. While this is
important, the natural extension is teaching students what interval relationships sound like
when they are in tune. Young musicians are ready to learn about intonation when they
achieve a steady sound. Other music education settings can provide a wealth of material we
can use to help our student better understand harmonic intonation. In these settings, educators
teach harmonic relationships based on harmonic function inside the tonality of music. These
pure interval relationships are audibly evident in consonant intervals when they produce
resultant tones. Resultant tones can help young musicians learn how to utilize the intonation
flexibility of their instruments to pursue pure harmony.… (mehr)