Jazz Improvisation/ Undergraduate
Undergraduate Required Courses
JP2500 Jazz Improvisation
MH0101 Jazz History
2 hrs weekly/2 credits
2 hrs weekly/2 credits
Undergraduates will take improvisation for 4 semesters (2 years) of their program. Thefollowing topics will be covered:
The semester covers a broad view of the entire evolution of jazz, stressing its profile as an integral part of American history. Connections with the social, musical, and racial realities of the 20th century are highlighted.
First Year This course provides the students with fundamental concepts needed to compose spontaneously. It consists of improvisational exercises and the application of these exercises on assigned progressions. Scales: Major and minor scales, major and dominant 8 note bop scales, major diatonic modes. Progressions: Each week Major and dominant blues, ii-7 v7 1, ii-7b5 v7 b9b13 1-6/9, and Autumn Leaves will be studied in a new key. Tensions 9 11 and 13 will be studied on the above progressions. The melodic minor modes will also be studied along with the minor and dominant b9b13 bop scales. Students will also be required to learn a new song each week in preparation for yearly juries.
MH0102 Jazz History 2 hrs weekly/2 credits An in-depth examination of what made New Orleans the birthplace of jazz with an emphasis on its identity as a French colony. This leads into the emergence of Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, and King Oliver, all placing the innovations of Louis Armstrong in the proper context. The remainder of the semester deals with subsequent innovations by Duke Ellington, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, and the music of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
MH0103 Jazz History
Second Year
2 hrs weekly/2 credits
This course includes further studies of diatonic modes and parallel modes as well as modal bop scales and diminished scales. Approach notes and arpeggios will be studied on Autumn Leaves. Students will be required to learn Minor Blues and I Got Rhythm chord changes in 12 keys. Chord substitutions on Blues, I Got Rhythm, and Autumn Leaves will also be explored. Students will continue to learn a new song each week. Review of the 60 songs learned in preparation for yearly juries.
Beginning with Lennie Tristano and Charles Mingus, this semester deals with the varied reactions to Parker and Gillespie. Miles Davis and the musicians he encouraged (Coltrane, Evans, Shorter, Hancock) form the main core of the narrative. Also, individuals such as Ornette Coleman, Andrew Hill, and Jaco Pastorius are explored, with the focus on tying their innovations into what is contemporary in jazz.
MH0104 Jazz History 2 hrs weekly/2 credits The semester is divided into three segments: a detailed examination of jazz's greatest drummers (Baby Dodds, Sid Catlett, Chick Webb, Dave Tough, Jo Jones, Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams) and how they made the music's evolution possible; a detour into the fine arts (film, painting) and their common COURSE DE SCRIP TIONS
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