Main Subject Piano & Keys Jazz & Pop 4

Module code
M-JP-PIA4
Curricular domain
Practical Classes
Credits
17
Group size
1
Number of course weeks
30
Class duration
One 50-minute lesson per week
Total contact hours
25 hours
Study load
451 hours

Form / content / level

Prerequisites
Admitted to the ArtEZ Jazz & Pop Piano & Keys main subject year 4.
Competencies
See Competencies Matrix.
Aims
Achieving the predetermined technical completion level, learning to independently resolve musical/technical problems and showcasing an individual musical taste which is translated to a personal playing style. Students should be able to independently prepare and perform the final audition.
Relation to other modules
The contents of the main subject lessons are for the most part tailored to the final audition, and may be related to other classes, e.g., Arranging or Band Coaching.
Content
TECHNIQUE:
Studying individual musicians' styles/transcriptions with respect to their use of techniques and developing modern techniques, e.g., pentatonic and quartal exercises; triad pairs; augmented scale.
IMPROVISATION:
Pieces by contemporary composers, more attention for contemporary music in any style; consciously applying diverse harmonic tonalities, such as altered, octatonic, whole tone, mixolydian #11 and lydian; using upper structure voicings, motivic improvisation, free improvisation, alternating between free improvisation and restricted improvisation.
HARMONY AND VOICINGS:
Arranging a melody with chords, e.g., approach chords, planing, quartal voicings and/or pentatonic movement, Coltrane changes.
Substitutes.
Studying harmonies by favorite pianists.
REPERTOIRE:
Mainly pieces of the student's own choice, in one or more favorite styles. Students should be able to play ca. 80-100 standards or self-chosen pieces by heart and to improvise over them.
Mode(s) of instruction
Individual lessons, group lessons and/or project weeks.
Material & Tools
Media / study material / repertoire of module 3, and additionally:
Aebersold Play-a-Longs, transcriptions and analyses of solos by pianists and other instrumentalists.
Student activity
Organizing a performance (band, repertoire, rehearsals) as part of the annual Jazz & Pop piano student concert and/or project week; this performance may be used to try-out elements of the final exam. Independently organizing, performing and promoting the final audition concert.

Examination and assessment

Mode(s) of assessment
Assessment by the main subject instructor at the end of each semester.
Criteria
The student should have mastered the elements described under Aims. Specific criteria are: creativity, expression, improvisation, technique, sound, timing, reading skills, repertoire knowledge, progress, self-reflection, session participation, attitude and lesson preparation
Pass requirements
The student has completed this module if being awarded a minimum grade of 5.5 at the end of the second semester.
Examination procedure
At the end of both semesters the instructor fills out an assessment form designed specifically for this module. Assessment is comprised of a verbal evaluation and a concluding grade. The instructor reviews this assessment with the student during the first subsequent lesson. 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.
Resit options
See the Education and Assessment Plan.

Module summary

This module focuses on raising the student to the professional level as a pianist specializing in jazz, pop and/or related styles, with particular attention for the development of musical and technical skills required to perform the final exam program. Attention will also be paid to aspects directly related to the final audition, including (but not limited to) composing a good performance program, stage presentation, and other topics directly related to the professional practice of music. This module is intended to prepare students through weekly lessons for the final audition exam.