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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
MUSI D009C
Course Title (CB02)
Jazz Piano III
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Development of the ability to play advanced jazz piano arrangements from lead sheets in a variety of jazz styles and settings using knowledge of jazz harmony, jazz piano techniques, and improvisational skills. Improvisational skill on the piano is developed through the application of basic to advanced scales determined through the use of jazz theory and harmonic analysis, and the application of idiomatic phrases.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
DA - Class Applied Performance - Jazz and Non-Western

Course Justification

This course is accepted transferable to CSU and UC, particularly for Jazz Studies music majors. The course belongs on the AA degree in Music. More advanced improvisational skills are needed for students in most musical styles within the music department.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Formerly Statement
(Formerly MUSI D069C.)

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
1.5
Maximum Credit Units
1.5

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours1.02.0
Laboratory Hours2.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
12.0
Laboratory
24.0
Total
36.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
24.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
24.0

Prerequisite(s)

MUSI D009B or by instructor consent

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D261. and ESL D265., or ESL D461. and ESL D465., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and demonstration

Discussion of assigned listening

Discussion of arranging options in class

Ear training exercise-chord and melody recognition

Supervised practice

Assignments

  1. Working from lead sheets provided in class, practice and perform original solo piano, jazz piano trio, or solo accompaniment of jazz tunes on the piano, applying the elements of jazz style, jazz harmony, jazz piano arranging techniques, reharmonization, and jazz improvisation.
  2. Practice playing the tritone substitution for the ii-V7-I chord progression in all keys.
  3. Transcribe a section of an improvised solo from a recorded performance of a jazz piano master.
  4. Write a reharmonization of a standard jazz tune.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Midterm ensemble or solo piano performance of a jazz arrangement demonstrating appropriate application of jazz piano styles, application of some basic reharmonization, idiomatically appropriate improvised material, and advanced jazz piano techniques.
  2. Final piano performance of a jazz arrangement, evaluated for appropriate application of jazz piano styles covered throughout the course, significant reharmonization, an improvisation that includes idiomatically appropriate material and advanced scale choices such as altered or diminished scales, and advanced jazz piano techniques.
  3. Participation in class activities, homework assignments, practice, and performance; evaluated for accuracy of chords, melody, and improvisation.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Blank music staff paper
Essential College Facilities:
  • Digital piano with headphones for each student
  • Jazz song lead sheets
  • Sound system for playing audio recordings
  • Extensive collection of jazz piano recordings
  • Chalk boards for written musical examples

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
None.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Levine, Mark. "The Jazz Piano Book". Petaluma, CA: Sher Music Co., 1990
Levine, Mark. "The Jazz Theory Book". Petaluma, CA: Sher Music Co., 1995
Mauleon, Rebecca. "Salsa Guidebook for Piano and Ensemble". Petaluma, Ca: Sher Music Co., 1993

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Demonstrate expanded awareness of jazz styles and apply the fundamental elements of those styles to performance on the piano.
  • Apply common jazz substitute chords in the reharmonization of jazz songs.
  • Play on the piano improvised jazz material based on scales derived from harmonic analysis and an understanding of commonly used scale choices in jazz improvisation, along with an understanding of common jazz idioms learned by studying the work of jazz masters.
  • Create from lead sheets, stylistically appropriate jazz piano accompaniment arrangements for solo, solo accompaniment, and piano trio settings.

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of Hard Bop and Afro-Caribbean jazz styles through jazz piano performance.

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of reharmonization, tritone substitutions, and altered and diminished scales through jazz piano performance.

Outline

  1. Demonstrate expanded awareness of jazz styles and apply the fundamental elements of those styles to performance on the piano.
    1. Bebop and hard bop
      1. Common idiomatic bebop and hard bop lines
      2. Navigating fast bebop and hard bop tempi
    2. Afro-Caribbean styles
      1. Understanding clave — the fundamental rhythmic unit of Afro-Caribbean styles
      2. The montuno and it's role in the piano performance of Afro-Caribbean styles
    3. Samba
      1. Relationship to bossa nova
      2. Basic samba bass patterns
  2. Apply common jazz substitute chords in the reharmonization of jazz songs.
    1. The tritone substitution and chromatic approach chords
    2. Diatonic passing chords
    3. Common harmonic motion
    4. Building chord sequences on ascending or descending bass lines
  3. Play on the piano improvised jazz material based on scales derived from harmonic analysis and an understanding of commonly used scale choices in jazz improvisation, along with an understanding of common jazz idioms learned by studying the work of jazz masters.
    1. Advanced scale choices
      1. The altered scale
      2. Using a diminished scale on dominant 7th chords
      3. The lydian mode
      4. The super locrian mode
    2. Common idioms
      1. Bebop idioms
      2. Modern jazz idioms
  4. Create from lead sheets, stylistically appropriate jazz piano accompaniment arrangements for solo, solo accompaniment, and piano trio settings.
    1. Solo piano arranging
      1. Reharmonization
      2. Stride piano
      3. Block chords
    2. Advanced endings in jazz piano arrangements
      1. The "flat V" ending
      2. Improvised ending breaks
    3. Advanced piano arranging for jazz piano trio (piano, bass, and drums)
      1. Two-hand voicings
      2. Accompanying a bass solo
    4. Advanced arrangements for accompanying a soloist
      1. Performing rubato sections with a soloist
      2. When and how to incorporate improvised fills behind a soloist

Lab Topics

  1. Practice expansion of styles to include bebop and hard bebop, Afro-Caribbean styles, and samba.
  2. Practice reading and playing jazz chords presented in standard chord symbol notation including common jazz substitute chords and their application in reharmonization.
  3. Practice improvising melodic jazz material based on various scales derived from harmonic analysis and understanding of common chord choices, along with material reflecting understanding gained by studying jazz masters.
  4. Practice creating advanced, stylistically-appropriate solo and piano trio jazz piano arrangements.
  5. Practice harmonic and melodic ear training skills.
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