Course Description

Today’s class, There Are No Wrong Chords in Music, is presented by pianist, drummer, and vocalist, Samuel Prather. After telling us a little bit about himself, Samuel will explore common chord progressions and discuss how they are used to create different musical moods.

Featured Artist

Samuel Prather

Samuel Prather is an exciting and multifaceted pianist, drummer, and vocalist equally skilled in soul, jazz, funk, neo-soul, Latin and R&B. He has shared the stage with Hugh Masekela, Cyrus Chestnut, Raul Midon, and Thundercat, to name a few. He currently leads his own critically acclaimed ensemble, Groove Orchestra (G.O!). G.O! combines danceable grooves with the harmonic elements of jazz in a unique, high-energy package that has been featured at the DC Funk Parade, DC Jazz Fest, and the Howard Theater.In addition to winning a Student Downbeat Award in 2012 and being named DC’s Best Pianist in 2017, Samuel’s debut album with G.O! was ranked 2014’s #2 Album of the Year by CapitalBop.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome

    • Introduction to There Are No Wrong Chords in Music
  • 2

    Expert Introduction

    • Meet Samuel Prather!
  • 3

    Overview

    • What Are the Most Common Types of Chords?
  • 4

    Lesson: Part #1

    • How to Use Chords to Tell a Story
  • 5

    Lesson: Part #2

    • Diving into the Emotional and Musical Context
  • 6

    Conclusion

    • Final Thoughts from Samuel
  • 7

    Quiz

    • What Did You Learn?