Further developing the technical aspects of the students' musicianship in the broadest sense of the word, as well as stimulating their musical awareness and personal taste in music. Students will be able to play the pieces described under Content or similar material (self-chosen pieces, other genres) with a band and to improvise over the pieces, demonstrating their ability to incorporate more complex structures with respect to harmony, melody, rhythm and musical form. For more detailed descriptions and examples, see Content.

The contents of the main subject class correspond to the contents of the chosen band and theory lessons such as analysis.

TECHNIQUE:
Further development of snare drum technique with the help of existing études (Moeller, Wilcoxon, Basler) as well as études to be written by the students themselves.
Further development of hand-foot coordination while playing jazz, rock and Latin music.
Brush technique instruction will remain focused on the command of basic techniques, in addition to the use of rudiments.
Developing a personal sound.
READING SKILLS:
Reading drum études, lead sheets and big band arrangements, as well as pop and rock charts.
IMPROVISATION:
Improvising on given basic phrases, goal notes, rhythmic motifs or rigid patterns.
Analysing well-known drummers from the jazz, Latin and rock tradition; emulating stylistic properties.
Transcribing and learning to play intermediate to advanced solos in latin, jazz or rock styles.
Improvising over goal notes.
ACCOMPANIMENT:
Further developing skills pertaining to accompaniment in common styles, grooves and tempi.
Further developing tempo control; improvising over a metronome pulse.
Tandem playing between drums and bass.
Introduction to complex time signatures.
Executing tempo or time signatures changes.
Playing various uncommon forms (with intros, interludes, codas, and elaborate form structure, unusual numbers of bars, etc.).
REPERTOIRE:
A mix of standard repertoire and self-chosen repertoire.

Individual lessons and four 3-hour group lessons with third year students.

Real Books, Gary Chaffey: Pattern series parts 1 through 4, recordings of the pieces to be played.

Organizing a performance (band, repertoire, rehearsals) as part of the annual Jazz & Pop ensemble week; independently organizing a performance (five pieces) as part of the transition exam audition.

Examination and assessment

Assessment by the main subject instructor at the end of each semester. A technical exam is part of the assessment procedure.

The student should have mastered the elements described under Aims. Specific criteria are: creativity, expression, improvisation, technique, sound, intonation, timing, reading skills, repertoire knowledge, progress, self-reflection, session participation, attitude and lesson preparation.

The student has completed this module if being awarded a minimum grade of 5.5 at the end of the second semester.

At the end of both semesters the instructor fills out an assessment form designed specifically for this module. Assessment is comprised of a verbal evaluation and a concluding grade. The instructor reviews this assessment with the student during the first subsequent lesson. Assessment at the end of the autumn semester is formative and expressed in terms of satisfactory/unsatisfactory. It indicates a student's progress in this module. No ECs are awarded and there is no resit. Modules can only be absolved, and ECs awarded, after the end of the spring semester.

Main Subject Drums Jazz & Pop 3

Form / content / level

Examination and assessment

Module summary