Resources | Jazz Links | Recommended Listening
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 the twelve major scales on one's primary instrument,
motivation to play jazz, permission of the instructor. Note: Repeating
for credit requires renewal of permission.
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, with some advanced
players also participating. There is a final performance. This course can be
repeated for credit, with permission of the instructor.
Starting 2012, in the spring we will focus on a specific
composer, as we have been doing for quite a few semesters in the past. In the
fall, we will cover various “jam session” tunes, which are part of the
repertoire of most jazz musicians. So the fall will outreach more to beginning
and intermediate players, and the spring will tend to prefer students who have
taken the course the previous fall, or who can demonstrate comparable
abilities.
In previous semesters, celebrated composers have included
Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Thelonious
Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Golson, John Coltrane,
Tom Harrell, Freddie Hubbard, Gerry Mulligan, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, and
Dexter Gordon.
Professor
Bob
Keller B165 Olin (office
hours 4:15-5:45 MTW, by drop-in, or by appointment), keller@cs.hmc.edu, x 18483
Wed. 8:30-10:00 p.m., B143 Jacobs Hall, HMC Campus
Participation and practice 60%, Written work 20%, Final
Performance 20%. The proficiency level of participants generally varies widely.
Accordingly, grading is based on diligence, rather than absolute
performance level.
You
are expected to practice daily. It
will require self-motivation and effort. If you have no intention of exerting
yourself, please don't sign up for this class. It is not
intended as a casual jam for those who don't practice between meetings.
Please
note: Attendance at class is
absolutely required. If you need to be excused, please
ask in advance, because unexcused absences will affect your grade adversely.
·
The
Real Easy Book, Volume 1, by Stanford Jazz Workshop. This is a fakebook (aka
“real book”) covering some, but not all of the tunes we will play. It also includes voicing information, bass lines, drum patterns, etc. Some of the tunes are not available
elsewhere.
·
Jazz
Improvisation: The Goal Note Approach, by Shelton Berg. This is a jazz
theory book with musical examples and a play-along CD for the examples. In my
opinion, it is the best introductory theory book available.
Books are available from http://www.jazzbooks.com/,
and from their respective publishers.
We will also use the free Impro-Visor
software tool from HMC. You will need access to a personal computer to download
and use this software.
See the Resources
link at the top of the page.
|
Listening
suggestions Jazz
rhythmic style Intervals,
Inversions Dominant
Chords: 7, 9, 13 Tonal
Inventory for a Scale 3-note
voicings Voice-Leading Bluesy
Tunes 12-bar
Blues Form Playing
Eighth-Note Lines Cycle
of fifths Major
and minor chord structures:
Dominant
and other chord structures:
|
Resolution of dissonant intervals Use
of leading tones Scales
Keyboard
voicings
Solo
analysis Solo
construction {Minor,
Minor} ii-V-I progressions Tritone substitutions Secondary
dominants |
o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEuXFnOilBE
(original CD track)