Contra Costa College
Course Outline
Department & Number
Course Title
Prerequisite
Co-requisite
Prerequisite or concurrently
Challenge Policy
MUSIC 155D
Jazz Piano: Beginning Accompaniment
MUSIC 155C
80% passing score on MUSIC 155C final
exam
Number of Weeks per term
Lecture Hours per term
18
36
Lab Hours per term
*HBA per term
Activity Hours per term
Units
18
18
2.5
Advisory
*HOURS BY ARRANGEMENT: 18 Hours per term.
ACTIVITIES: (Please provide a list of the activities students will perform in order to satisfy the HBA requirement):
Group and individual drill on theory
Group and individual rehearsal with instructor
Group and individual performance
Group preparation of presentations
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides group instruction in playing blues, rock, and jazz piano styles with emphasis on the melodic aspects
of genre playing, specifically addressing improvisation, and the piano’s rhythm section role.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the completion of the course the student will be able to:
Demonstrate a beginning ability to play harmonic changes along with a bass player and drummer.
Demonstrate a beginning ability to create an arrangement playing through the head, improvised solos
and head of various songs.
Build complex beginning melodies while interpreting chords and chord voicings.
Demonstrate the ability to keep steady time while playing with a bass player and drummer.
Demonstrate modes, blues scales, and diminished scale, as well as other scale resources.
COURSE CONTENT: (In detail; attach additional information as needed and include percentage breakdown)
10
% Keyboard orientation: body/hand positions
20
% Identification of scales and modes
20
% Technique and theory for playing various music styles as applied to ensemble playing
40
% Developing repertoire ensemble pieces
10
% Research and analysis of swing improvisation and rhythm section feel.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
Lecture, demonstration and rehearsal, collaborative learning, problem solving and presentation.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Textbook Title:
Author:
Publisher:
Edition/Date:
Textbook Title:
Author:
The Jazz Piano Book
Mark Levine
Sher Music
2005
Selected arrangements & Lead sheets
Publisher:
Edition/Date:
NOTE: To be UC transferable, the text must be dated within the last 5 years OR a statement of justification for a text beyond the last 5
years must be included.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS (Use applicable expectations)
Outside of Class Weekly Assignments
Weekly Reading Assignments
Weekly Writing Assignments
Weekly Math Problems
Lab or Software Application Assignments
Other Performance Assignments
Hours per week
1
1
2
STUDENT EVALUATION: (Show percentage breakdown for evaluation instruments)
40
40
10
10
%
%
%
%
Individual and group skill evaluation
Written tests and performance demonstrations
Participation in class recital and in-class playing of song pieces
Research project
GRADING POLICY (Choose LG, CR/NC, or SC)
Letter Grade
Pass / No Pass
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
70% and above = Pass
Below 70% = No Pass
Prepared by:
G. Murai and S. Austin
Date:
S14
X
Student Choice
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
or
70% and above = Pass
Below 70% = No Pass