Diatonicism, Chromaticism, Multiculturalism, Jazz, Whole Tonality and Twelve Tonality: these are the diverse challenges and sophisticated systems of 21st Century Tonality. From the ancient to the mystical, from the primitive to the ethereal, music transcends time. Greater knowledge and axis to the craft of composition enables the mastery of technique. From Mozart to the blues, ethnic music to chromaticism, whole tonality to twelve tonality, emphasis has been on scale exercised to build strong technique. Compositionally a scale is just a series of half steps and whole steps constructed in sequential patterns that can be woven into infinite possibilities. Scale power is the key to dexterity.

Music is the geometry of the universe. 2400 years ago, Pythagoras, the father of geometry and acoustics, also music theorist, set tone into intervals and by setting a definite mode began the science of acoustics. The ancient Greeks used geometry to try and solve the riddles and mysteries of life. The riddle of good ear training and memorization of music can be found in the interval. Explore intervals, not just ascending and descending, but in a retrograde sequence. The chromatic intervals are intervals in their purest form. They create a perfect parallel to geometry. Repetition of these geometric sequences are a powerful contribution to ear training, memorization and embouchure. Infinte syncopation, rhythmic displacement, odd meter bridge the geometry of music.We are entering a time of vast chord structures in the 21st century. For the composer it is an age to develop more vertical (harmonic) in addition to horizontal (melodic) thinking. This is a time of the most sophisticated chord structures. The chromatic diminished blues movement that is taking place in jazz, the contemporary minor 7 (b5) and the extended chords (b9), (#11), (13#11) are some of the major influences of the 21st century. Utilization of 21st century chord structures and chord progressions are designed to bridge technical exercises into geometric thinking for the 21st century composer.

- Rubyana

  The American Piper