Antigua Day 4

Day 4 in Antigua was dedicated to a deep dive into the world of harmony. Our young composers gathered together to explore the intricate relationships between dissonance and consonance, and to investigate how different chord separations can affect the overall feel of the music.

The morning session started with an engaging discussion on the basics of harmony. The students learned about dissonance and consonance—clashing and non-clashing chords—and how these elements create tension and resolution within a piece of music. The tutors illustrated these concepts with examples from various musical genres, showing how composers use dissonance to build suspense and consonance to provide relief.

Next, the students experimented with creating their own harmonic progressions. They worked in small groups, each tasked with composing a short piece that employed both dissonant and consonant chords. This hands-on approach allowed them to hear the immediate impact of their harmonic choices and understand how subtle changes can dramatically alter the mood and emotion of a piece.

The next step was to move the focus to chord separations. Demonstrating how spreading out the notes of a chord—placing them in different octaves or giving each note to a different instrument—can change the texture and feel of the harmony. The students then tried techniques in their compositions, experimenting with various ways to voice their chords.

After a day working on our compositions and integrating newfound skills, the day culminated in a sharing session, where each group presented their compositions. The variety of harmonic textures and the creative use of dissonance and consonance were truly impressive. It was clear that the students had not only grasped the theoretical concepts but also begun to develop their own unique voices.

Adding to the excitement of the day, our team was featured on the national breakfast TV programme, Good Morning Antigua. Key tutors Ellen and Ka Youn, along with Alison Cox, were interviewed, sharing insights about our project and the impact it is having on the young musicians. Our wind duo, Rosemary and Lily, performed a new fanfare written especially for the occasion, showcasing the talent and creativity of our participants.