vcc.ca
MUSC 2417: Improvisation 2
Effective date
January 2020
Department
Music
School
Arts and Sciences
Description
Improvisation 2 is the second of a two-course sequence for students wishing to do more specialized work in idiomatic improvisation in jazz and other musical traditions. This course builds upon Improvisation 2317 and covers the modes/arpeggios of the jazz melodic minor scale, the diminished whole step and diminished half step scales. Other topics covered include critical listening, interaction within an improvising ensemble, managing the inherent tensions within these scales/modes, especially in relation to altered dominant applications. Repertoire is drawn from jazz, jazz-fusion and Latin standards.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
2nd Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
MUSC 2317, or permission of instructor.
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Transpose patterns and melodic vocabulary
- Transpose melodies using key centre/interval modulation
- Apply diminished scale and melodic minor scale modes to the chords of standard repertoire
- Apply and develop polyrhythms in improvisation
- Improvise within an interactive context
- Generalize concepts from Improv. class to intersect with the student's own musical interests
- Elaborate and expand the improvisational skills concepts in and out-of-school praxis, inclusive of any musical genre
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
1. Practical and/or written examinations that demonstrate ability at or above the final exam and learning outcomes of this course.
2. A successful interview with the Music Department Leader and one other regularized music faculty member
2. A successful interview with the Music Department Leader and one other regularized music faculty member
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 45
Total Hours: 45
Total Hours: 45
Instructional Strategies
Practice and performance of idiomatic jazz musical language; forms, harmony, melody, rhythm, phrasing, motivic improvisation
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
D
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Assignments |
30 |
|
|
Midterm Exam |
15 |
|
|
Quizzes/Tests |
30 |
|
|
Final Exam |
25 |
|
Course topics
- Performance of idiomatic jazz musical language; forms, harmony, melody, rhythm, phrasing, motivic improvisation.
- Diminished scale and melodic minor mode applications
- Historical perspectives
- Development of a personal improvisation language
- Learning forms and songs
- Application of jazz improvisation concepts to a variety of styles/genres
- Polyrhthms
- Interactive improvising
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.