(TSCR) Jazz Improvisation Skills (improvers)

About this course

Learners develop practical fluency with jazz chord symbols, extensions, suggested scales and, for chordal players, block chords. Tutor-provided routines address rhythms, polyrhythms, melodic sequencing, chord progressions and rhythmic relationships to the beat. The course also covers aural awareness, learning and memorising jazz melodies, improvising over classic and more challenging tunes, and comping for other musicians where relevant. Work includes swing and Latin grooves in 4/4 and 3/4, alongside band-leading concepts, musical notation and the characteristics of different jazz eras and styles.

What you'll learn

• Recognise and perform tetrad chord symbols, common extensions and, where relevant, block-chord versions.
• Apply rhythmic, melodic and harmonic routines, including polyrhythms, diatonic motifs and scale-based chord sequences.
• Sustain structured accompaniments or riffs for other musicians or recorded jazz.
• Improvise extended solos that relate to the melodies and harmonic structures of jazz tunes.
• Identify, describe and perform characteristic features of at least two historical jazz eras.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for instrumentalists and singers who already have fairly confident fluency with their instrument or voice. Participation includes individual performance and playing or singing with others in every lesson, with an optional end-of-term concert.

• Previous practical ability with an instrument or voice is required.
• Learners should be prepared to perform individually as well as with others.
• Drummers need specific experience with swing cymbal patterns, snare-drum soloing and blues structures.