Jazz Harmony and Ear Training Applied: Practical Skills for Playing Jazz (B)

About this course

The course combines ear-training and music theory with playing sessions on participants’ instruments. Activities cover the recognition of rhythms, intervals, scales and modes, chords, harmonic and root progressions, as well as song structure. Practical work applies these ideas to jazz standards and other selected repertoire, with individual coaching and guidance. The class also examines how to transcribe solos, including material chosen by the tutor and tunes suggested by participants, such as pieces they are finding difficult to improvise over.

What you'll learn

• Recognise chords, intervals, scales, modes, rhythms and common harmonic progressions by ear.
• Apply harmonic and rhythmic approaches when improvising over commonly played jazz standards.
• Analyse song structure and transcribe jazz solos.
• Examine phrasing, feel and jazz vocabulary through solo transcription.

Is this course right for you?

The course is aimed at aspiring jazz instrumentalists at Improver level. Moderate music reading and some knowledge of general harmony are described as helpful. Learning is linked across terms, so learners joining a later term may need equivalent background knowledge or extra independent study, and regular practice between classes is expected.

• Designed for learners who play a jazz instrument.
• Some music reading and general harmony knowledge are helpful.
• Later-term entry may involve filling gaps in earlier knowledge.

Before you go

• Bring a notebook and manuscript paper.
• Participants are expected to practise between classes.