Jazz piano 1
Choose a start date
- Course Code: ME623
- Dates: 28/09/24 - 07/12/24
- Time: 10:30 - 12:00
- Taught: Sat, Daytime
- Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Della Rhodes
Course Code: ME623
Choose a start date
Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
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.
What is the course about?
Prepare to play jazz standards that involve common harmonic/melodic/rhythmic features, i.e. standards that are generally 12 or 16 bars long (including 12 bar blues) and which involve II V I (cycle of 5ths) progressions. You will study fundamentals of jazz style and piano voicing.
What will we cover?
Each lesson includes preparatory work, practising to backing for common harmonic progressions, and rehearsing chords and scales. We study and play a chosen standard tune every 3 weeks or so. Approaches to improvisation over standard tunes. Reading sample solos. Study how to create basslines. Learn the essential chord symbols.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Demonstrate an understanding of how to practise
- Play jazz voicings and appropriate rhythms
- Memorise standard tunes
- Understand concepts of building intros, accompanying, following a lead sheet.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You should have good piano playing and reading skills, absolute minimum Grade 5, and be fluent in all major and relative minor scales.We hope you have an interest in jazz piano and experience of listening to jazz recordings. Experience of studying harmony will be of advantage. You will need to be able already to play triads and their inversions at the piano.
You will need to follow written and verbal instructions in English and engage in class discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be at a digital piano, the class will play together and there will be tutorial input with appropriate individual help / advice and practising to rhythm section backings. Lead sheets will be provided, but there will also be examples to write and/or copy, and class hand-outs on some topics.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring manuscript paper, pencil, eraser and a machine to record class if you wish.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You can progress to Jazz piano 2.
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.
