MUJS 2360, Jazz Improvisation I

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

Hamilton@music.unt.edu 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