Syllabus
Fall Semester 2011
Mr. Tayiib Dauda
(702) 325-0375
Jazz is one of the only original art forms of America. Over the course of this class, the student will learn how to play their instrument in the jazz style and improvise over a jazz progression. No prior jazz knowledge is required to take this course.
Goals:
1. Produce a characteristic sound on you instrument of choice in the jazz style.
2. Be able to understand and follow a chord progression from a jazz lead sheet.
3. Learn the form of, and be able to improvise over, a standard 12-bar blues progression.
a. Memorize the head to a jazz standard (of your choice) and be able to improvise over that chord progression.
Calendar:
Dates: (TBA)
1. Class 1: Evaluate the current abilities of the student (with scales and a few questions about jazz). Learn the form of the 12-bar blues and begin the first steps to improvising over it (playing the roots of each chord, then arpeggios). Pick out the jazz standard that they wish to learn.
2. Class 2: Revisit the 12-bar blues exercises. Listen to a jazz recording of their chosen piece and/or a famous jazz recording that features the same instrument that the student is playing. (Listening is the most crucial component in learning how to play in the jazz style.) Begin learning the head of their chosen jazz standard.
3. Class 3: Revisit the 12-bar blues exercises and begin tweaking them. Introduce jazz articulations and phrasing, (swung 8th notes, etc.), and incorporate that into the 12-bar blues exercises. Listen to the same recording from last class with more attention to how the performer phrases, plays articulations, and swings. Finish learning the head to their chosen jazz standard and incorporate jazz phrasing and articulations.
4. Class 4: Revisit the 12-bar blues exercises with tweaks, jazz articulation, phrasing, and some hard swingin’ 8th notes. Congratulation! You’ve just improvised your first jazz solo. Student gets to choose either to continue playing the 12-bar blues or play their chosen jazz standard.
5. Class 5: Assessment Day- Depending on class 4 the student will play either their chosen piece or the 12-bar blues progression. There will also be a small written test on the form of the 12-bar blues progression.
Materials: I will reserve a room with Smart Music for our lessons. All you need to bring is yourself, your instrument, and a desire to learn some jazz fundamentals.
Assessment: Written test on the form of a standard blues progression.
Playing test on either the 12-bar blues progression or your chosen jazz standard piece.
Policies: Come to each lesson with your instrument and your desire to learn jazz!