Manhattanville College

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Home 2015-2016 Undergraduate College Catalog Course Offerings Music Theory Courses MUTR 3040: Jazz Theory and Composition (3 cr.)

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MUTR 3040: Jazz Theory and Composition (3 cr.)

This course will introduce students to the

fundamentals of writing and arranging for a small

jazz ensemble with an in depth study of jazz

harmony and theory. Students will gain this

knowledge through analysis of jazz standards and

how appropriate modes (chord scales) are used for

arranging and improvisation. Once harmonic and

modal understanding is achieved, students write

for a typical small jazz ensemble consisting of

piano, bass, drums, guitar, trumpet, alto and

tenor saxophones and trombone. Classic recordings

will be presented from artists such as Miles

Davis and Art Blakey to illustrate exceptional

small ensemble writing.

Each student will be asked to write an original

composition or arrangement of an existing jazz

composition for the Manhattanville College's

Small Jazz Ensemble. Students will be encouraged

to attend Thursday rehearsals to hear their work,

and then make adjustments. This process will

allow each student to hear their music played by

their peers, further adding to this learning

process. The Small Jazz Ensemble will perform two

or three of these works during each end of

semester concert featuring the arranger.

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