Courses
Advanced Jazz Improvisational Techniques
Performance and analysis of original jazz tunes. Discussion, demonstration, and performance of advanced jazz improvisational techniques.
Practicing Jazz
Students learn how to develop materials for use in their individual practice sessions to prepare for performances of jazz music.
Jazz Rhythm Section Accompaniment Skills
This course is for intermediate- to advanced-level rhythm section players who seek to improve their accompaniment skills by studying and playing transcriptions of recordings by classic jazz master
Improvisation Techniques for the Blues Player
Performance-based class in blues improvisation using recordings and transcriptions of traditional and Chicago blues, swing and bop blues, gospel, funk, and rock styles as principal resources.
Rock Improvisational Techniques 1
The four-course sequence in rock improvisation is designed to cover all skills relevant to creative performance in that idiom.
Improvisation in the Jazz/Blues Idiom
A study of basic blues playing in the jazz idiom.
Improvisation in the Jazz-Rock/Fusion Idioms
Performance and analysis of jazz-rock/fusion music. Improvisational and compositional techniques will be discussed.
Improvisation in the Latin/Jazz Idiom
Performance and analysis of Latin/jazz music and related song forms. The class will include analysis of source music and its influence on contemporary composers and performers in the idiom.
The Composing Performer Ensemble
An ensemble/class for the performer who also composes.
Fusion Performance and Composition
The repertoire of this class includes contemporary displays of funk, jazz, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian styles. The emphasis of this course is twofold.
Advanced Pan-American Jazz Performance
Course work will focus on the performance and development of advanced rhythmic vocabulary within the jazz idiom employing the following genre styles: Afro-Cuban; South American (Brazilian, Argentin
Melodic Variation Techniques in American String Traditions
Historical listening and performance class covering the tributaries of Bill Monroe's music (old-time country music, blues, and swing) and tracing the development of the styles from 1945 to the
Recital Class for Music Education Majors
A performance class for music education majors. Students prepare for solo and ensemble presentations intended to demonstrate satisfactory proficiency on their principal instrument.
Fundamentals of Improvisation for Percussion
Survey of performance techniques related to drum set solo and duet improvisation. Emphasis is placed on rhythm skill, coordination, thematic development, and style integration.
Studio Drumming Techniques and Applications
Application of drum set and percussion techniques to the studio recording environment.
Contrapuntal Jazz Improvisation for Pianists
This course offers a step-by-step approach to improvising contrapuntally in a solo piano context.
Country Music
This class will be geared toward rhythm section players and singers, and will cover all aspects of country music.
Motown
A performance-based study of the musical style originated by Motown Records, which, under the leadership of founder/president Berry Gordy, musically bridged racial lines during the highly sensitive
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
This course is intended to provide an opportunity for students to identify, recognize, and study the great creators, performers, and pioneers of rock and popular music.
Progressive Rock Performance
A study integrating performance of the progressive rock style of the '70s: repertoire, instrumentation, forms, sound, and other musical elements leading to emulation and creative reproduction