Piano Week 16: Gospel passing chords

Weekly Focus

Week 16 expands gospel language with passing movement into plagal and suspended resolutions.

Success this week means you can use passing chords to lead into cadences that feel intentional, rhythmic, and not overfilled.

Repertoire & Chord Map

Primary song is Fly Me to the Moon, with Amazing Grace as the gospel cadence lab. Keep passing moves short and functional.

Core passing-cadence loop:

I | ii | iii | IV I | IV/I | Isus | I

Daily map task: place passing motion before phrase endings only, then resolve into plagal/sus cadence cleanly.

Supplementary Listening & Ear Training (Required)

Use this track as the ear-training backbone for “Gospel passing chords”, then transfer what you hear to piano the same day.

Weekly listening pick:

• There Will Never Be Another You — Chet Baker

Why this track now: It highlights functional motion through multiple key areas, which matches Week 16’s goals.

Ear tasks (10–15 min, at least 3 sessions this week):

1. Listen once without the instrument and name the key center by ear (major/minor/modal). Then verify the key at piano.
2. Find one cadence or arrival point, then play: root + shell ii-V-I (or closest functional equivalent) in that key.
3. Lift a short 4–8 bar fragment by ear, play it slowly, and record ~30s so you can compare your hearing vs. the recording.

Extra challenge (optional): transpose your lifted fragment to the weekly priority ladder when possible (F → Eb → G → Bb → C).

End-of-Week Reflection

Did your passing chords sound like guidance into cadences or like added clutter? Keep one passing pattern that consistently works and carry one weak cadence into Week 17.