Achieving the predetermined technical completion level, learning to independently resolve musical/technical problems and showcasing an individual musical taste which is translated to a personal playing style. The student demonstrates that through independent and in-depth study and exploration they are able to develop a solid musical identity and personality. They will be able to independently prepare the final audition and demonstrate an effective stage presentation.

The contents of the main subject lessons are for the most part tailored to the final audition, and may be related to e.g., Arranging or Band Coaching.

GENERAL:
Coaching the student in various musical enterprises, including professional and organizational issues.
Gaining detailed knowledge of the uses of technical equipment, amplifiers, effects, sound technology in various styles, distortion/overdrive, and sound processing (incl. hardware).
TECHNIQUE (APPLIES TO BOTH SOLO TECHNIQUES AND ACCOMPANIMENT):
Developing and refining a playing style attuned to the student's individual preferences and abilities.
Studying the use of different techniques and playing concepts in individual musicians' styles; further developing the use of individual tonal colors on the instrument; rehearsal of all technical elements of previous years, where relevant.
READING SKILLS:
Continued study of reading sheet music at sight in different styles and difficulty levels; themes, big band parts, chord progressions, guitar arrangements.
TRANSCRIPTION:
Transcribing, analyzing and playing along with solos by the student's favorite guitarists (e.g., Scofield, Metheny, Frisell, Rosenwinkel, Holdsworth); adapting other instrument solos (e.g., piano or saxophone) for guitar.
IMPROVISATION:
Further in-depth study of individual improvisation concepts in accompaniment and solos; modal techniques (expert level); using outside playing; free techniques; playing with motifs; rhythm changes and blues in all keys;
standards in different keys;
complex chord progressions in up-tempo pieces (e.g., standards by Coltrane and fusion pieces by Holdsworth, Henderson, etc.).
REPERTOIRE:
Composing an effective final exam program.
Choosing and studying a repertoire attuned to the student's individual preferences and skills (this includes pieces composed by the student).
Acquiring performance-ready knowledge of pieces in a broad and varied stylistic range (of which ca. 50 standards are memorized) and arranged for different instrument combinations (e.g., solo, trio).

Individual lessons & occasional group lessons.

Various real books, transcription books (e.g., by Scofield, Metheny, Stern) Aebersold Play-a-Longs, various software tools (e.g., iRealbook, Band-in-a-Box or Garage Band/Cubase/Logic, transcription software (e.g., Transcribe, Amazing Slow Downer); sheet music and recordings of the self-chosen repertoire.

Self-assessment: based on their own musical preferences, students choose individual study focuses and aims, while learning to keep an open mind towards incorporating new influences in their playing.
Organizing a performance (band, repertoire, rehearsals) as part of the annual Jazz & Pop guitar student concert. This performance may be used to try-out elements of the final exam. Independently organizing and performing the final audition.

Examination and assessment

Assessment by the main subject instructor at the end of each semester.

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, attitude and class 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 Guitar Jazz & Pop 4

Form / content / level

Examination and assessment

Module summary