GMI is offering the following courses as electives:
1) Instrumental Lessons
In addition to private instrumental lessons we are introducing new courses which are style specific. Students get to explore different genres of music at a much deeper level, for example Drums 202 (Jazz/Afro-Cuban/World-
2) Contemporary Music Theory (Level 1-6)
The study of harmony involves chords and their construction, chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. In the initial stage, we work on the getting a good foundation of the fundamental principles like intervals, scales, keys, triads, seventh chords, tensions and diatonic harmony. Then we move on to more advanced concepts like secondary dominants, minor key harmony, modal interchange, modulation and tritone substitution. A lot of emphasis will be on the practical application of these concepts by looking at popular songs in the rock, blues, RnB and pop genres, as well as jazz standards and modern jazz styles.
3) Musicians Ear Training (Level 1-6)
Ear training or aural skills is a skill by which musicians learn to identify, solely by hearing, pitches, intervals, melody, chords, rhythms, and other basic elements of music. Ear-training is typically a component of formal musical training. These classes will strengthen the studentʼs sense of pitch and rhythmic interpretation.
4) Ensembles
Ensembles will offer musicians to be a part of a live band. Ensembles of different genres (Blues, Rock, Jazz, RnB etc) will be formed from the pool of interested students. This will help in development of arrangement skills and musicianship. Ensembles also provide musicians a good opportunity to get out of their comfort zones and push their boundaries. We will also have a final recital for all ensembles at the end of the semester.
5) Introduction to Indian Classical Music
This course offers the introduction into Indian Classical where students will be made familiar with the concepts of Alankar, Shruti, Chhota and Bada Khayal etc.This might be an ideal course for western instrumentalists who can apply these concepts into more contemporary settings. The course will be taught by Suhail Yusuf Khan (Advaita)
6) Rhythmic Ear Training (Konnakol)
Rhythmic ear training mainly focuses on developing the concept of time and pulse. Students are introduced to South- Indian Rhythmic Solfege which is popular known as the art of Konnakol. Using the Solkattu syllables, concept of Tala and contemporary rhythmic exercises the students solidifies and internalizes various time signatures, sub-divisions and note groupings.
Please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information regarding the details of these courses.
