Ronnie Sanders, D.M.A. (ABD)
AP Music Theory
Memorization of Triads:
Have students memorize three sets of triads EACH WEEK in this order:
Week 1
C - E - G
G - B - D
D - F# - A
Week 2 (begin with previous memorization):
C - E - G
G - B - D
D - F# - A [THEN ADD]
A - C# - E
E - G# - B
B - D# - F#
Week 3 (begin with previous memorization):
C - E - G
G - B - D
D - F# - A
A - C# - E
E - G# - B
B - D# - F#
[THEN ADD]
F# - A# - C#
C# - E# - G#
G# - B# - D#
After this set of triads, they "start over" beginning with Cb. Add triads to the list of memorization after the following triads are memorized:
Week 4 [LEARN THESE NEW TRIADS]
Cb - Eb - Gb
Gb - Bb - Db
Db - F - Ab
[THEN ADD TRIADS PREVIOUSLY MEMORIZED]
C - E - G
G - B - D
D - F# - A
A - C# - E
E - G# - B
B - D# - F#
F# - A# - C#
C# - E# - G#
G# - B# - D#
Week 5 [BEGIN WITH PREVIOUS WEEKS NEW TRIADS]
Cb - Eb - Gb
Gb - Bb - Db
Db - F - Ab
[THEN ADD THESE FOUR NEW TRIADS TO MEMORIZE]
Ab - C - Eb
Eb - G - Bb
Bb - D - F
F - A - C
[THEN ADD PREVIOUS TRIADS MEMORIZED]
From Week 6 on - have them recite the triads daily - after they are memorized, they should recite them in this order:
Cb - Eb - Gb
Gb - Bb - Db
Db - F - Ab
Ab - C - Eb
Eb - G - Bb
Bb - D - F
F - A - C
C - E - G
G - B - D
D - F# - A
A- C# - E
E - G# - B
B - D# - F#
F# - A# - C#
C# - E# - G#
G# - B# - D#
Creative Redundency is they key - Every day the students recite their triads.
