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USC JAZZ STUDIES

JAZZ IMPROVISATION I: MUSC219
TTH 9:30-10:45 am | Room 016

JAZZ IMPROVISATION I | JAZZ IMPROVISATION II | JAZZ IMPROVISATION III | JAZZ IMPROVISATION IV

(Syllabus for MUSC219: Improvisation I)
(Transcription Assignment for Improvisation I)

USC JAZZ: COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

HANDOUTS | SCHEDULE | GRADING - COURSE DESCRIPTION | TUNES

HANDOUTS for JAZZ IMPROVISATION I

GENERAL IMPROVISATION MATERIALS | RHYTHM SECTION MATERIALS | BLUES MATERIALS |

MODAL MATERIALS | APPLIED OUTLINES | JAZZ ETUDES

GENERAL IMPROVISATION MATERIALS

  • Practice Tips
  • Dave Liebman's thoughts on JAZZ PRACTICE

    JAZZ LISTENING LIST.
    Some of the hundreds of great jazz CDs in the USC library.
    Assignment: Listen, enjoy, learn.


    JAZZ in the USC Library:
    CD | DVD | Video Cassette

    IMPROVISATION BASICS:
    | Concert | Bass Clef | Bb | Eb |



    IMPROVISATION CRITIQUE FORM
    Some thoughts on evaluating your improvisation.


    Transcription Assignment for Improvisation I

    GET THESE CONVERSATIONAL JAZZ LINES IN YOUR VOCABULARY:

    Apply these lines to blues, and any tune we work on.
    Transpose to appropriate keys.

    CONVERSATIONAL JAZZ LINES IN Bb Concert
    | Concert | Bass Clef | Bb | Eb |

    CONVERSATIONAL JAZZ LINES IN F Concert
    | Concert | Bass Clef | Bb | Eb |

    OUTLINE TRANSFORMATION:
    Simple outlines transformed into more elaborate lines. Apply to all tunes.
    | C | Bb | Eb |

    Outline Practice for ALL Keys

    TAKE ALL of WHO?

    ISLAND TUNE:

    HAVE YOU GOT RHYTHM?

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  • RHYTHM SECTION

    VOICINGS

    BASS LINES

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    BLUES WORK

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    SO WHAT / MAIDEN VOYAGE

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    OUTLINES

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    ETUDES

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    SCHEDULE

    Be prepared to play the melody, chord changes, and improvise over the selected 2-3 tunes per week using outlines, arpeggios, and specific devices discussed in class.

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    Tunes for JAZZ IMPROVISATION I:

    May Include tunes from this list and others TBA:

    All Of Me
    Autumn Leaves
    Big Note Blues
    Birks' Works
    Blue Bossa
    Blue Monk
    Cantelope Island
    Centerpiece
    Chicken, The
    Cold Duck Time
    Doxy
    Fly Me To The Moon
    Groove Merchant, The
    I Got Rhythm (Rhythm Changes)
    Lady Be Good
    Mercy, Mercy. Mercy
    Mr. P. C.
    Now's The Time

    Satin Doll
    Second Line
    So What
    Song For My Father
    Sonnymoon For Two
    St. Thomas
    Sugar
    Summertime
    Sunny
    Take The "A" Train
    Tenor Madness
    The Flintstones (Rhythm Changes)
    Watermelon Man
    When The Saints Go Marchin' In
    Work Song

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    GRADING, COURSE DESCRIPTION and REQUIREMENTS

    See course syllabus: (Syllabus for MUSC219: Improvisation I)

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