MUSC 457 - Jazz Studies

3 Credits

(Fall, Spring)
Prerequisite(s): MUSC 102 and 156. Both a practical and theoretical course, Jazz Studies will include a detailed study of chord/scale relationships, ear training modes, scales and chords, transcription exercises, basic blues forms and AABA forms, re-harmonization and scale theory of the major modes, whole tone and diminished scale. Aural and theoretical analysis of transcribed solos is included and students will also be expected to memorize and improvise over a number of jazz standards, including blues, modal compositions and ii-V7-I tunes, using these theoretical concepts. The student will also be given a basic knowledge of Jazz history from 1945 to the present with required listening and reading assignments outside of class. Areas covered include stylistic analysis of contemporary jazz, major representative artists and the influence of preceding styles on subsequent ones.