M-JP-TLT2

Practical Theory Classes

5

7

30

One 50-minute lesson per week

25 hours

115 hours

Successful completion of Tilt Band 1. This subject can only be followed on-campus.

See Competencies Matrix.

Students learn to translate theoretical knowledge into playing skills. They work on building a ready repertoire of rhythmic, harmonic and melodic concepts common in jazz & pop styles, sight-reading arrangements in various styles, and are introduced to specific kinds of sight-reading.

This module forms a link between the theory and performance modules.
Please note that this elective module is only included in the module descriptions out of practical considerations, as its contents are closely related to the preceding module Tilt Band 1.

Students gain proficiency in:
Transposition:
All transposition forms related to transposing instruments, reading treble clef.
Transposing more complex licks: numeric notation, sight-reading, reproducing and memorizing a chord progression by ear and then transposing it.
Meter and rhythm:
Sixteenths grooves: even, triplets: accompaniment, soloing, playing notated rhythmic accents (special chorus) with and without specified top notes.
Reading in 6/8, 12/8.
Incorporating more complex cross rhythms in a solo.
Tempo changes: interpreting notated subdivisions (q.=q etc.)
Time signature changes: 3/4<->4/4<->6/8, with or without changing beat units; incidental time changes.
Accompaniment and soloing in uncommon time signatures.
Half time/half time feel/double-time continued.
Harmonic material for improvisation:
Arpeggiated triads and tetrads, tetrad inversions and enclosures, playing triads or tetrads over a progression.
Scales: octatonics, whole-tone scale, altered, mixolydian #11, locrian 9, lydian #5, harmonic minor (dominant function): sequences and harmonic relationships, awareness of scale tone function and passing tones.
Recognizing harmonic similarities between standards.
Recognizing and using the following harmonic clichés: all positions for mixolydian #11, major #5, major b13, minor b6, 7 altered.
Soloing over less common modulations, e.g., Giant Steps.
Pentatonics: minor, major and dominant: harmonic applications.
Pianists and guitarists only: harmonic accompaniment (with specified top notes) continued.
Sight-reading:
Playing a jazz or rock arrangement at sight.

Band.

Reader.

n/a

At the end of the first semester, the instructor awards a tentative performance-based grade. At the end of the second semester there is a practical exam based on the exercises listed above and assessed by a panel of two teachers. Exam duration: 60 minutes.

Students demonstrate their command of the elements described under Content.
Active participation.

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

Students perform musical exercises in front of an exam panel. It indicates a student's progress in this module.

See the Education and Assessment Plan.