Popular Music Theory and Composition

Catalog description

This course gives students a working knowledge of jazz and pop harmony. Students will attain keyboard proficiency through an emphasis on ear-training, voicings, tritone substitutions, and improvisation theory; this proficiency can be used on other instruments. Students learn all upper-structure chords in all keys as well as ways to improvise on various chord structures. Students should be able to play through lead sheet material with reasonable proficiency using jazz voicings and voice-leading techniques. Basic knowledge of the keyboard is recommended, but the course is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists.