8 January 2025 - 26 March 2025 ( 15 hours, 10 weeks )
View course timetable
Waterloo Centre
A hands-on course for piano players with prior experience of jazz who wish to develop their confidence at performing and improvising. Theory is combined with practice and everyone is encouraged to play every week, on 3 acoustic pianos. The course is based on the tutor’s textbook 'Exploring Jazz Piano' Vol. 1 (Schott Music, 2005) and lasts for three terms, of which this is the second.
The class will be held in a keyboard room; each student has their own digital piano. Two acoustic pianos are also available for those who wish to play duets. In each term you will learn a selection of jazz standards in a variety of styles (swing, latin, blues, modal, funk, ballad, etc), study jazz harmony and chord voicing, and explore a range of improvisation techniques from 'Exploring Jazz Piano' Vol.1. The main emphasis is practical – you will take turns playing tunes and perform rhythmic, technical, and chordal exercises suggested by the tutor. Frequent listening to recordings will increase your knowledge and appreciation of the repertoire, and of important jazz pianists. Topics covered this term include:• Seventh chords (major, minor, dominant)• Chord symbols• Twelve-bar blues• Left-hand shells and tritones• Chord/scale relationships (Dorian and Mixolydian modes)• Whole tone and blues scales• Functional harmony and the diatonic cycle• Long and short II–V–I sequences• Ear training (recognition of seventh chords)
Previous jazz experience, preferably completion of Jazz Piano 3A. Knowledge of major scales in all keys. Familiarity with basic chord symbols (triads and sevenths). Time to practise between classes and commitment to attend every week. Music reading ability. Online enrolment on term 2 of this course, starting in January is only available to those enrolled in the previous term. If you are a current student you will have received an email alerting you to this. If you are new to this course please select 'Ask a Question' and the curriculum department will contact you.
Homework will be given every week and students must be prepared to spend time doing the given assignments and preparing tunes for performance in class. You may also wish to check out the free YouTube clips linked with the book: https://goo.gl/DY7S9v
Recommended text: Exploring Jazz Piano Vol. 1, by Tim Richards (book with CD, Schott Music 2005), available from all good music shops, from the tutor, or in Morley Library.
