<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="font-size: 20px; ">Some comments to Nicolas's important questions:</div><div style="font-size: 20px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 20px; ">(1) Where I teach, the tuition in the writing in historical styles is predominantly based on the analysis and emulation of "real music." The interaction of analysis and writing is, to my experience, extremely fruitful for both aspects.</div><div style="font-size: 20px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 20px; ">(2) During the first year, however, two classic textbooks are used: Aldwell and Schachter's Harmony and Voice Leading, and Jeppesen's Counterpoint. Both provide rule-based exercises, but are in close relationship with "real music." Witness A&S's numerous "real music" examples and Jeppesen's expertise on Palestrina. </div><div style="font-size: 20px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 20px; ">(3) The beneficiality of species counterpoint á la Jeppesen is not, however, just that it provides an introduction to Renessaince "real music." As Nicolas notes, the relationship between strict style (species counterpoint) and free style is historically and analytcally significant. Moreover, species counterpoint provides a sufficiently simple environment for the beginning students to develop their imagination, hearing, disciplined working methods, and assessment of aesthetic value.</div><div style="font-size: 20px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 20px; ">(4) Finally, a note about the role of statistical studies of chord usage as related to textbook rules. While such studies are certainly interesting, we should not lose sight of the fact that the rarity of a certain phenomenon does not imply that it is insignificant, as if all rare events were just composer's slips. It can as well be that the effects created by the rare incidents are all the more noticeable and thus significant because of their rarity.</div><div style="font-size: 20px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 20px; ">Olli Väisälä</div><div style="font-size: 20px; ">Sibelius Academy</div><div style="font-size: 20px; "><a href="mailto:ovaisala@siba.fi">ovaisala@siba.fi</a></div></body></html>