Bach Chorales and Kitson's Elementary Harmony: A Powerful Duo for Advanced Piano Study

For intermediate and advanced piano students, the journey toward mastery often involves delving deeper into the theoretical underpinnings of music. While many resources exist, the combination of studying Bach Chorales alongside C.H. Kitson's "Elementary Harmony" presents a particularly potent and often overlooked approach. This pairing offers a holistic and practical pathway to developing a profound understanding of harmony, counterpoint, and musical structure, directly enhancing a pianist's interpretative and improvisational skills.

This isn't just dry, 18th-century theory. It's the engine behind music we still hear today. When Paul Simon wrote 'American Tune,' he didn't just borrow the melody of a Bach chorale; he took the entire harmonization (Riemenschneider No. 24), a testament to the enduring emotional power of Bach's voice leading. Understanding why that harmony works so perfectly is the key, and that's where this dual approach comes in.

Unlocking Harmonic Understanding with Kitson

Kitson's "Elementary Harmony" serves as a foundational guide to common-practice harmony, moving beyond mere memorization to impart the logical principles of voice leading, chord progressions, and cadences. For aspiring pianists, engaging with Kitson's exercises offers several significant advantages. Firstly, it provides a robust theoretical foundation, enabling students to grasp the conventions of tonal music and understand the underlying rationale for chord movements and the intricate interplay of melodic lines. Secondly, it enhances aural acuity; through the creation and analysis of harmonic progressions, students hone their ear for individual voices and the overall harmonic flow, a skill crucial for effective sight-reading and improvisation. Finally, even for those without compositional aspirations, the ability to construct and manipulate harmonic structures deepens their understanding of musical construction, ultimately leading to more perceptive and informed performances.

The Practical Application of Bach Chorales

Bach Chorales, with their exquisite four-part writing, serve as the perfect real-world laboratory for applying the theoretical knowledge gained from Kitson. These short, self-contained pieces are masterpieces of voice leading and harmonic clarity. Studying them in conjunction with Kitson offers several distinct advantages:

• Illustrating Kitson's Principles in Practice: Every rule and concept introduced by Kitson can be found beautifully demonstrated within the Chorales. Students can identify inversions, non-chord tones, suspensions, and cadences as they naturally occur in Bach's writing.

  
  

• Developing Independent Voice Leading: Playing and analysing Chorales forces pianists to consider the individual melodic integrity of each of the four voices. This strengthens finger independence, encourages sensitive voicing, and clarifies the contrapuntal texture inherent in much piano repertoire.

  
  

• Cultivating Expressive Phrasing: The clear harmonic rhythm and melodic contours of the Chorales provide a fertile ground for developing expressive phrasing. Students learn to shape lines, balance voices, and bring out the emotional content of simple yet profound music.

  
  

• Preparing for Complex Repertoire: The skills honed through Chorale study—such as recognizing harmonic patterns, understanding voice leading, and achieving clarity of texture—are directly transferable to more complex piano works by Bach himself, as well as composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin. Understanding the "inner voices" of a Mozart sonata or the contrapuntal lines in a Chopin prelude becomes significantly easier.

A Synergistic Approach: Why This is a Wiser Use of Lesson Time

The true power of this method lies in the synergistic relationship between Kitson's theoretical explanations and the practical application offered by Bach's Chorales. Kitson clarifies the "what" and "why" of harmonic concepts, while the Chorales demonstrate the "how" and provide the "experience." To integrate these resources effectively, a structured approach is used. 

Students should first master new harmonic concepts with Kitson, ensuring a solid understanding of the fundamental rules and exercises. This is followed by an analysis of Bach Chorales to identify and understand how these concepts are applied within his compositions. For a deeper understanding, playing the Chorales is crucial, focusing on individual voice leading and grasping the harmonic progressions from a performer's perspective. As an advanced exercise, students compose their own melodies or re-harmonise sections of Chorales, directly applying Kitson's guidelines. This integrated methodology significantly enhances intermediate and advanced piano students' theoretical understanding and practical musicianship, resulting in a more knowledgeable, expressive, and confident pianist, capable of navigating the diverse world of piano literature with a truly comprehensive grasp. 

The question of how to maximize a one-hour weekly lesson often arises. The most effective approach prioritises a deep understanding of music and the development of necessary skills, rather than solely focusing on the accumulation of examination certificates. While it may seem tempting to focus lesson time solely on perfecting exam pieces, this synergistic approach actually accelerates progress. It prioritises fundamental musicianship—a tool that, unlike rote-learned pieces, enhances long-term progress—over mere piece regurgitation.

Progress is not solely about perfecting individual pieces, though this is a component. More importantly, it involves acquiring the fundamental tools required for various musical pursuits, be it performance, composition, pedagogy, research, or simply enjoyment. The desired outcomes in music—knowledge, skills, understanding, ability, confidence, awareness, and consistent practice—are all interconnected. These elements are most effective when coupled with enjoyment, focus, and engagement, which are fostered through quality teaching by professional educators, not through the examination process itself.

Conclusion

In essence, the deliberate integration of Kitson's "Elementary Harmony" with the practical study of Bach Chorales offers a comprehensive and profoundly enriching educational experience for intermediate and advanced piano students. This synergistic approach moves beyond superficial understanding, fostering a deep grasp of harmonic principles, voice leading, and musical structure. By prioritising this fundamental musicianship over a singular focus on examination-driven piece perfection, educators can cultivate well-rounded, perceptive, and confident pianists. This method not only equips students with the essential tools for a diverse range of musical endeavors but also instills a genuine love for and engagement with the art form, ensuring a truly comprehensive and enduring musical education.