Jazz ear training and applications: advanced

About this course

This advanced course examines melody, harmonic progression, jazz style and time feel through detailed work on jazz standards. Sessions use singing, transcription and practical playing to explore guide-tone lines, scale choices, tensions, enclosures, forward motion and backing riffs. Learners work on recognising and notating musical material, improvising with the voice and responding within an ensemble. The course also includes practice routines for ear training, repertoire study and improvisation exercises, with weekly work on tunes and solos outside class.

What you'll learn

• Recognise intervals and natural or altered tensions within chord progressions
• Transcribe single-note lines and chord progressions with greater speed and accuracy
• Sing and use major, harmonic minor, melodic minor, altered and diminished sounds
• Apply guide tones, enclosures, backing riffs and forward motion in improvisation
• Invent solo and backing ideas by ear and respond more effectively in playing situations

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for advanced learners with a working knowledge of aural and academic jazz harmony, including basic chord types, minor and modal harmony. Participants should already be accustomed to reading, playing and improvising in jazz and Latin styles, and should expect practical group work.

• Requires established knowledge of jazz harmony and interval recognition
• Includes singing, playing, transcription and ensemble response activities
• Involves weekly practice on tunes and improvising solos

Before you go

• Learners should bring manuscript paper and play their instrument.
• Learners should arrange to record some of their playing.
• Weekly practice involves learning tunes and improvising solos.