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Music 84: Jazz Improvisation
What this course is about:
This course introduces theory and practice of modern jazz improvisation,
from basic harmonic concepts through solo and group performance.
The level is typically beginning through intermediate.
Instructor
Robert Keller 242 Olin (office hours 2-4 TTh, by drop-in, or by appointment), keller@cs.hmc.edu, x 18483
Catalog Description
The art of simultaneously hearing, composing, and performing music.
Chords, scales, chord progressions, and tunes of modern jazz.
Theory, listening, analysis, and group practice in improvisation skills.
1.5 Credit hours, may be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites:
Music-reading ability, ability to play most of the twelve
major scales on an instrument, motivation to play jazz,
permission of the instructor.
Meeting Time
Thurs. 8:00-9:30 p.m., Parsons 1285
Requirements and Grading
Participation and practice 50%, Written work 15%, Quizzes 20%, Performance 15%.
Proficiency levels of participants varies widely. Accordingly, grading is
based on diligence, rather than absolute skill level. You are expected
to practice daily.
Attendance at class is absolutely required.
Required Materials (with play-along CD)
Outline (and Reading in Berg) [and tunes], Fall 2001
In addition to the items listed here, which are keyed to the text, I will
bring in supplementary concepts and tunes on which we will play. We will also
work in some of the tunes from Groovin' High this term.
- Listening suggestions
- Jazz rhythmic style (chapter 1)
- Basic chord structures: intervals, major vs. minor triads, major seventh
chords
- The goal note method (chapter 2, 3)
- Major seventh chords (chapter 4) [Majority]
- Dominant seventh chords (chapter 5) [Dominant Functions]
- Minor seventh chords (chapter 6) [Minor Difficulties]
- 12-bar blues (chapter 7) [Little J Blues]
- Auxiliary tones and chromaticism (chapter 8) [Mellotones, In a Mellow Tone]
- Turnaround progression (chapter 9) [Catch A Caboose, Take the "A" Train]
- Turnaround to IV (chapter 10) [Lacey Lady, Satin Doll]
- Turnarounds to Minor Tonics (chapter 11) [Get Out the Rake, Autumn Leaves,
You Again, There Will Never Be Another You]
- Turnarounds to ii and vi in major keys (chapter 12) [Grapes and Flowers,
The Days of Wine and Roses]
- Diminished seventh chords and scales (chapter 13) [Parts of You,
All of Me]
- Rhythm changes (chapter 14) [Rhythm Changes]
- Tritone substitutions (chapter 15)
- Progressions from I to VI (chapter 16) [Paradoxy, Doxy]
- Final Performance
Other Optional References
- Phil DeGreg, Jazz Keyboard Harmony,
Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Inc.
- Paul F. Berliner, Thinking In Jazz: The Infinite Art of Improvisation,
Univ of Chicago Press, 1994, 883 pages, ISBN 0-226-04381-9.
- Mark Levine, The Jazz Theory Book, Sher Music, 1995, 522 pages,
ISBN 1-883-21704-0.
- Barrie Nettles and Richard Graf, The Chord Scale Theory and Jazz Harmony,
Advance Music, 1997, 184 pages, ISBN 3-89221-056-X.
- Neil Powell, The Language of Jazz, Carcanet Press, 1998, ISBN 1857541642.
- The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2 volumes, 1998.