MUS 117 - Jazz Theory I

1. Recognize and be able to write various jazz scales, and demonstrate an understanding of their relationships to jazz harmony.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of blues progressions and ii-V-I progressions in standard musical notation and at the piano or keyboard.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of idiomatic rhythmic patterns.

4. Demonstrate the ability to accurately notate a jazz standard for the rhythm section.

5. Demonstrate an understanding of jazz chord nomenclature.

6. Explain and demonstrate basic reharmonization techniques.

7. Notate and demonstrate jazz rhythm changes.

8. Construct jazz bass lines.

9. Know and use active listening skills. 

10. Make connections between academic learning at GRCC and the knowledge and skills necessary for careers of interest. 

II. Basic blues progression

A. 3^rd and 7^th right-hand voicings

B. Quarter-note walking bass line

III. Piano voicing for ii-V-I progressions

A. Two and four-note right-hand voicings

IV. Idiomatic rhythmic patterns

V. Jazz scales

A. Diatonic modes

B. Blues scale

C. Bebop scale

D. Diminished scale

VI. Basic reharmonization techniques

VII. Rhythm changes form and progression

A. Original Gershwin song

B. Charlie Parker contrafact song

VIII. Rhythm section notation

Music Listening:  5-20%

One-on-one keyboard instruction:  10-25%

Individualized instruction:  5-15%