Community Music Center
Introduction to Jazz Theory
This is an introduction to some of the basic elements
of jazz, including: chords and chord symbols, lead sheet notation, typical
chord progressions, melodic construction, forms, and improvisation using
scales, modes and other devices. We will divide the eight-weeks
together into three general sections: harmony,
melody and form. Time permitting, the class
will culminate in the composition of a song in the jazz standard style, done in a group-effort approach. Please check this page regularly for
updates to the informational and assignment links. Other documents will be
distributed via email. For submitting homework, emailing a
photo (jpeg, pic, pdf, etc.) is best and probably easiest. Marked homework
will be returned in the same manner. |
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Week |
Topic & Class Materials (subject to change as the class evolves) |
Assignment
Due |
1: July 1 |
(Review of) harmony: 7th
chords, diatonic 7th chords in major/minor keys; the roman numeral system;
lead sheet chord symbols Diatonic 7th chords in major and minor keys Diatonic 7th chords – reference table |
(SONG LINKS) |
2: July 8 |
Diatonic chords and chord progressions *Focusing
on the ii V I progression, or fragments like ii V, or V I |
Identifying and
writing chords I |
3: July 15 |
More with chords: chord extensions and alterations
chord substitutions and fills*,
chord wrap-up *Altering minor 7th chords – making them dominant 7ths *Altering the Imaj7 with a I6 chord *Adding extensions (9th, b9th, #9th), especially to the V
chord *Altering the 5th of the V chord Rainy Day with 9th
chords (first 7 measures) Rainy Day - flat-five substitute (first 7 measures: one original, one altered) |
Identifying chords and progressions in
songs |
4: July 22 |
Melody
I: melodic structure Autumn
Leaves – melody & chords chart Autumn Leaves - annotated chart (melodic analysis) audio: chords &
highlighted melodic skeleton |
Chord alterations and substitutions |
5: July 29 |
Melody II:
more with foreground/background and ornamentation; phrasing; modes* |
|
6: Aug 5 |
Form I: the 32-bar popular/conventional form |
|
7: Aug 12 |
Form
II: other, less-typical forms; modal styles* |
Identifying forms in songs –
find a jazz standard and analyze its form |
8: Aug 26 |
Sharing
compositions/group composition* |
Practice
song, chords only: |
* Time permitting |