Syllabus - Fall, 2011
MVJ 5150
INSTRUCTOR - Michael Orta
CLASS SCHEDULE: Tuesday - 11:00 to 11:50
BUILDING AND ROOM: PAC 158A
PHONE: 348-1414
EMAIL: ortam@fiu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: To establish the keyboard as a basic learning and functioning tool for student’s development as a musician.
REQUIRED TEXT: 1) Jazz Keyboard for Pianists and Non-Pianists Paperback, 1984, Jerry Coker, Alfred Publishing Company, ISBN-10: 0769233236 2) Any additional materials assigned by the instructor.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: To achieve piano proficiency in the performance of the repertoire described above through study and analysis of material, and in-class listening of recorded examples when appropriate. Students are expected to play at a entry level, in a manner relevant to the music being studied
COURSE OVERVIEW:
Fall
Graduate Jazz Piano
1 I. Basic Pianistic fundamentals
Posture Fingerings Diatonic Scales: Major and Minor Chord construction: Major, Minor, Half-diminish, Diminish, and Dominant chord usage
II. Technical exercises
Hanon Plaidy Arpeggios
III. Basic Overview of Jazz fundamentals
Swing feel Jazz standard repertoire and tune learning Blues scale and progression II-7 - V7 - IMaj7 progression ii-7 - V7 Alt. - iMaj7 progression Comping Analysis of transcriptions Blues scales in 12 keys Quartal chords
IV. Performance aspects
Melodic line construction Theme and Variation Voiceleading Basic fundamentals of Improvisation: Modes and their application
2 TESTING AND GRADING: Student’s semester grade will be determined by the following:
Attendance - mandatory Periodic Quizzes 25% Midterm Exam 25% Final Exam 50%
All exams are given during class time. Make-up exams are acceptable only in legitimately excused circumstances. See Student Handbook.
GRADING SCALE:
Numerical grades translate into letter grades in the following standard fashion:
0 - 59 = F 60 - 69 = D 70 - 79 = C 80 - 89 = B 90 - 100 = A
UNIVERSITY-WIDE ISSUES:
Students should refer to the FIU Student Handbook on issues of academic misconduct, sexual harassment, religious holidays, and services for students with disabilities.
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