Giant Steps Jazz Course: Course Description

The aim of the course is to provide aspiring Jazz musicians with the skills and knowledge required to make real progress in their quest for musical achievement

By the end of the Giant Steps Jazz course, you will have

• made measurable progress in your listening and analytical abilities
• experienced at first hand, and developed your abilities in using genre appropriate Jazz language
• extended your theoretical knowledge
• created evidence of your progress by participating actively in recordings
• developed your competence as a Jazz improviser and performer

Each weekend session and related home study (called a Step) has a theme.

Step 1 - Active Composing

With your fellow attendees, you will create and record two original group compositions. You will be able to produce “head” arrangements, solos and backings. Your compositions will be developed from ideas originated by the group, with guidance by your tutor Alan Cook, who has successfully directed this feat many times before, often with truly amazing results!

In this module you will:

• Develop your aural skills
• Learn to recognise and identify intervals and basic chords by their sound alone
• Make a creative contribution to making and playing original group compositions
• Discover how to go about making a ‘head’
• Record your work and learn techniques to enable you to listen critically and constructively to what you and others have created
• Play in an ensemble both as a section player and soloist
• Possess a sonic record of your achievement

Home study activities will concentrate on honing your skills in Aural Perception

Step 2 – Learning the Language

The second module concentrates on Jazz ‘Language’ and focuses on musical phraseology and a little theory. One of the most important characteristics of solo improvisation is the rhythmic and harmonic format in which the notes are fitted, in other words, its Language.

In this module you will:

• Use all the skills you have developed from attending the first and completing the home study activities
• Unleash the potential of the Ultimate Three Chord Trick. (also known as The Blues)
• Discover why “I’ve Got Rhythm” has been such a springboard for Jazz improvisation
• Understand why “All The Things You Are” is a masterpiece of minimalism
• Critically listen to how some of the greats of Jazz have approached interpretation
• Exercise Jazz language phraseology by playing in an ensemble as section player and soloist
• Employ tone and emotional contour as tools of interpretation
• Record your achievements and progress (for your critical appraisal at home)
• Benefit from learning and progressing along with your course fellows

Home study activities will concentrate on honing your skills in Interpretation - with the emphasis on playing & interpreting the tune rather than improvisation.

Step 3 - Performing and Recording

The focus of the 3rd module is to combine all the aspects learned in the preceding modules and raise the standard of your playing to performance level – your Giant Steps forward in Jazz. There are two ways this happens.

First, a recording session in which you will record the pieces you wrote as well as several standards. Anyone who has recorded in a studio before will testify that it’s a very intense experience, with each take sounding slightly different from the last as you learn immediately from your mistakes.

Second, you will play some entirely new pieces. Only this time, you will approach them with more knowledge, confidence, and skill. The difference in your own approach will astound you.

In this module, you will:

• Build on all the skills and techniques you have learned previously
• Make and evaluate final recordings of all the compositions created in the preceding sessions* (this will be the chief activity on Saturday)
• Celebrate your success at the Graduation Dinner
• Benefit from the fruits of your labours on Sunday, as the group tackles new pieces

*The final CD will be compiled sent to you shortly after the course