Juilliard Extension Division Spring 2025 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Jazz
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Application Information
View our Jazz offerings that require an online application to be considered for enrollment.
Click here to apply for all Jazz Theory & Analysis courses. Application deadline: November, 2024; Dates: TBD.
Click here to apply for Jazz Piano. Application deadline: November, 2024; Dates: TBD.
Jazz Theory & Analysis
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EVDIV 13 - Jazz Theory & Analysis I
Sean Smither
Jazz Theory & Analysis I is a course designed to establish a strong foundation for the study of jazz. Like grasping the fundamentals of any language, mastering jazz theory lays the groundwork for expressive improvisation, inventive composition, and savvy arranging in dynamic jazz styles. This course explores the intricacies of melody, varied rhythmic grooves, and the color palette of jazz harmony. We’ll delve into the principles of harmonic progression, the interplay of rhythmic patterns, and the development of ear training skills for dissecting jazz compositions and spontaneous improvisations.
Detailed study and analysis of celebrated jazz standards will help to develop fluency in the language of jazz. While beneficial for those studying Jazz Piano, this course is a suggested starting point for all interested in the genre. A background in reading Western music notation, understanding of basic scales and chords, and familiarity with Roman numeral analysis is expected. For a comprehensive grasp of the material, prior completion of Elements of Music Theory is advised. This course can serve as a standalone experience or as preparation for Jazz Theory & Analysis II.
Sample Course Syllabus
13 weeks; 0 credits
Wednesdays 7:30–9:30pm ET
January 29–April 30
Online Only
$1,040
APPLY ONLINE > -
EVDIV 14 - Jazz Theory & Analysis II
Sean Smither
Jazz Theory & Analysis II is tailored for those with prior experience in jazz theory and practice. This course dives deeper into the connection between melody, harmony, and rhythm that lies at the center of jazz improvisation and composition. We’ll explore how these elements interact to inform the structure of solos and underpin the improvisational and compositional process. Through the study of sophisticated harmonic frameworks and scalar theory, we’ll analyze iconic jazz standards and solos. We’ll also unravel the complexities of polyrhythms, syncopation, and grooves, from classic swing feel to Afro-Caribbean rhythms. By the end of this course, you’ll have a toolkit filled with new concepts and approaches ready to be applied to your improvisation, composition, and arranging pursuits. Completion of Jazz Theory & Analysis I is required, setting the stage for the more advanced topics covered in this course.
Sample Course Syllabus
13 weeks; 0 credits
Mondays 7:30–9:30pm ET
January 27–April 28
Online Only
$1,040
APPLY ONLINE >
Jazz Piano
Jazz History & Appreciation
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EVDOL 23 - Exploring Jazz: 1955-Present
Nathan See
This engaging lecture-based course provides an in-depth exploration of the rich history of jazz from its roots to the explosive creativity of the 1960s. Each week, students will delve into a distinct era or movement within the jazz genre, including ragtime, swing, bebop, and cool jazz, examining the contributions of key figures like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. The curriculum will highlight the artistic and social contexts that shaped their music and define jazz’s legacy.
The course is enhanced by live demonstrations from guest performers, who will interpret iconic jazz pieces, illustrating the unique characteristics and techniques of each jazz style. These sessions offer students a rare opportunity to experience the evolution of jazz in a visceral and interactive way.
Comprehensive discussions and multimedia presentations will enrich the understanding of jazz’s development and underscore its pivotal role in American cultural history. By the end of the course, students will not only have a solid grounding in the historical milestones of jazz but also appreciate its enduring influence on contemporary music and culture.
There are two parts of this course, which can be taken separately or together as a one year course. Please see the Fall Catalog for more information.
13 weeks
Mondays 5:30–7pm ET
January 27–April 28
In Person Only
$663
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EVDOL 36 - African-American Music History
Damien Sneed
The course will examine a variety of musical genres beginning with the music of West Africa and moving to Plantations songs (spirituals, work songs), Ethiopian Minstrelsy, music of the Mississippi Delta, Blues, Ragtime, Jazz, Rhythm & Blues and Art Music. Such figures as Master Juba, Francis Johnson, Richard Allen, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, Robert Johnson, Ma Rainey, Thomas A. Dorsey, Marian Anderson, William Grant Still, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, Jay-Z and others will be discussed. All of these individuals helped to shape and define music of the African-American Diaspora. This course will also explore the global impact and rich diversity of African-American musical expression. By taking a thematic approach, students will see how African-American music has both shaped and been shaped by the social contexts in which it is created and performed. Readings and discussions will encompass African American music from spirituals and work songs to bebop and hip hop, from Duke Ellington to N.W.A., from Bessie Smith to Stevie Wonder, from James Reese Europe to Bob Marley, all of which will help us explore the rich set of meanings black music has held in the Americas for over four hundred years.
Biography: As a multi-genre recording artist and instrumentalist, Damien Sneed is a pianist, vocalist, organist, composer, conductor, arranger, producer, and arts educator whose work spans multiple genres. He has worked with jazz, classical, pop, and R&B legends, including the late Aretha Franklin and Jessye Norman, which he is featured on Norman’s final recording, Bound For The Promised Land on Albany Records. He also worked with Wynton Marsalis, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Ashford & Simpson, J’Nai Bridges, Lawrence Brownlee, Brandie Inez Sutton and many others. Sneed has served as music director for Grammy Award-winning gospel artists The Clark Sisters, Richard Smallwood, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, Marvin Sapp, Karen Clark Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole and Kim Burrell, among others. Sneed is a 2020 Dove Award winner and 2021 NAACP Image Award winner for his work as a featured producer and writer on the Clark Sisters’ newest project, “The Return”, released on March 13, 2020. damiensneed.com
8 weeks
Tuesdays 6–7:30pm ET
February 4–April 8
Online Only
$408
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