Ear Training I: Course content is based upon the development of relative pitch and awareness of basic scale and chord structures. A brief course outline includes: Hearing diatonic and non-diatonic, intervals (one octave) Recognizing major and minor scales, learning interval shapes on the neck, melodic and rhythmic dictation, hearing chord qualities and progressions.

Ear Training Lab: Instructor drills on intervals (one octave); recognizing major and minor scales; diatonic melodic dictation; rhythmic dictation (simple and compound meters); hearing chord qualities (major, minor, augmented, diminished, and dominant).

Harmony I: This course explores the basis of harmony including temperament and tonality, basic notation and scales. It also begins the study of chord progressions and voicing.

Jazz Performance I: This is an interdisciplinary ensemble class, which focuses on 12 bar blues form in major, minor and dominant keys with 8th-note, 16th-note, shuffle and R&B grooves. The emphasis is on improvisation. This class corresponds to Scales I.

Music Appreciation: This course is designed to expose students to a broad spectrum of musical ideas, concepts, and genres. Emphasis is placed on studying those musical concepts that hold true for all styles of music (form and structure, counterpoint, melodic and harmonic content). Genres covered include: Middle Ages; Renaissance; Baroque; Classical; Romantic; 20th Century; Jazz; Rock.

Notation I: This course is designed to help students properly notate music. An in-depth view of the basic rules of page set-up, correct use of common symbols, and proper placement of note values will enhance the student's ability to read music as well as help them write and perform it correctly. A brief course outline includes: clefs, bar lines, key signatures, and time signatures; note heads and stems, rests, and accidentals; beaming, slurs and ties, beat spacing; dynamic markings.

Private Lesson: Students receive one half hour of private instruction weekly to address areas of technique or theory for which they require assistance.

Reading: This class focuses on two areas: rhythm reading and note reading. In the rhythm reading section, the students start with eighth note based rhythms in both straight eighth and swing eighth feels. By the end of Level I, the student will be working with complex combinations of triplet and sixteenth note figures. In the note reading section, the students start off with whole note and half note exercises that quickly advance to the complex level of rhythm reading.

Rock Performance I: This is an interdisciplinary ensemble class, which focuses on the history of rock bass from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Students will perform tunes that started the Rock & Roll era.

Scales I: Scales I begins with an exploration of currently accepted bass technique, then the major scale is explored in depth including: Modes, pentatonics, blues scale, arpeggios, and sequences. Students are expected to play regularly, demonstrating not only knowledge of the scales, but knowledge of how to use those scales to create music.

Styles I: This is a class that focuses on the fundamentals of Swing jazz and Latin jazz. Elements of swing include: Walking, comping, and soloing. Elements of Latin include: Bossa pattern, Samba Pattern, comping, and soloing. Classic pop songs that derive their grooves and arrangements from these styles are explored, specifically rock and folk. There is an introduction to Bach cello suites, both from the perspective of style, as well as technique.

Back to Top

Ear Training II: This course is a continuation of Ear Training I. Emphasis is placed on identifying common chord progressions and syncopated rhythms. A brief course outline includes: cadences; secondary dominants; "odd" meters; hearing chord qualities (major 7th, minor 7th, augmented 7th, half diminished 7th and diminished 7th).

Harmony II: The focus of this class is the construction of melodies and improvised lines. Various approaches to voice-leading are discussed including modal, pentatonic, chord-tone and chromatic lines. Methods for practicing and writing these lines are discussed as well.

Jazz Performance II: In this course students will begin learning and performing jazz repertoire, while performing for the class in a jazz quartet. Many of the jazz tunes for Level II, including 'Maiden Voyage,' 'Impressions,' and 'Footprints,' focus on modal progressions and modal improvisation. Latin styles are also introduced with 'Blue Bossa.'

Studio Performance II: Students perform together in a recording environment for the purpose of gaining experience as studio musicians. Practice material in the form of charts and recordings is provided. Student recordings will be reviewed by the class.

Notation II: This course is a continuation of Notation I. More advanced concepts are covered including: writing multiple voices/lines on one staff; writing for piano; vocal (solo and ensemble) notation with accompaniment (piano and guitar); ensemble (combo, band, orchestral) notation; popular notation (chord charts, lead sheets).

Private Lesson: Students receive one half hour of private instruction weekly to address areas of technique or theory for which they require assistance.

Reading: This class takes the skills learned from the rhythm and note reading exercises covered in Level I and puts them to work on real bass charts. These bass charts were actually used on gigs. The focus is on understanding form, fingering analysis, and groove. The students will be tested on these charts each week by playing through the charts like they are on a real gig situation.

Rock Performance II: This class begins where Level I ends, dealing with dynamics and feel. Students will perform songs by Jeff Beck, Santana, and others.

Scales II: Scales II explores the melodic minor scale is in depth including: Modes, arpeggios, and sequences. The class also explores uses of symmetric scales. Students are expected to play regularly, demonstrating not only knowledge of the scales, but also knowledge of how to use those scales to create music.

Styles II: Styles II a class that continues the exploration of the Jazz idiom by focusing on form as a means to learn songs, as well as recognize similarities between tunes. Forms that are covered in depth are blues, rhythm changes, AABA, AABC, ABCA, and Binary. Tunes that use slightly modified standard forms are also discussed. In addition, early Motown standards are transcribed by students, and the elements of the Motown style are discussed. Bach cello studies for bass are continued in this class.

Back to Top

Harmony III: This class explores the extension of the diatonic system of harmony. Borrowed chords, secondary harmony and other methods of reharmonization are discussed. Advanced progressions utilizing parallelism, pedal point, harmonic sequence and other forms of chromaticism are also covered.

Jazz Performance III: In this course, students continue learning and performing jazz repertoire in a jazz quartet. The pieces studied in level 3 (including 'Flintstones', 'Blue Bossa', 'Autumn Leaves', 'All the Things You Are', and 'Billie's Bounce,') focus on major and minor ii V7 progressions.

Private Lesson: Students receive one half hour of private instruction weekly to address areas of technique or theory for which they require assistance.

Reading: This class continues with the use of real gig charts that are more complex and cover a wide range of styles. They also include different techniques such as slap and pick playing. There is also a section on working with a Nashville number chart and a pre-recorded rhythm track that was used in an actual recording session.

Studio Performance III: Students perform together in a recording environment for the purpose of gaining experience as studio musicians. Practice material in the form of charts and recordings is provided. Student recordings will be reviewed by the class.

Rock Performance III: Moving into more advanced material, Level III students will perform songs by Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Satriani and others. Level III & IV performance classes are geared toward practical applications outside the school and on the gig. The class will try to achieve a "live" feel and develop confidence and stage presence.

Scales III: Scales III explores the harmonic minor scale in depth including: Modes, arpeggios, and sequences. The class also explores uses of bee bop scales. Students are expected to play regularly, demonstrating not only knowledge of the scales, but also knowledge of how to use those scales to create music.

Styles III: This class continues the study of the jazz idiom by focusing on standard tunes in 3 and 6, or the Jazz waltz. In addition, early Funk and Disco are explored in depth. Bach cello studies for bass are continued in this class.

Transcription I: This course includes in-depth discussion of rhythm and meter, rhythmic notation and chart-writing. It also includes techniques for transcribing difficult passages accurately.

Back to Top

Arranging: This class discusses a variety of subjects relating to musical style, with emphasis on writing for various instruments. Rhythm section, brass and wind charts are discussed.

Composition: Form, harmonic goals, and thematic development are among the advanced ideas discussed in this class, with emphasis on solving common compositional problems. Students will be given exercises and projects to improve their writing.

Jazz Performance IV: In this class students will perform contemporary jazz pieces with latin, funk and rock influences. Improvisation is stressed, along with accurate performance.

Latin: This class delves into the wonderful world of Afro-Cuban bass playing. With the rapid growth of the Hispanic community around the country, there are many work opportunities for a bass player that has this style of bass playing down. The different types of Afro-Cuban bass playing covered in this class are Guajiru, Son Montuno, Guaguanco, Mambo, Merengue, Songo, Salsa, Latin Jazz, and crossover grooves.

Music Business: Presenting concepts and practices that cover several areas of the constantly changing music industry, students will learn about such things as booking, agency contacts, performing rights organizations, copyright and trademark, record label anatomy, artist management agreements, tax information, musician health practices, resume and self-promotion.

Popular Styles Performance: The Popular Styles Performance Class introduces students to four different styles of songs that they are very likely to encounter when doing gigs and going to jam sessions. The styles covered are reggae, samba, funk, and odd meter. This is a level four class with some fun and challenging songs.

Private Lesson: Students receive one half hour of private instruction weekly to address areas of technique or theory for which they require assistance.

Reading IV: This is the test. If the student can comfortably play these charts, he/she is ready for just about any reading situation. As said before, these are real bass charts used on real gigs.

Studio Performance IV: Students perform together in a recording environment for the purpose of gaining experience as studio musicians. Practice material in the form of charts and recordings is provided. Student recordings will be reviewed by the class.

Rock Performance IV: Students will now perform advanced compositions by Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, and original material. Levels III & IV performance classes are geared toward practical applications outside the school and on the gig. The class will try to achieve a "live" feel and develop confidence and stage presence.

Scales IV: Scales IV explores alternative harmonic concepts for melodic and harmonic improvisation including: Playing outside, ethnic modes, imposing triads, and playing shapes. Students are expected to play regularly, demonstrating not only knowledge of the scales, but also knowledge of how to use those scales to create music.

Styles IV: Styles IV focuses on technically challenging jazz tunes including bee bop and fusion. A final Bach cello suite for bass is studied, and other styles are both discussed and played, including: reggae, country, and bluegrass.

Back to Top