Courses

Expanding on the material introduced in Arranging 1, this course focuses on a more in-depth study of stylistic approaches of creating and writing grooves for the rhythm section (drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, and percussion) and how different styles work together and influence each other. Original techniques and practical approaches to creating grooves will be presented through listening analysis, original writing techniques, as well as methods used to create hybrid grooves. Styles to be covered include: funk, rock, soul, Afro-Cuban, hip-hop, electronic, and Brazilian, which includes some selected Caribbean styles. Some production analysis will be included to identify soundscapes and instrumentation as they relate to style. 

This class is an introduction to the more involved ENFF-326 class. We will experiment with mixing current grooves and unusual modes and harmonies in a jazz improvisation context. The purpose of this class is to bridge the divide between jazz harmonies and groove vamps by combining both. Furthermore, heavy emphasis is on melodic development techniques. By the end of this class you will have a working knowledge rock, funk, reggae, ska, dance hall, drum 'n' bass, reggaeton, house, 2step, 32nd note hi-hat grooves,  hip-hop, go-go, clipped and bounce beats. 

In this course, students experiment with mixing current grooves and unusual modes and harmonies in a jazz improvisation context. The purpose of this class is to bridge the divide between jazz harmonies and groove vamps by combining both. Furthermore, heavy emphasis is on melodic development techniques. By the end of this class you will have a working knowledge of rock, funk, reggae, ska, dance hall, drum 'n' bass, reggaeton, house, 2-step, 32nd note hi-hat grooves, hip-hop, go-go, and clipped and bounce beats.

In this class we will experiment with microtonal arrangements of Western classical, Middle Eastern and other non-Western and jazz/fusion compositions. Joe Maneri's 72 equal temperament octave notation system will be explained. We will start with a selection from the following compositions: Eclipse (Mingus); Madoka Blue (Fiuczynski); Carrillo quarter tone string quartets; Hába quarter tone ‚études; Turkish, Arabic, and Chinese melodies; Beethoven fragments; MoonRing (3/4 tone diminished mode); and Apprehension (Fiuczynski). Students will have a working knowledge of notation, Western classical microtonal history, intonation, and ways of soloing and comping in a microtonal chord scale context. We will also experiment with dance hall, drum 'n' bass, reggaeton, merengueton, house, 2-step, 32nd note hi-hat grooves, hip-hop, go-go, clipped and bounce beats, and new experimental beats created by students.

The Organ Grooves ensemble will transcribe, study and perform the music of Jimmy Smith, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Rhoda Scott, and Joey DeFrancesco. In this course, students will participate in weekly supervised rehearsals. Students will gain experience in transcribing and performing recordings of the artist above. Emphasis will be given to stylistic integrity, as well as melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic accuracy.

Students learn the roots—key percussion patterns, movement patterns, social/historical context—of a variety of Cuban music genres (son, rumba, cha cha, bolero, bembé, Afro-Cuban). Vocal and instrumental course sections meet biweekly as a combined class for immersion in the roots of each feel, participating in call and response singing, percussion ensemble exercises, and dancing, to enrich their experience of the repertoire.

The Groove Lab, under the joint direction of Bass (ILBS-266) and Percussion (ILPD-266) Department Faculty, provides an intensive exploration of essential groove patterns and styles prevalent in the modern music landscape, specifically focusing on commercial applications (dance bands, wedding bands, function bands, etc.). This lab focuses on developing crucial skills such as solid and consistent time feel, connection and “locking in” between bass and drums, and a thorough understanding of the importance of song form.

Students will engage with a curated selection of mainstream repertoire, encompassing iconic hits and contemporary chart-toppers across the rock, pop, R&B, and hip-hop styles. These selections reflect the repertoire that aspiring professional musicians are expected to know for successful employment in the "general business," “casual band,” and “working band” worlds, including corporate events, weddings, and club gigs. Each week, students will prepare and perform repertoire, gaining practical experience in interpreting and executing foundational grooves. Faculty demonstrations will be integrated throughout the lab, providing real-time insights and guidance to refine technique and musicality. This hands-on approach ensures that students develop the versatility and confidence needed to excel in professional musical environments.

Drummers & Percussionists enroll in course number ILPD-266. Bass principals enroll in ILBS-266.

The Groove Lab, under the joint direction of Bass (ILBS-266) and Percussion (ILPD-266) Department Faculty, provides an intensive exploration of essential groove patterns and styles prevalent in the modern music landscape, specifically focusing on commercial applications (dance bands, wedding bands, function bands, etc.). This lab focuses on developing crucial skills such as solid and consistent time feel, connection and “locking in” between bass and drums, and a thorough understanding of the importance of song form.

Students will engage with a curated selection of mainstream repertoire, encompassing iconic hits and contemporary chart-toppers across the rock, pop, R&B, and hip-hop styles. These selections reflect the repertoire that aspiring professional musicians are expected to know for successful employment in the "general business," “casual band,” and “working band” worlds, including corporate events, weddings, and club gigs. Each week, students will prepare and perform repertoire, gaining practical experience in interpreting and executing foundational grooves. Faculty demonstrations will be integrated throughout the lab, providing real-time insights and guidance to refine technique and musicality. This hands-on approach ensures that students develop the versatility and confidence needed to excel in professional musical environments.

Drummers & Percussionists enroll in course number ILPD-266. Bass principals enroll in ILBS-266.

This collaborative course provides a hands-on exploration of rhythmic accompaniment for original songs. Students will learn improvisation tools and techniques for discovering and developing grooves for their top lines in a positive and productive learning environment. Through instructor-initiated exercises, students will hone their inner drum and percussion clock and expand their understanding of rhythmic subdivision and syncopation. Using claps, stomps, taps, vocal sounds, and other available objects as percussion instruments, students will create ostinato rhythm patterns to connect rhythmically to their lyrics, to one another, and to the outside world. Students will improvise and perform groove-based original music in the classroom to create a final performance presentation at the end of the semester. With an emphasis on dialogue and student-run composition, this class will cultivate total engagement in creative activity, initiating more possibilities for inspiration, innovation and song collaboration. By successfully applying improvisational groove- and jam-based tools and techniques to their songwriting practice, students will expand their knowledge of groove, become more prolific as songwriters, and have an intrinsically rewarding experience.