In this 3rd term of the year we will focus on developing improvisation, applying our theoretical understanding to practical situations and performance. We will learn jazz standards and unusual repertoire. This is musicianship training at a high level. New students may apply for assessment: please write to della.rhodes@citylit.ac.uk.
Before booking on this course, we'll need you to log in or register with us if you're new. Please then contact us for a chat with our team to check that this course is the right level for you. Why do I need an advice session
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Develop your ability to hear, play and understand melody, harmonic progression, style and time feel in the jazz idiom. Detailed study of jazz standards will be supported by listening, singing activities and playing as a group. Develop your ability to improvise well. Play as an ensemble. Learn challenging repertoire. Perform.
What will we cover?
- Exercises will develop transcription skills and explore and practise approaches to improvising - Improvising with the voice, notating chord progressions, guide tone lines, exploring scale choice and tensions - Practice routines will be established for ear training skills - Look at aspects of ensemble playing such as leading, instant arranging, dynamics - focus on listening and responding in the ensemble.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Recognise simple & compound intervals, natural and altered tensions over chords - Develop short-term memory for motif, pattern, etc. - Sing, write and use modes of major, harmonic minor, melodic minor modes, diminished scales - Transcribe single lines and chord progressions quickly and accurately - have mastered some challenging repertoire e.g. Blue in green, Stella by starlight, bossa nova classics - Invent solo and backing ideas by ear - Demonstrate good practice when playing in an ensemble (rhythm section or front line) - Improve your response in playing situations.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You should have good working knowledge of aural and academic harmony, recognition of intervals and basic chord types (major, minor 7, dominant and half-diminished) and minor and altered harmony. You need to be adept at reading, playing, and improvising in jazz and Latin styles.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
All practical, lots of singing, transcribing musical ideas, and playing exercises and jazz standards together. You will also take on some tasks as a duo or trio.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring manuscript paper and your instrument.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Progress to our advanced jazz harmony course, and/or Big Band playing, and your own musical projects.
Della has enjoyed working at City Lit for over 3 decades, teaching, managing, learning. After training in contemporary dance, Della became consumed by drama and music work. Music came to dominate, playing in bands, song writing, teaching for, and advising, the Youth Service and Adult Education. Performing and writing arrangements for pop and jazz a cappella has been a 30 year journey. So too the teaching of jazz musicianship. Gratitude is due to early mentor Amit Sen for introducing 'the jazz thing'.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/jazz-harmony-and-ear-training-3c329115Jazz harmony and ear training 3Chttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Musicianship_for_singers-1024.jpg219219GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Jazz & popular music22851314135113581228513141351<p>In this 3rd term of the year we will focus on developing improvisation, applying our theoretical understanding to practical situations and performance. We will learn jazz standards and unusual repertoire. This is musicianship training at a high level. New students may apply for assessment: please write to della.rhodes@citylit.ac.uk.</p>002989343Jazz harmony and ear training 3C219219https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Musicianship_for_singers-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeSatKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekend2026-04-25T00:00:00+00:00AdvancedApr 2026Performing artsMG606C219219Jazz harmony and ear training 3C219153219Della Rhodesjazz-harmony-and-ear-training-3c/mg606c-2526<p>In this 3rd term of the year we will focus on developing improvisation, applying our theoretical understanding to practical situations and performance. We will learn jazz standards and unusual repertoire. This is musicianship training at a high level. New students may apply for assessment: please write to della.rhodes@citylit.ac.uk.</p>0000-Available|2026-04-25 00:00:00Develop your ability to hear, play and understand melody, harmonic progression, style and time feel in the jazz idiom. Detailed study of jazz standards will be supported by listening, singing activities and playing as a group.<br/>Develop your ability to improvise well. Play as an ensemble. Learn challenging repertoire. Perform.<p>In this 3rd term of the year we will focus on developing improvisation, applying our theoretical understanding to practical situations and performance. We will learn jazz standards and unusual repertoire. This is musicianship training at a high level. New students may apply for assessment: please write to della.rhodes@citylit.ac.uk.</p>- Exercises will develop transcription skills and explore and practise approaches to improvising<br/>- Improvising with the voice, notating chord progressions, guide tone lines, exploring scale choice and tensions<br/>- Practice routines will be established for ear training skills <br/>- Look at aspects of ensemble playing such as leading, instant arranging, dynamics<br/>- focus on listening and responding in the ensemble.- Recognise simple & compound intervals, natural and altered tensions over chords<br/>- Develop short-term memory for motif, pattern, etc.<br/>- Sing, write and use modes of major, harmonic minor, melodic minor modes, diminished scales<br/>- Transcribe single lines and chord progressions quickly and accurately<br/>- have mastered some challenging repertoire e.g. Blue in green, Stella by starlight, bossa nova classics<br/>- Invent solo and backing ideas by ear<br/>- Demonstrate good practice when playing in an ensemble (rhythm section or front line)<br/>- Improve your response in playing situations.You should have good working knowledge of aural and academic harmony, recognition of intervals and basic chord types (major, minor 7, dominant and half-diminished) and minor and altered harmony. You need to be adept at reading, playing, and improvising in jazz and Latin styles.All practical, lots of singing, transcribing musical ideas, and playing exercises and jazz standards together. You will also take on some tasks as a duo or trio.Please bring manuscript paper and your instrument.Progress to our advanced jazz harmony course, and/or Big Band playing, and your own musical projects.MusicJazz & popular musicvirtual219219153MG606CINTSat25/04/26 - 11/07/2613:45 - 15:1513:4515:1511 sessions (over 12 weeks)1111 weeks or longerDaytimeWeekendKSKeeley StreetDella RhodesAdvancedAvailable courses2026-04-25T00:00:00+00:00Apr 2026Performing arts219219Jazz harmony and ear training 3Cjazz-harmony-and-ear-training-3c/mg606c-2526<p>In this 3rd term of the year we will focus on developing improvisation, applying our theoretical understanding to practical situations and performance. We will learn jazz standards and unusual repertoire. This is musicianship training at a high level. New students may apply for assessment: please write to della.rhodes@citylit.ac.uk.</p>0000-Available|2026-04-25 00:00:00Develop your ability to hear, play and understand melody, harmonic progression, style and time feel in the jazz idiom. Detailed study of jazz standards will be supported by listening, singing activities and playing as a group.<br/>Develop your ability to improvise well. Play as an ensemble. Learn challenging repertoire. Perform.<p>In this 3rd term of the year we will focus on developing improvisation, applying our theoretical understanding to practical situations and performance. We will learn jazz standards and unusual repertoire. This is musicianship training at a high level. New students may apply for assessment: please write to della.rhodes@citylit.ac.uk.</p>- Exercises will develop transcription skills and explore and practise approaches to improvising<br/>- Improvising with the voice, notating chord progressions, guide tone lines, exploring scale choice and tensions<br/>- Practice routines will be established for ear training skills <br/>- Look at aspects of ensemble playing such as leading, instant arranging, dynamics<br/>- focus on listening and responding in the ensemble.- Recognise simple &amp; compound intervals, natural and altered tensions over chords<br/>- Develop short-term memory for motif, pattern, etc.<br/>- Sing, write and use modes of major, harmonic minor, melodic minor modes, diminished scales<br/>- Transcribe single lines and chord progressions quickly and accurately<br/>- have mastered some challenging repertoire e.g. Blue in green, Stella by starlight, bossa nova classics<br/>- Invent solo and backing ideas by ear<br/>- Demonstrate good practice when playing in an ensemble (rhythm section or front line)<br/>- Improve your response in playing situations.You should have good working knowledge of aural and academic harmony, recognition of intervals and basic chord types (major, minor 7, dominant and half-diminished) and minor and altered harmony. You need to be adept at reading, playing, and improvising in jazz and Latin styles.All practical, lots of singing, transcribing musical ideas, and playing exercises and jazz standards together. You will also take on some tasks as a duo or trio.Please bring manuscript paper and your instrument.Progress to our advanced jazz harmony course, and/or Big Band playing, and your own musical projects.MusicJazz & popular musicconfigurable
13581351Jazz & popular musichttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/jazz-and-popular-music1/2/285/1314/1351/13581/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Jazz & popular music