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Jazz Improvisation
Class Schedule
The instructor reserves the right
to alter this schedule verbally during class: (please ask if you
have any questions about the schedule or quizzes)
- Unit #1-Review of major scales and
major seventh chords; guide tones; improvisation with
Aebersold tracks (weeks 1 and 2)*
- Unit #2-Study of the Blues; mixolydian
scales and dominant 7th chords; blues tunes; V-I
scales/chords (weeks 2 and 3)
- Unit #3-Modal tunes; dorian scales and
minor 7th chords; II-V scales/chords; tunes with II-V's
(weeks 4 and 5)
- More modal tunes; lydian dominant
scales and dominant 7(b5) chords; II-V licks; tunes with
secondary dominants and II-V's (weeks 6 and 7)
- Unit #4-5th mode of harmonic minor
scales and dominant 7th(#5) chords; V-I scales/chords in
minor; tunes with major II-V's (weeks 8 and 9)
- Unit #5-Locrian scales and the minor
7th(b5) chords; minor II-V scales/chords; tunes with
minor II-V's (weeks 10 and 11)
- Unit #6-Melodic minor scales and minor
6th chords; minor II-V licks (weeks 12 and 13)**
*each unit (2 week period) is concluded
with a quiz (at the end of a Thursday class meeting)-see the
syllabus for detalis
**the semester is concluded
with a cumlitive final exam covering the material for the entire
semester-see the syllabus for details: the date for the final
exam is Tuesday, December 11th from 2-3:50.
Daily Activities
- Scale Drill (verbally spell; play as a
group)
- Chord Drill (verbally spell; play as a
group)
- Free playing within a scale (using a
difficult key from the scale under study)
- Melodic Performance Ear Training (call
and response style from the scale under study)
- Harmonic Recognition (of the chord
under study)
- II-V chords/scales/licks (in 12
keys-play as a group)
- Transcription Performance (with
recordings and written solos as a group-sing and play)
- Tune Study (chords/scale/guide tone
application, individual improvisation, solo concept
development)