Study how to improvise in popular music. These live zoom sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonic scales, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.
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.
This course is an introduction to improvising in popular music styles. We’ll look at the characteristics of each style and the important ways they relate to each other. Get accustomed to playing along to tracks and recording your practice and course assignments.
What will we cover?
We will explore the most important approaches to melodic improvisation such as scale choices, phrasing, chord sequences, ‘blue’ notes and extensions. We will look at stylistic features that are typical in each genre, giving your improvisation an authentic and authoritative sound.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Produce musical solos using aural skills, an increased understanding of scale types, and an appreciation of stylistic elements that go to make a ‘sound’.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is aimed at students who read music, since course materials include written music notation and interpretation of chord symbols. A working understanding of chord types, and the ability to play major and minor scales in several keys on your instrument, will be useful.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
There will be demonstrations in the session to consolidate areas of study; we will analyse classic solos for their characteristic features. You will get the most from the course if you are able to practise between sessions, materials will be supplied to support your independent practice.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All course materials and resources will be available in the google classroom.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
This is a supplement to instrumental pop and jazz musicianship and instrumental courses.
David Harrison studied at Oxford Brookes university before taking a post-graduate diploma in saxophone performance at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. David has been teaching at City Lit since 1994. In 2004 he wrote a guitar player’s guide for Collins and joined Music Sales in 2005 to update the famous A Tune A Day tutor series, eventually producing over 40 titles as series editor of the relaunched A New Tune A Day books, which has since become the biggest-selling music tutor series worldwide. Since 2010, David has worked freelance writing, editing and producing mainly educational titles, including Abracadabra Beginning Theory (Collins Music); The Complete Ukulele Player (Music Sales) and most recently the Bob Dylan Complete (Hal Leonard), the authorised collection of every Dylan song, together with an extensive introduction covering Dylan’s acoustic guitar technique, his song-writing and Dylan’s place in the American folk music revival. Aside from his guitar and saxophone classes, David runs a course in song writing. a series of talks on the music of The Beatles, and a series on the songs of Bob Dylan’s 1960s albums.
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/pentatonics-and-beyond-improvising-in-popular-music257127Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular musichttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/m/g/mg419-pentatonics-and-beyond-1080.jpg229229GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music theory & musicianship/Courses/vm/Get Loud/Courses/vm/Summer offers/Courses/vm/Summer courses/Summer courses in performing arts2285131413511359865813614135661228513141351165313457<p>Study how to improvise in popular music. These live zoom sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonic scales, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.</p>34.73034447Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular music229229https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/m/g/mg419-pentatonics-and-beyond-1080_1.jpgInStockEveningTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-09-15T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceSep 2026Performing artsMG416229229Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular music229160229David Harrisonpentatonics-and-beyond-improvising-in-popular-music/mg416-2627<p>Study how to improvise in popular music. These live zoom sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonic scales, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-15 00:00:00<p>This course is an introduction to improvising in popular music styles. We’ll look at the characteristics of each style and the important ways they relate to each other. Get accustomed to playing along to tracks and recording your practice and course assignments.</p><p>Study how to improvise in popular music. These live zoom sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonic scales, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.</p>We will explore the most important approaches to melodic improvisation such as scale choices, phrasing, chord sequences, ‘blue’ notes and extensions. We will look at stylistic features that are typical in each genre, giving your improvisation an authentic and authoritative sound.Produce musical solos using aural skills, an increased understanding of scale types, and an appreciation of stylistic elements that go to make a ‘sound’.<p>The course is aimed at students who read music, since course materials include written music notation and interpretation of chord symbols. A working understanding of chord types, and the ability to play major and minor scales in several keys on your instrument, will be useful.</p><p>There will be demonstrations in the session to consolidate areas of study; we will analyse classic solos for their characteristic features.<br>You will get the most from the course if you are able to practise between sessions, materials will be supplied to support your independent practice.</p><p>All course materials and resources will be available in the google classroom.</p><p>This is a supplement to instrumental pop and jazz musicianship and instrumental courses.</p>MusicMusic theory & musicianshipvirtual3072880Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular music229229https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/m/g/mg419-pentatonics-and-beyond-1080_2.jpgInStockDaytimeSatOnlineAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekend2027-01-09T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceJan 2027Performing artsMG417229229Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular music229229229David Harrisonpentatonics-and-beyond-improvising-in-popular-music/mg417-2627<p>Study how to improvise in popular music. These live zoom sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonic scales, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.</p>0000-Available|2027-01-09 00:00:00<p>This course is an introduction to improvising in popular music styles. We’ll look at the characteristics of each style and the important ways they relate to each other. Get accustomed to playing along to tracks and recording your practice and course assignments.</p><p>Study how to improvise in popular music. These live zoom sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonic scales, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.</p>We will explore the most important approaches to melodic improvisation such as scale choices, phrasing, chord sequences, ‘blue’ notes and extensions. We will look at stylistic features that are typical in each genre, giving your improvisation an authentic and authoritative sound.Produce musical solos using aural skills, an increased understanding of scale types, and an appreciation of stylistic elements that go to make a ‘sound’.<p>The course is aimed at students who read music, since course materials include written music notation and interpretation of chord symbols. A working understanding of chord types, and the ability to play major and minor scales in several keys on your instrument, will be useful.</p><p>There will be demonstrations in the session to consolidate areas of study; we will analyse classic solos for their characteristic features.<br>You will get the most from the course if you are able to practise between sessions, materials will be supplied to support your independent practice.</p><p>All course materials and resources will be available in the google classroom.</p><p>This is a supplement to instrumental pop and jazz musicianship and instrumental courses.</p>MusicMusic theory & musicianshipvirtual229229160,229MG416,MG417NONETue,Sat15/09/26 - 24/11/2618:00 - 19:3018:0019:3011 sessions (over 11 weeks)1111 weeks or longerWeekday,WeekendKSKeeley Street,OnlineDavid HarrisonSome experienceAvailable courses2026-09-15T00:00:00+00:00,2027-01-09T00:00:00+00:00Evening,DaytimeSep 2026,Jan 2027Performing arts229229Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular musicpentatonics-and-beyond-improvising-in-popular-music/mg416-2627,pentatonics-and-beyond-improvising-in-popular-music/mg417-2627<p>Study how to improvise in popular music. These live zoom sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonic scales, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-15 00:00:00<p>This course is an introduction to improvising in popular music styles. We’ll look at the characteristics of each style and the important ways they relate to each other. Get accustomed to playing along to tracks and recording your practice and course assignments.</p><p>Study how to improvise in popular music. These live zoom sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonic scales, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.</p>We will explore the most important approaches to melodic improvisation such as scale choices, phrasing, chord sequences, ‘blue’ notes and extensions. We will look at stylistic features that are typical in each genre, giving your improvisation an authentic and authoritative sound.Produce musical solos using aural skills, an increased understanding of scale types, and an appreciation of stylistic elements that go to make a ‘sound’.<p>The course is aimed at students who read music, since course materials include written music notation and interpretation of chord symbols. A working understanding of chord types, and the ability to play major and minor scales in several keys on your instrument, will be useful.</p><p>There will be demonstrations in the session to consolidate areas of study; we will analyse classic solos for their characteristic features.<br>You will get the most from the course if you are able to practise between sessions, materials will be supplied to support your independent practice.</p><p>All course materials and resources will be available in the google classroom.</p><p>This is a supplement to instrumental pop and jazz musicianship and instrumental courses.</p>MusicMusic theory & musicianshipconfigurable
13591351Music theory & musicianshiphttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-musicianship1/2/285/1314/1351/13591/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music theory & musicianship
