School of Music
P.O. Box 26170
UNC Greensboro
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
(336) 334-5789 OFFICE
(336) 334-5497 FAX

e-mail: music@uncg.edu

Improv I

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Current Syllabi for Jazz Courses can be found on the UNCG Blackboard Course Managment System

MILES DAVIS PROGRAM IN JAZZ STUDIES
MUS 321-01Jazz Improvisation 1

Steve Haines, School of Music #343
256-0105
sjhaines@uncg.edu

CLASSES

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10:00-10:50 am, rooms 111/140

ABSENCES

A maximum of two unexcused absences will be allowed. Excess absence will result in a lowered semester grade, of a 'WF', at the discretion of the instructor.

OBJECTIVES

To learn to improvise over modal, blues, and ii-V-I progressions in a way which is idiomatic to the jazz language.

GRADING

Transcriptions- due at the beginning of classes noted below:
(note: all transcriptions must be played in class)

• Louis Armstrong Transcription- Due Mon. Sept. 9th 10%
• Miles Davis Transcription- Due Mon. Oct. 7nd 10%
• Student choice (must be approved)-Due Mon. Nov. 18th 10%

Tests (all melodies and changes must be memorized)

• Melodies: Friday, August 30th 10%
• Modal: Wed. Sept. 25th and Fri. Sept. 27th 10%
  (Maiden Voyage, So What, Milestones)
• Blues: Friday, Oct. 25th 10%
  (Now’s the Time, Eighty One, All Blues, Freddie)

Attendance/Participation, Pop Quizzes 10%

Final Exam (cumulative): Wed. Dec. 4th and Fri. Dec 6th 30%
(Ornithology, Tune Up, Solar)

UNIVERSITY EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS

Failure to return university owned property used in conjunction with or related to this course in a timely manner will result in a grade of "INCOMPLETE", until such property is properly returned.

PHYSICAL CONTACT

Normal instruction in jazz improvisation may involve a certain amount of limited and neutral physical contact between the teacher and the student, when dealing with such topics as breathing, posture, technique, and tension. It is the responsibility of the student who is uncomfortable with this physical contact to immediately inform the teacher of that discomfort.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Optional:

Steinel, Mike. Building a Jazz Vocabulary: A Resource for Learning Jazz Improvisation. Hal Leonard Corporation.

Required (all of these can be found in the campus bookstore):

Davis, Miles. Miles Davis: Kind of Blue (CD). Columbia CK 64935.

Aebersold, Jamey. Volume 3 Playalong Book and Recording Set, “The ii-V-I Progression." Jamey Aebersold Inc. Book and CD set.

Aebersold, Jamey. Volume 6 Playalong Book and Recording Set, Charlie Parker "All Bird." Jamey Aebersold Inc. Book and CD set.

Aebersold, Jamey. Volume 7 Playalong Book and Recording Set, Miles Davis. Jamey Aebersold Inc. Book and CD set.

Aebersold, Jamey. Volume 50 Playalong Book and Recording Set The Magic of Miles. Jamey Aebersold Inc. Book and CD set.

MATERIALS

Staff paper, pencils, notebook

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