On Teaching Of Tonality And Modes

Tonality and modes are basic elements of fundamental theories of music. In teaching practice, it would prevent us from learning, appreciating, performing and producing if we take tonality and modes as static instead of systematically dynamic elements; it also would hinder the learners' critical thinking ability development. Therefore in this paper, the author is attempting to explore tonality and modes from the historic and developmental perspective, based on the understanding of the system of tonality and modes, in hope that it will shed some new light on music learning and teaching.Starting with the classifications and definitions and the formation of tonality, this paper gives a thorough review of the studies of tonality and modes in the west, through which their complementary interrelation is discussed and the significant role they play in the music demonstration and developmental history of music is pointed out.The implications driven from this study are:1. Tonality and modes are practical, therefore they should not be studied without the mention of music context;2. Tonality and modes are interrelated, therefore they should not be studied respectively;3. Modes are systematic, and should be studied and employed creatively;4. The studies of modes in the west have a positive effect on modes development in a Chinese context.