I. Course description in sentence form:

    Students will learn to perform standard jazz chords with extensions in major and minor keys on
    a keyboard. Standard chord voicings for two hands and left hand only will assist auditory training,
    knowledge of music theory, and some jazz improvisation. Students will accompany pre-existing
    melodies with jazz chords.

II & III. Course content with objectives and expected outcomes

    A. Basic keyboard and music fundamentals overview

        1. Review of major keys and major scales.

        2. Standard root position 7th chord voicing: Root, 7th, 3rd, 5th: C major 7

        3. Shift hands to right, ascending diatonic 7th chords

            a. I major 7 to ii minor 7 to iii minor 7 to IV major 7 to V dominant 7 to vi minor 7 to
               vii half-diminished 7 to I major 7

                1. descend by shifting hands to right

        4. Presentation of major key diatonic chord types: major 7, dominant 7, minor 7, half- diminished 7

        5. Transpose/perform to several other keys; compare function of same chord as it may appear in other keys.

    B. Voicing of the ii minor 7 to V dominant 9 chords

        1. Roots in left hand along with 7th of ii chord that moves to 3rd of V chord

        2. Right hand maintains 2 pitches: 3rd and 5th of ii chord become 7th and 9th of V chord

        3. Perform in all keys

            a. descending by whole step

            b. descending by half step

            c. cycle of perfect 5ths

    C. ii minor 7 to V dominant 9 to I major 7 chords in all keys

        1. descending by whole step

        2. descending by half step

        3. cycle of perfect 5ths

        4. cycle of ascending minor thirds

            a. perform with compact disc with piano track turned down (leaving bass and drums remaining):

                                Jamey Aebersold Volume 1 & 3

    D. I major 7 to IV major 9 chords in all keys; V dominant 7/V to V dominant 9 in all keys

    E. ii half-diminished 7 to V dominant 7 with flat 9 to i minor with major 7;
        ii minor 9 to V dominant 13 to I major 9

        1. various extensions to be used on dominant chord

            a. regular 9

            b. lowered 9 (flat 9)

            c. raised 9 (sharp 9)

        2. perform ii minor 7 to V dominant 9 to I major 7 to IV major 9 to vii half-diminished 7 to
            V dominant 7/vi to vi minor 7 to V dominant 9/V

            a. perform 8-chord progression twice

            b. perform in all keys

        3. perform chord progression to a basic standard jazz song from The Real Book

            a. vary rhythms while "comping" in appropriate rhythmic placements

    F. Dominant chord left hand rootless voicings with 7th as lowest pitch: 3 pitches used for
         root tritone substitution

        1. 7th, 3rd, 13th: G13 = Db7(#9)

        2. 7th, 3rd, raised 5th: G7(#5) = Db9

        3. 7th, 3rd, 5th: G7 = Db7(b9)

        4. perform in descending half steps with 4 different root movement patterns

            a. right hand reaches over to play roots for auditory training

        5. perform 12 measure blues with left hand rootless voicings

            a. right hand reaches over to play roots for auditory training

    G. Left hand rootless voicings for dominant chords with 3th as lowest pitch: 3 pitches used for
         root tritone substitution

        1. 3rd, 7th, raised 9th: G7 (#9) = Db13

        2. 3rd, 7th, 9th: G9 = Db7(#5)

        3. 3rd, 7th, lowered 9th: G7(b9) = Db7

        4. perform in descending half steps with 4 different root movement patterns

            a. right hand reaches over to play roots for auditory training

        5. perform 12 measure blues with left hand rootless voicings

            a. right hand reaches over to play roots for auditory training

    H. Left hand rootless voicings for ii minor 9 to V dominant 13 to I major 9: 2 different voicings

        1. all keys

        2. add a basic improvised solo in the right hand using a mixture of appropriate scales and arpeggios

IV. Course Requirements

    A. Individualized performance testing (in the keyboard laboratory) on each aspect of the course content listed
        above in sections II & III. Grading will be based on degree of competency of each performance aspect.
        Ex: outstanding technical demonstration of a topic will earn an A. Adequate demonstration will earn a B or
        a C, etc.
        Important note:  The above-mentioned individualized performance testing will always take into
                                    consideration the specific progress achieved outside of class times as well as
                                    during class times. This advancement must be reasonable, or progress will be
                                    determined as unacceptable and will severely affect your grade.

    B. The graduate level of this course will involve some type of additional in-depth chordal skills on the keyboard
         to give graduate students deeper exposure in this topic. Some possibilities:

        1. Additional improvisation performed with right hand while left hand performs rootless chord voicings
            (with or without play-along recordings).

        2. Additional two-handed accompaniment of well-known jazz melodies (sing or hum melody).

        3. Auditory training and testing of advanced jazz chordal sonorities.

V. Course textbook and bibliography

    A. Course textbook

        1. Coker, J. Jerry Coker's Jazz Keyboard for Pianists and Non-Pianists. Hialeah, FL:
            Columbia Pictures Publications, 1984.

    B. Bibliography of materials in the Fine & Performing Arts Center

        1. Manuscript materials

            a. Coker, J. Jazz Piano #1: Author

            b. Coker, J. Jazz Piano #2: Author

            c. Coker, J. Jazz Piano #3: Author

            d. Coker, J. Jazz Piano #4: Author

            e. Coker, J. Jazz Piano #5: Author

            f. Coker, J. Jazz Piano Supplement to #4 & 5: Author

            g. Coker, J. Jazz Piano #6: Author

            h. Coker, J. Jazz Piano #7: Author

            i. Coker, J. Jazz Piano #8: Author

        2. 100+ volumes of performance based play-a-long compact discs and accompanying texts

            a. Aebersold, J. A New Approach to Jazz Improvisation
                (120+ volumes: texts and compact discs). New Albany, IN: Author, 1967-2008.

Last updated 05/16/08