Tues. and Thurs. 10am-10:50pm

Fall Semester 2005

NB08 (”Combo Room”)

Prof. John Gunther

E-mail: guntherj@colorado.edu

Office: C-131

Office hours: Mon. -Thurs. 11-12pm

Class website address: TBA

Phone: 303-735-1492

Course Objective:

In this course you’ll learn strategies for developing your ability to create melodies in a harmonic context. Chord and related chord scales will be thoroughly studied. Listening and analysis of jazz improvisation and transcription of solos will be an essential component.

Course requirements: Attendance at all classes with your instrument

Class begins at 10am sharp

Completion all class assignments on time

Class Notebook

Throughout the class you will be required to keep a notebook.

Here you will make note of information given during lectures and for assignments. A spiral notebook of staff paper is suggested as much of the course notes will be musical examples. Class notebooks due at end of each semester

Class grade determined by: 40% Midterm/ Final 20% Note book

20% Weekly assignments 20% Class participation/attendance

The following grading scale will be used:

93-100             A                     74-77               C                     

90-92               A-                    70-73               C-

88-89               B+                    68-69               D+

84-87               B                      64-67               D

80-83               B-                    60-63               D-

78-79               C+                    below 60          F

Attendance and grading policy

Attendance, promptness, and participation are crucial to your success in this course. Excessive tardiness (more than 3 instances) will impact your final grade. For each 3 unexcused absences, your grade will be lowered one letter grade. Only the instructor will decide what constitutes an excused or unexcused absence. The instructor is not responsible for re-lecturing material missed because of an absence.

Week 1: 8/23 Course introduction and overview, syllabus review

8/25 Introduction cont.; Rhythm, playing & practicing “

Week 2: 8/30 “Singing the Blues”

9/1 “Playing the Blues”

Week 3: 9/6 Playing a 12 bar blues

9/8 Variations on the blues form

Week 4: 9/13 Chords and scales

9/15 “ “ “

Week 5: 9/20 Creating melodic lines

9/22 Harmonic projection

Week 6: 9/27 Playing and transcription

9/29 “ “ “

Week 7: 10/4 Navigating more complex harmony

10/6 “ “ “ “

Week 8: 10/11 Modal harmonic contexts

10/13 MIDTERM [break on 13 -14]

Week 9: 10/18 ii-V7-I and more complex progressions

10/20 “ “ “ “

Week 10: 10/25 The diminished scale and it’s application

10/27 “ “ “ “ “ “

Week 11: 11/1 minor ii-V7-i progressions

11/3 “ “ “

Week 12: 11/8 Melodic Minor Modality

11/10 “ “ “

Week 13: 11/15 Repertoire application & development

11/17 “ “ “

Week 14: 11/22 Rhythm

11/24 “

Week 15: 11/29 Final project prep,

11/31 “

Week 16: 12/6 Finals review

12/8 Notebooks due

Week 17: FINAL

________________________________________________________

If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to

me a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may

be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on

documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and

www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices

Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every

effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of

religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or

required attendance. In this class, {{insert your procedures here}}

See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html

Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate

learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards

may be subject to discipline. Faculty have the professional responsibility to

treat all students with understanding, dignity and respect, to guide classroom

discussion and to set reasonable limits on the manner in which they and their

students express opinions. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are

especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with

differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender

variance, and nationalities. See polices at

http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at

http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code

All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for

knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution.

Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic

dishonesty, fabrication, lying, or bribery.