Jazz Theory II
Course Description
A continuation of Jazz Theory I. Reinforcement of Major / Minor
modes, blues scales, II-V-I in Major and Minor keys, improvisation
concepts in dealing with standards and rhythm changes. More emphasis
on ear training, composing solos on chord changes, learning II-V-I
patterns and transposing to other keys, introduction to diminished
and whole tone and scales. (Jazz theory I required or faculty approved)
Course Outline
Semester 1
Week 1 - Blues Review
Tune of the Week: Midnight Creeper by Lou Donaldson
Analyze and learn the melody, harmony, and alto saxophone solo.
Week 2 - Blues Variations 1
Tune of the Week: Freddie the Freeloader by Miles Davis
Analyze and learn the melody, harmony, and trumpet solo.
Week 3 - Blues Variations 2
Tune of the Week: Now’s The Time by Charlie Parker
Analyze and learn the melody, harmony, and trumpet solo.
Discuss and analyze a Charlie Parker solo.
Week 4 - Blues Variations 3
Tunes of the Week: Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock (16 bar blues) and Unit Seven by Sam Jones (blues with a bridge).
Analyze and learn the melody, harmony, and tenor saxophone solo on Watermelon Man.
Analyze and learn the melody, harmony, and cornet solo on Unit Seven.
Week 5 - The ii V I in Action 1
Tune of the Week: Tune Up by Miles Davis.
Analyze and learn the melody and harmony of Tune Up
Introduce the ii-V-I.
Lick of the Week: Introduction of the first weekly lick (Lick #1), and an explanation of how to transpose licks to different keys.
Week 6 - The ii V I in Action 2“The Plug-In Technique”
Tune of the Week: Tune Up
Lick of the Week: Lick #2
Week 7 - The ii V I in Action 3
Tune of the Week: Groovin’ High by Dizzy Gillespie
Analyze and learn the melody and harmony of Groovin’ High.
Lick of the Week: Lick #3
Week 8 - The ii V I in Action 4
Tunes of the Week: Groovin’ High and Half Nelson by Tadd Dameron
Analyze and learn the melody and harmony of Half Nelson.
Lick of the Week: Lick #4
Week 9 - The ii V I in Action 5
Further study of Tune Up, Groovin’ High, and Half Nelson.
Lick of the Week: Lick #5
Week 10 - The ii V I in Action 6
Writing solos (2 choruses each) on Tune Up, Groovin’ High, and Half Nelson.
Week 11 - An Introduction to “Rhythm Changes”
Cumulative review and performance of all tunes discussed during the first 10 weeks.
Tune of the Week: Second Balcony Jump by Billy Eckstine and Gerald Valentine
Analyze and learn the melody, harmony and tenor saxophone solo on Second Balcony Jump.
Week 12 - “Rhythm Changes” Workout
Digital patterns for the A sections.
Bebop scales for the bridge.
Analyze Dexter Gordon’s first chorus on Second Balcony Jump.
Rhythm Tune of the Week: Oleo by Sonny Rollins
Week 13 - Strategies for “Making the Changes”
Discuss two strategies for improvising on Rhythm Changes.
Change running. (I-VI-ii-V and with passing diminished)
C (key center) melodies.
Write a few solo choruses.
Rhythm Tune of the Week: Anthropology by Charlie Parker
Week 14 - Analyzing Rhythm Changes: Just use your “head”!
Anthropolgy analysis.
Moose The Mooche analysis.
The Eternal Triangle analysis.
Written solos analysis.
Discuss how to use the Cycle of Fourths on Rhythm Changes.
Rhythm Tune of the Week: Moose The Mooche
Week 15 - Playing “Rhythm Changes”: Putting it all together.
Play Second Balcony, Oleo, Anthropology, Moose the Mooche, The Eternal Triangle.
- Step 1: Workout
- Step 2: Improvise
Review Tune Up, Groovin’ High, and Half Nelson.
Week 16 - “Rhythm Changes” Wrap-Up
Analyze and discuss transcriptions.
Second Balcony Jump (Dexter Gordon)
The Eternal Triangle (Sonny Sttit and Sonny Rollins)
Rhythm Changes in different keys.
Week 17 - Final Exam: Performance and written elements.
Course Outline
Semester 2
Week 1 - Back to Blues
Tune of the Week: Freight Trane by Kenny Burrell
Blues in all keys.
Lick of the Week: Lick #5 (2 beat a piece ii-V-I).
Week 2 - “Bird” Blues
Tune of the Week: Freight Trane by K. Burrell
Write some solo choruses.
Introduction of the Interval Exercise. Applied to major scales.
Week 3 - 32 Bars: Back in Business
Written solo analysis.
Tune of the Week: Green Dolphin Street by Kaper and Washington
Write some solo choruses.
Interval Exercise continues.
Week 4 - Minor Moods I
Written solo analysis.
Tune of the Week: Sugar by Stanley Turrentine
Introduction of Melodic Minor Theory.
Interval Exercise on Melodic Minor Scales.
Week 5 - Minor Moods II
Tune of the Week: Sugar by S. Turrentine.
Write some solo choruses.
Continuation of Melodic Minor Theory.
Lick of the Week: Lick #6 (minor ii-V-i)
Interval Exercise on Melodic Minor Scales.
Week 6 - Minor Moods III
Tune of the Week: Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise by Sigmund Romberg
Lick of the Week: Lick #7 (minor ii-V-i)
Written solo analysis.
Interval Exercise on Melodic Minor Scales.
Week 7 - Back to “Bird” I
Review Licks #6 and #7.
Run through minor ii-V-i scales in all keys.
Tune of the Week: Confirmation by Charlie Parker.
Lick of the Week: Lick #8 (2 beat a piece ii-V-I)
Week 8 - Back to “Bird” II
Analysis of Charlie Parker’s solo on Confirmation.
Play solos and discuss them.
Introduce Interval Exercise on Mixolydian Scales.
Week 9 - Baker Bebop I
David Baker’s “How To Play Bebop” Method.
Week 10 - Baker Bebop II
David Baker’s “How To Play Bebop” Method continued.
Week 11 - Modal
Listen to So What by Miles Davis and Impressions by John Coltrane.
Introduce strategies for improvising on modal material.
Melody creation, bebop material, triad pairs, pentatonic scales, side-stepping.
Tune of the Week: Impressions.
Interval Exercise on Dorian Minor Scales.
Week 12 - Diminished Returns I
Introduce the Diminished Scale and Diminished Patterns.
Tune of the Week: Caravan by Juan Tizol
Week 13 - Diminished Returns II
Play solos on Caravan and discuss them.
Teach each other favorite Diminished Patterns.
Discuss opportunities for using the Diminished Scale.
Write some choruses on Caravan.
Week 14 - Whole Tone
Written solo analysis.
Introduce the Whole Tone Scale.
Tune of the Week: Ju-Ju by Wayne Shorter.
Interval Exercise on the Whole Tone Scale.
Week 15 - Internalizing the Music I
Perform tunes.
Performances will be scrutinized and analyzed.
Week 16 - Internalizing the Music II
Perform tunes.
Performances will be scrutinized and analyzed.
Week 17 - Final exam: Performance and written elements.
Last updated: December 23, 2010