Scroll Down for course info for BOTH Snowfire and Commercial Keyboards

MSUM Vocal Jazz Ensemble
SNOWFIRE Director, Kathie Brekke

Email: Kathiebrekke@earthlink.net Phone: 701.200.6130

Rehearsals:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:30-11:20 Choir Room
Concert: TBA

AUDITIONS WILL BE HELD AT 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25th in the choir room.

It is my personal goal that this ensemble provides a quality and enjoyable performance experience for each member where they grow as musicians, singers, performers and people.

Expectations: This is a whole year commitment.
Attendance:

Each member is expected to attend the listed rehearsals and concerts on the syllabi

Excused absences are granted for illness, school events, and emergencies.

Work conflicts are not excused.

Members must notify the section leader or myself the day of the absence or prior to the absence to be excused.

After three unexcused absences you will be on probation and your membership in the ensemble may be terminated.

After 3 excused absences you will also be on probation to determine whether you are healthy enough or have allowed enough time in your schedule to be a productive member of this ensemble.

Tardiness: 3 Tardy marks equal 1 unexcused absence. Be on time.

Grading:
Your grade is based 90% on attendance and 10% on attitude and effort.
After 3 unexcused absences you will receive a B in the course.
Absences that are school related are excused (ie tour, choirs singing)

Rehearsals:

It is your responsibility to bring a pencil, your music and a positive attitude to class.
Bring a CD to first session to get a copy of the music to learn style
As a group we will do a rhythm run through of each song prior to its first listing on the syllabi
You must then learn your notes and words outside of class so we can rehearse it together on its listed day.
We will rehearse with rhythm section on Fridays after sectional rehearsal time.

Kathiebrekke@earthlink.net
233-0580/200-613

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Music 151 Basic Commercial Keyboards

Instructor: Kathie Brekke

Phone: 233.0580 Email: Kathiebrekke@earthlink.net

Office Hours: By appointment

Course Objectives:

To study and practice keyboard usage in popular literature of the last 100 years. Students will demonstrate understanding of chord qualities, symbols, scales, basic improvisation, comping, tri tone voicings, chord progressions and reading lead sheets.

Course Purpose:

Students will attain the required piano proficiency level in basic jazz and commercial keyboards. Furthermore, after this course, one should be able to perform basic jazz chord progressions in a band or combo situation. The primary goal having students comfortable with realizing basic chord symbols and beginning improvisation on the keyboard.

Required Texts: “Commercial Keyboards”—a three ringed binder available in the bookstore along with a book of music staff paper.

Class Schedule:

M-W 9:30 a.m.-10:20 a.m.

Grading and Attendance

Attendance is mandatory! You will earn 10 points for each class session: 5 points for attending and 5 points for passing/completing assignment. Your grade is determined by 90/80/70% of your total points. You must contact me via email or phone to obtain an excused absence. You have one class day to make up missed assignments.

Course work includes daily assignments, keeping a practice log, a mid-term test, a final playing piece and passing assigned scales. Students are required to practice the piano a minimum of 30 minutes per day. Build that time into your schedule by signing up for a practice room now in the music office!

Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation
in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of
Disability Services at 477-5859 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), CMU
222 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in
a timely fashion.

Commercial Keyboards 151 Course Outline

Mon. Aug 25^th Assessment of skills upon entering course. Gather contact info and course expectations. Assignment: Pretest and drills pages 1-5 in workbook

Wed. Aug 27^th Review Major Scales. Learn Blues Scale and LH Rif Assignment: Blues scale C,F,G, D in Rh—Riff in LHX in pitches for major and blues scale in every key in your workbook p. 5-48.

Wed. Sept. 3rd Test:. C,F,G, D Blues scales improv in RH-riff in LH; check x’d scale sheets Intervals. P. 49-51 Learn and drill Intervals. Chords and Symbols p. 55-56 Drill major, minor, augmented, diminished; inversions & their symbols M m – o + Assignment: Triads, inversions, symbols, improv more with blues scale/riff

Mon. Sept. 8^th Test: Triads major, minor, dim, aug. as asked—and inversions. Improv with blues scale 7^th Chords and their symbols p. 56-67 C/G + - o etc Play I ii iii IV V vi vii chords Assignment: Fill in chords pages 56-67 ; play back pg 1^st song rh mel/lh chord

Wed. Sept. 10^th Test: Play Lead Sheet with chords; 7^th chord worksheet corrected Drill 7 chords. Complete p. 74-75 during testing Listening Assignment. Appendixes. Teach basic Blues—p. 87-88 play Twist lead sheet G blues Rh 8^th notes Assignment: Listening assignment p. 76-7 Blues piano playing. Play The Twist in G

Mon. Sept. 15^th Test: The Twist. Listening Assignment—play your example on CD and discuss Learn Diationic triads from Progressions unit. P. 78-80 play in all keysAssignment: Play diatonic triads in all keys & blues progression in C & F lh riff/rh 8^th’s

Wed. Sept. 17^th Test Diatonic chords randomly; Test blues Learn Progression p. 81-3 I IV V, ii V I Assignment: F blues p. 88; I vi ii V C F G D; back page 2^nd song arpeg. LH/mel rh

Mon. Sept. 22^nd Test: F Blues as written p. 88 and I vi ii V’s; Assignment: Teddy Bear

Wed. Sept. 24^th Test: Teddy Bear and I IV V 's.Go through p. 91-91 assessment Review progressions; turnarounds in the blues Assignment: Listening Guide p. 92 Pianist playing a jazz solo

Mon. Sept. 29^th Test: LISTENING GUIDE Solo jazz pianist Discuss various roles of pianist.

Learn Lollipop –using inversions of chords—keeping the melody on the top of the chord

Assignment: Lollipop

Wed. Oct. 1^st Test: Lollipop

Assignment: C Blues from the back of the book. Walking bass/8^th notes rh.

Mon. Oct. 6^th Learn Rockin Robin Assignment: Rockin Robin

Mon. Oct. 13^th No Class

Wed. Oct. 15^th Test: Rockin Robin and test random chords and progressions

Mon. Oct. 2oth Learn Bass Lines p. 116-124 Assignment: P. 119 Walking Bass

Wed. Oct. 22^nd Test: P. 119 Walking Bass in LH, Tri tone only in Right hand; turnarounds Assignment: Transpose p. 119 to C; Complete p. 123-4;

Mon. Oct. 27^th TEST: p. 119 transposed to C; Tri-tones of 7^th chords Assginment: Tri tones of circle of 5ths both hands; Listening Guide p. 125-6

Wed. Oct. 29^th Test Tri tones of circle of 5ths both hands; Listening Guide f

Mon. Nov. 3^rd Test: p. 72-73 Check extended chords and drill extension

Assign: p. 85 play all of them in a steady tempo

Wed. Nov. 5^th Test ii V I’s p. 85 Learn Chord Voicing p. 94-10 Assignment: fill in voicings p. 98-100

Mon. Nov. 10^th Test: P. 98-100 written voicings. Use p. 119 and play Two handed Voicings of the blues chords in F Assignment: Blues in F Tri tone in Left Hand 5 note chords p. 119

Wed. Nov. 12^th Test: Blues in F Tri tone in LH and extensions in right hand.

Transpose to blues in C p. 119

Assignment: Blues in C 2 handed voicings

Mon. Nov. 17^th Test: Blues in C 2 handed voicings Read Soloing chapter.

Wed. Nov. 19^th Test: Play improvisition Comping p. 104-113.

Mon. Nov. 24^th Test p. 112-113 Learn Satin Doll

Wed. Nov. 26^th No School

Mon. Dec. 1^st Test Satin Doll. Learn Where is Love Wed. Dec. 3^rd Test Where is Love and prepare for skills test.
Mon. Dec. 8^th Skills Test

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