Course overview
In this course students will begin to develop the fundamental skills that provide the foundation for a career in jazz. Students will study tunes on the first year tunes list which at this point focuses on the blues, modal tunes and simple traditional jazz numbers. Students will analyse solos performed by the greats on some of these tunes, explore relevant chords and scales, learn important rhythmic patterns, create simple bass lines, and explore simple reharmonisation concepts. Students will also develop aural skills through interval recognition, rhythmic dictation, chord and scale recognition. One of the weekly sessions will be spent developing basic keyboard skills so the students can more easily grasp the concepts explored. Students will learn to play the relevant scales (one octave), simple jazz voicings and simple bass lines on the piano
Course learning outcomes
- Develop awareness and general knowledge of the fundamental harmonic devices that underpin the jazz language (including scales, modes, chords and common chord progressions).
- Develop practical skills on instrument/voice to execute jazz language suited to the course “Tunes List”.
- Develop awareness and control of rhythmic devices and articulation common in jazz styles.
- Develop awareness of the roots of the music as a Black American art form and its historical context as it relates to the evolution of the harmony and rhythm of jazz.
- Develop skills in creative jazz soloing and group interplay.
- Develop piano skills as a tool for understanding harmony.
- Develop critical thinking and problem solving through the composition of original solo material.
- Develop skills through improvisational exercises in groups.
- Develop understanding of the jazz ensemble and how the various roles interact.