Course: Jazz Improvisation 1 (Mus 189/199) 2 units
Class #: 8328
Description: an exploration of the techniques of melodic composition and improvisation based on the scales and chords used in jazz
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor; fundamental music terminology; fundamental music reading and notation; fundamental understanding of intervals, major scales, and key signatures; fundamental instrumental technique-the ability to play all 12 major scales non-stop at a medium tempo.
Days and Times: T, Th 1-1:50
Instructor: Pete Estabrook
Contact information: is withheld here due to spam threat (please go to this page to contact the instructor)
Office Hours: By appointment in a room TBA (As an adjunct, the instructor does not have a office.)
General Considerations:
Each student must be officially registered and enrolled in the ensemble in order to attend class meetings for insurance coverage and security reasons.
Each student, who meets the enrollment requirement, is entitled to printed musical parts (for which they are completely and solely responsible for and required to bring to each meeting) and permitted (and required) to attend weekly class meetings.
Class participation involves: demonstrated verbal and musical participation, musical assignment preparation (as outlined verbally by the instructor during class)-also to possibly include: study and application of scales; chords; licks; II-V patterns; performance ear training; melody, guide tone, or bass part writing; chord progressions; analytical listening to recording models; pre-written solo transcription study, memorization of melodies and forms.
There will be a bi-weekly quiz on the material currently under study (see the class schedule). Quizzes will be worth 20 points each and will include: playing, writing, verbally spelling scales and chords, harmonic recognition, and memorizing melodies and chord progressions. Excessive time required to verbally spell scales and/or incorrect inharmonic note naming is unacceptable. Quizzes are specific to the "unit" being studied during a given 2-week period and are given at the end of a Thursday class meeting.
There will be a cumulative final exam reviewing all the material studied during the course of the semester.The date of the final exam is: Tuesday, December 11th from 2-3:50.
Primary grading for the quizzes and final is based on the points system (90%-A, 80%-B, etc.)
Additional Grading Considerations:
A- exceptional work beyond what is required; work of considerable quantity and quality; complete memorization and assimilation of scales, chords, melodies, and forms; knows where he/she (and everyone else) is at all times while improvising or accompanying; beyond technical considerations; dwelling in the artistic realm; excellent and earnest attitude toward instructor and fellow students; perfect attendance; one missed class during the semester is allowable due to illness;
B- work completed as required with a gracious and supportive attitude; required material is completed with good quality; knows where he/she is a considerable portion of the time; perhaps not perfect mastery or memorization, but shows excellent efforts; puts in more than last minute time on assigned tasks; near perfect attendance; perhaps late a few times; missing no more than 2 classes due to illness;
C- work completed, but not within the time frame specified by the instructor; has the necessary abilities, but does not demonstrate full potential; frequently lost within the form; unable to use the appropriate chord/scale at the appropriate time; last minute efforts are the norm; some attitude difficulties or conflicts; unprepared a few times; possibly late to several class meetings or missing several classes completely; lost or missing parts at 2 classes; missing no more than 3 classes for appropriate reasons;
D- tries, but is barely able to accomplish minimum requirements; attendance and attitude difficulties exist; nearly always lost; unable to apply chord/scale knowledge in tempo; unable to keep up with the pace of the class in general; missing parts more than twice; lost parts more than twice; late more often than on time; missing 4 classes for any reason; repeatedly unprepared; holding up class progress as whole; disruptive or disrespectful attitude demonstrated; talking or playing while the instructor is delivering lecture; playing at inappropriate volume levels;
F- almost no work is accomplished; excessive attendance and attitude problems exist; this grade jeopardizes the student’s ability to repeat the course in future semesters.
Additional Grading Information:
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