Jazz Improvisation Unit 01

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YAKIMA VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE MUS 142.02 Jazz
Improvisation Fall 2008 Lenny Price Unit 01
Lenny Price MUS 142.02 Jazz Improvisation Fall
2008 Week 1
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Review Syllabus Course Schedule
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Instructor

• Lenny Price
• Kendall 120
• [phone]
• lenny_at_lennyprice.com
• Office By appointment
• Class 410-500pm MW

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Required Text Reeves, Scott D. Creative Jazz
Improvisation. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006.
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Supplementary Text (vocalists only) Stoloff,
Bob. Scat! Vocal Improvisation Techniques. Brookly
n, NY Gerard and Sarzin Publishing Company, 1996.
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Description

• Techniques and methods for the beginning to
  intermediate level jazz improvisation student.
• Enrollment by permission of instructor.
• Two hours coaching per week plus all scheduled
  rehearsals and performances. May be repeated for
  credit.

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Course Objectives
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Objective 1

• Perform assigned exercises and literature with
  expression and technical accuracy

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Objective 2

• Perform an appropriate part in a jazz combo with
  one student on a part, demonstrating
  well-developed ensemble skills

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Objective 3

• Demonstrate performance proficiency on primary
  instrument with jazz scales and chords (arpeggios)

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Objective 4

• Memorize at least four (4) jazz melodies or
  heads

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Objective 5

• Improvise original melodies over chord
  progressions of assigned literature, each in a
  consistent style, meter, and tonality

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Objective 6

• Demonstrate intensity building technique on
  improvised solos

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Requirements

• Attend class regularly others are depending on
  your input to the class.
• ALWAYS have a pencil.
• All assignments should be completed prior to the
  beginning of class on the day that they are due.
  Unless a prior arrangement has been agreed upon,
  late work will receive a failing grade.
• Written assignments should be neatly copied using
  correct notational techniques.

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Grading

• In-Class Playing Assignments 35
• Quizzes 20
• Midterm Comprehensive Playing Test 1 20
• Final Comprehensive Playing Test 2 25

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Absences / Tardies

• 3 unexcused tardies 1 excused absence
• 3 unexcused absences final grade being lowered
  one full grade
• Excused absences only for health (doctors note
  required) or emergencies (personal or family)

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Evaluation

• Evaluation is constant throughout the term
• Records of progress will be based upon completion
  of written jazz theory assignments, assigned
  listening, and performance of assigned exercises
  and tunes

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Playing Tests
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Playing Tests

• These tests will occur two times during the
  course of the quarter and are cumulative
• The midterm exam and playing test 1 covers all
  material covered prior to Week 5, whereas the
  final exam and playing test 2 are comprehensive
  with an emphasis on material covered after Week 5
• These tests are mandatory and will be
  administered in Kendall 120 during the regular
  class time
• The next slides will specify skills to be tested

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Playing TestsMelodic Exercises

• Students will be asked to perform one (1) melodic
  fragment in all 12 keys chosen from exercised
  covered prior to the examination
• You will be graded on intonation and technical
  accuracy
• Pianists will be expected to play the line with
  both hands (two octaves apart)

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Playing TestsImprovising on Jazz Compositions

• Students will be asked to perform the melody
  (from memory is desired) and improvise two
  choruses for tunes covered prior to the
  examination
• You will be graded on intonation and
  effectiveness of improvisation (ideas, style,
  meter, and tonality)

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Playing TestsTranscribed Solo

• Students will be asked to perform one (1)
  predetermined transcribed solo from the text
• You will be graded on intonation and technical
  accuracy
• Pianists have the option of playing the melodic
  line with both hands (two octaves apart) or
  comping chords with the left hand while playing
  the melody with the right

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Playing TestsPerformance Standards

• Grading for playing tests will follow the
  guidelines of the YVCC Jazz Jury Rubric

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Course Schedule
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Course Schedule

• Sep 22, 24
• Introduction, Practicing Jazz, Major
• Sep 29, Oct 1
• Take Home Assignment
• Oct 6, 8
• Major
• Oct 13, 15
• Mixolydian
• Oct 20, 22
• Mixolydian
• Oct 27, 29
• Review Midterm Playing Test 1

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Course Schedule

• Nov 3, 5
• Dorian Minor
• Nov 10, 12
• Dorian Minor
• Nov 17
• Blues without Substitutions
• Nov 24
• Blues without Substitutions
• Dec 1, 3
• Review
• December 8-10
• Final Exam Playing Test 2

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Introduction
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Introduction

• The purpose of this course is to develop jazz
  improvisation skills. The ONLY way to
  successfully achieve the goals is daily practice
  using the following method
• Learn and understand the theory
• Learn the feel of the skill being mastered
• Learn the information by hearing (aural
  recognition)

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Practicing Jazz
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Practicing Jazz 1Rhythm

• Internalizing the rhythmic nature of the music

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Practicing Jazz 2Jazz Theory

• Understanding jazz theory (forms, harmonic
  progressions, scale/chord relationships)

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Practicing Jazz 3Technical Proficiency

• Practicing scales, arpeggios, patterns, and
  phrases derived from the vocabulary of jazz

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Practicing Jazz 4Ear Training

• Learning to hear to the vocabulary of jazz and
  training the body to play those sounds on your
  instrument in any key or tempo

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Practicing Jazz 5Transcription

• Transcribing improvised solos by the masters

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Practicing Jazz 6Tunes

• Memorizing jazz compositions and standard
  repertoire

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Practicing Jazz 7Playing With Others

• Listening to and responding to the other
  musicians with whom you are playing

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Practicing Jazz 8Connecting Your Mind to the
Music

• Becoming attuned to the inner workings of the
  mind, the relationship between your inner self
  and the music you create, and playing
  spontaneously without undue preparation

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Introduction to Major Scales
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Major Scale Construction

• The major scale, also known as the ionian mode,
  consists of the ascending pattern
• whole step, whole step, half step, whole step,
  whole step, whole step, half step

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Next Class

• Major Scales and Chords

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Reference

• Berg, Shelton. Jazz Improvisation The Goal-Note
  Method. 2nd ed. Delevan, NY Kendor Music, 1998.
• Reeves, Scott D. Creative Jazz Improvisation. 4th
  ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ Pearson Prentice
  Hall, 2006.

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