This guided multimedia tutorial provides interactive instruction in the recognition and use of secondary dominants. The site is divided into three parts. The first part titled "1. What is a secondary dominant?" provides an explaination and Macromedia Flash Player examples of secondary dominants. This section also includes a cursory explaination of secondary diminished seventh chords. Comparison examples of diatonic progressions are also included (e.g., ii-V-I versus V/V-V-I progressions.) The second section is titled "Musical examples" and provides two excerpts from the classical literature (Beethoven - Romanze and Tchaikovsky-Morning Prayer) that use secondary domininants. This section includes an interactive quiz that asks the user to identify the type of secondary dominant in use in the excerpts. The last section is titled "Practical use," this section provides additional examples of progressions that use secondary dominants. Each section in this site includes audio so that the user is able to hear the example or excerpt under discussion.
Type of Material:
This site is multimedia instructional package.
Recommended Uses:
This site would be useful in the classroom in providing an introduction and examples of secondary dominants to students. The site would also be useful as a self-study assignment for advanced first year harmony students.
Technical Requirements:
This site requires a standard browser with Javascript capability and a Macromedia Flash Player to operate.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The major learning goals of this site are for the user to understand the basic concept of secondary dominants and to identify and hear them in a progression.
Target Student Population:
This site is directed at first and second year undergraduate music theory students. The site is primarily directed at first year students who are approaching chromatic harmony for the first time but could also be used by second year students as a review of the basic concept of secondary dominants. This site may also be appropriate for advanced high school students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Students should have an understanding of diatonic harmony in order to understand the concepts presented in this site. Students need know how to download Macromedia Flash Player program to operate this site.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The information and explainations in this site are simplified but accurate. The language is clear, the examples are excellent and the site is presented in English and Spanish.
Concerns:
The introduction of secondary dominants (i.e, chromatic harmony) typically represents a higher level of complexity to first year music theory students. The explainations in this site would require further explaination in the classroom for most students. The figured bass in the examples is not specific in identifying major, minor or diminished chord qualities this too would also requiring further explaination in the classroom.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The strengths of this site are its combination of explaination of concept, notated musical example, audio example and interactive chord identification exercises.
Concerns:
None.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
This site is easy to use.
Concerns:
Students who are unfamiliar with basic online skills may need instruction on downloading Macromedia Flash Player.
Other Issues and Comments:
None.
Creative Commons:
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