MUJS 2360.001 and 002 • Jazz Improvisation I
COURSE SYLLABUS
Class Meeting Times: M/W 2:00-2:50 and T/Th 3:00-3:50 in room 262
Instructor: Fred Hamilton, Office #277, 565-3236
Course Prerequisites: Students must have earned "A" or "B" in MUJS 1360, 1361, 1370, 1371 and passed an audition with Mike Steinel.
Continuation: In order to proceed to the next level of improvisation (MUJS 2370) students must receive a final class grade of "A" or "B".
Attendance Policy: Attendance is required at all class sessions.
Circumstances do arise, so three unexcused absences during the semester will be allowed. Each subsequent absence will reduce the semester grade by a half letter. Repeated tardiness will also affect the grade. Be on time and ready to play.
Recommended Texts and Materials
Building a Jazz Vocabulary, Mike Steinel
Jazz Improvisation: A Pocket Guide, new by Dan Haerle
Required Materials
Listening CD, available from Darla in the Jazz Studies Office, $2.50
Notebook for handouts, include blank paper for notes
Pencil
Metronome
Criteria for Semester Grade:
Five Playing Evaluations, which will be recorded and critiqued (60%)
Three Transcription performances with the recording (30%)
Two Skill Tests (10%)
Required Tunes
Blues:
Jumpin' with Symphony Sid, from The Definitive Lester Young
(Ken Burns issue) Lester Young, t.s.; Sadik Hakim,p.; Fred Lacey, g.; Rodney Richardson, b.; Lyndell Marshall, d.
Sonnymoon for Two, from A Night at the Village Vanguard
Sonny Rollins, t.s.; Wilbur Ware, b.; Elvin Jones, d.
Pent Up House: Sonny Rollins, from Plus Four
Sonny Rollins, t.s.; Clifford Brown, t.; Richie Powell, p.; b.; Max Roach, d
Rhythm Changes:
Lester Leaps In, from The Definitive Lester Young (Ken Burns)
Lester Young, t.s.; Buck Clayton, t.; Dicky Wells, bone; Count
Basie, p.; Freddie Green, g.; Walter Page, b.;
Jo Jones, d.
Rhythm-A-Ning, Thelonious Monk, Criss Cross
Charlie Rouse, t.s.; John Ore, b.; Frankie Dunlop, d
Satin Doll:
Dexter Gordon, from Billie's Bounce
Dexter Gordon, t.s.; Tete Montoliu, p.;
Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, b; Alex Riel, d
J.J. Johnson, from J.J. Johnson the Trombone Master (collection) the original album is A Touch of Satin on Columbia
J.J. Johnson, trom; Victor Feldman, p.; Sam Jones, b.;
Louis Hayes, d.
There Will Never be Another You:
Hank Mobley, from The Jazz Message of Hank Mobley
Hank Mobley, t.s.; Donald Byrd, t; Ronnie Ball,p;
Doug Watkins, b; Kenny Clarke, d
Woody Shaw from Solid
Woody Shaw, t.; Kenny Garrett, a.s.; Kenny Barron, p;
Neil Swainson, b; Victor Jones, d
Transcriptions- three transcription projects, performed, notated and analyzed
1. Blues- Complete Symphony Sid and first three choruses of Sonny Rollins
2. Rhythm Changes- Choice of: Lester Young on Lester Leaps In or
Charlie Rouse on Rhythm-A-Ning (pianists may choose Monk)
3. Satin Doll or There Will Never be Another You - Your choice of 1) either all of
the J.J. Johnson recording including in and out heads and a minimum of first two choruses of Dexter Gordon's Solo with the in head or 2) Hank Mobley and Donald Byrd (pianists may choose Ronnie Ball and one horn solo) or Woody Shaw and Kenny Garrett (pianists may choose Kenny Barron and one horn solo) on There Will Never be Another You
Americans with Disabilities Act
The College of Music complies with the ADA in making reasonable
accomodation for qualified students with disability.
If you have an established disability as defined in the ADA and would like to request accommodation, please see me as soon as possible
Students must be present on evaluation and transcription days unless doctor's excuse is presented. Otherwise a grade of 0 will be given (no makeups)
M/T W/Th
Week 1 No Class Concepts, bring instruments
Week 2 Mon. No Class (MLK)
Triads and Sevenths
Ionian and Lydian, (passing
tones, encircle, approach)
Blues in C amd F
Symphony Sid, Dorian and
Mixolydian (passing tones,
encircle, approach)
Week 3 Blues in Bb
Sonnymoon for Two Rhythmic
figures and time:
Hemiola, sequencing ideas
Pentatonics and sideslipping
Week 4 Transcription #1
Blues
Evaluation #1
Blues
Week 5 Skill Test #1- Scale and arpeggio
Pent Up House changes
Pent Up House
Exercise using Ninths
Week 6 Melodic Minor (Super Locrian),
Tri-tone subs (triads) for
dominant
Ornamenting the 8th note line,
Targeting Chord Tones
Week 7 Pent Up House Evaluation #2
Pent Up House
Week 8 Rhythm Changes
Lester Leaps In
Transcription #2
Rhythm Changes
Week 9 Spring Break
Week 10 Rhythm-a-ning Harmonic minor
or major related to V7b9,
diminished chord and scale-turn
around ideas
Skill Test #2-Target thirds in
Rhythm Change Bridge Cycle
(ii-V)
Free Improvisation Exercise
tension and release to harmony, form awareness
Week 11 Evaluation #3
Rhythm Changes
Satin Doll
Week 12 Satin Doll Harmonic minor for minor ii-V as
a resolution to minor or minor7
Week 13 Evaluation #4
Satin Doll
Another You
Melodic Minor (Lydian
Dominant) for 7#11, maj triad
from the second
Week 14 Free Improvisation on the form of
Another You
Week 15 Evaluation #5
Another You
Transcription #3
Satin Doll or Another You