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Unit of study_
JAZZ1025: Jazz Piano 1
2025 unit information
This unit of study will focus on basic keyboard technique as well as jazz chord progressions and voicings in small classes with students of like abilities. Students are assessed on their rate of progress by demonstrating successful completion of pieces and exercises. At the end of semester examinations, students are required to demonstrate their understanding of the chords and voice leading of the selected repertoire. An introduction to playing chords of tunes of the jazz repertoire. An introduction to playing diatonic cycle harmony. An introduction into jazz rhythmic articulations.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Jazz |
| Credit points | 3 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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To have a basic understanding of the names of the notes on a piano keyboard, and to have an understanding and basic ability to be able to read music notation in treble and bass clefs |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. identify and construct (from printed score or from memory) the basic 7th chords derived from the modes of the major scale, including: maj7, min7, dominant 7, min7(b5) or half-diminished 7, and diminished 7.
- LO2. use a number of basic techniques to improvise melodies over simple jazz repertoire.
- LO3. employ a small number of basic techniques of arranging music at the piano from a lead sheet (i.e. chord & bass, melody & chord).
- LO4. illustrate a basic understanding of voice-leading between consecutive chord structures and in harmonic progressions.
- LO5. describe in basic detail some aspects of recorded jazz music, and identify a small number of relevant techniques employed by the performing musicians that may be in turn used to inform one's own practice and arrangements.
- LO6. utilize the resources presented in this course to inform further private practice and study of (or improvisation or composition with) jazz piano and jazz harmony.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
