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MJI ONLINE JAZZ THEORY COURSES

Open to high school and adult musicians of all instruments who want to learn the essential melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic practices of jazz music. Levels One, Two, and Three use the Hal Leonard Jazz Piano Method - Book 1 as a textbook, and Level Four uses the Hal Leonard Jazz Piano Method - Book 2.  These books are authored by MJI artistic director Mark Davis, and the course material is adapted for all instruments. Levels are offered in a cycle throughout the year. Click here for details on the course format, textbook, and what to expect after you pay.

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LEVEL ONE

Online Class (8 sessions)
Saturdays, 9:50 AM - 10:50 AM (CDT)
Starts January 2024

Prerequisite: Basic proficiency on an instrument and basic music reading skills are recommended.
Instructor: Mark Davis
Cost: $150 for the 8-week course

If you have any questions prior to signing up, please contact us.

Upgrade: For an additional $80, you will receive temporary access to a video recording of each class viewable until one week after the course ends. (Temporary video access for a single class session is available for $20 for registrants who did not upgrade. Contact MJI to purchase.) 

Topics Covered in Jazz Theory: Level One

WEEK 1

  • Developing Your Ear

  • Form and Structure of Typical Jazz Performances

  • Chromatic Scale

  • Whole Tone Scale​​

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WEEK 2

  • The Major Scale

  • Intervals

  • The Cycle

  • Swing Eighth Notes

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WEEK 3

  • Triads

  • Four-Note Chords

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WEEK 4

  • Diatonic Chords

  • IIm7 – V7 – Imaj7 Progression

  • Basic Voice Leading (Guide Tones)

WEEK 5

  • Interpreting a Lead Sheet

  • The Blues Progression

  • The Blues Scale

 

WEEK 6

  • Improvising with Chord Tones

  • Modes of the Major Scale

 

WEEK 7

  • Improvising with the Mixolydian Mode​

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WEEK 8

  • Improvising with the Dorian Mode

Level 1
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LEVEL TWO

Online Class (8 sessions)
Saturdays, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
Starts September 16, 2023

Prerequisite: MJI Jazz Theory: Level One or an understanding of the topics covered in that course.

Instructor: Mark Davis
Cost: $150 for the 8-week course

If you have any questions prior to signing up, please contact us.

Upgrade: For an additional $80, you will receive temporary access to a video recording of each class viewable until one week after the course ends. (Temporary video access for a single class session is available for $20 for registrants who did not upgrade. Contact MJI to purchase.) 

Topics Covered in Jazz Theory: Level Two

WEEK 1

  • The Dominant Bebop Scale

  • Application of Bebop Scale Over iim7 – V7

  • Descending from All Degrees

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WEEK 2

  • Dominant Arpeggios

  • Resolution to the Third

  • Creating Melodic Lines

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WEEK 3

  • Application to the Blues

  • Scale Connections

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WEEK 4

  • More Dominant Ideas

  • More About Accents

  • Rhythmic Variations

  • Phrasing

WEEK 5

  • Major Scale Improvisation

  • The Major Bebop Scale

  • Descending from All Degrees of the Major Scale

  • Resolution to the Third and Fifth of the Major Scale

  • Arpeggios

 

WEEK 6

  • More Major Melodic Ideas

  • Rhythmic Variations

 

WEEK 7

  • Improvising Over iim7 – V7 – Imaj7

  • Improvising Over Imaj7 – vim7 – iim7 – V7

  • Improvising Over iiim7 – vim7 – iim7 – V7

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WEEK 8

  • Application to “Afternoon in Paris”

Level 2
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LEVEL THREE

Online Class (8 sessions)
Saturdays, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
Starts June 2024

Prerequisite: MJI Jazz Theory: Level One and MJI Jazz Theory: Level Two or an understanding of the topics covered in those courses.

Instructor: Mark Davis
Cost: $150 for the 8-week course

If you have any questions before signing up, please contact us.

Upgrade: For an additional $80, you will receive temporary access to a video recording of each class viewable until one week after the course ends. (Temporary video access for a single class session is available for $20 for registrants who did not upgrade. Contact MJI to purchase.) 

Level Three

Topics Covered in Jazz Theory: Level Three

WEEK 1

  • Shell Voicings

  • Application of Shell Voicings to iim7-V7-Imaj7

  • Application of Shell Voicings to the Blues

  • Upper Extensions

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WEEK 2

  • Altered Dominant Extensions

  • Four-Note Voicings

  • Application of Four-Note Voicings to the Jazz Blues

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WEEK 3

  • The Harmonic Minor Scale

  • The Jewish or Spanish Scale

  • Improvising over the Jazz Blues

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WEEK 4

  • Minor II-V-I

  • The Locrian Mode

  • The Jazz Melodic Minor Scale

WEEK 5

  • Improvising with the Jazz Melodic Minor Scale

  • Improvising over the Minor II-V-I

 

WEEK 6

  • The Altered Scale

  • “Cry Me a River” Lick

  • Four-Note Altered Licks

 

WEEK 7

  • The Diminished Scale

  • Improvising with the Whole Tone Scale

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WEEK 8

  • Improvising over “What Is This Thing Called Love?”

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LEVEL FOUR

Online Class (8 sessions)
Saturdays, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
Starts September 16, 2023

Prerequisite: MJI Jazz Theory: Level Three or an understanding of the topics covered in those courses.

Instructor: Mark Davis
Cost: $150 for the 8-week course

If you have any questions before signing up, please contact us.

Upgrade: For an additional $80, you will receive temporary access to a video recording of each class viewable until one week after the course ends. (Temporary video access for a single class session is available for $20 for registrants who did not upgrade. Contact MJI to purchase.) 

Level Four

Topics Covered in Jazz Theory: Level Four

WEEK 1

  • Chord Progressions and Substitutions

  • Substituting iiim7 for Imaj7

  • Secondary Dominants

  • The Tritone Sub

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WEEK 2

  • Expanding Dominants: iim7 V7 in Place of V7

  • The IV Chord

  • The Tadd Dameron Turnaround

  • The Diminished 7th Chord in Progressions

  • Chromatic Approach Chords

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WEEK 3

  • Coltrane Changes

  • “Giant Steps”

  • “Countdown”

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WEEK 4

  • The Jazz Melodic Minor Scale

  • The Lydian Dominant Scale

  • The Locrian #2 Scale

  • The Altered Scale

WEEK 5

  • Applying the Melodic Minor Scale to Chord Progressions

  • Melodic Minor Scale Vocabulary

 

WEEK 6

  • Application of Melodic Minor Scale Concepts to “Beautiful Love”

 

WEEK 7

  • Barry Harris Harmonic Concepts

  • Major 6th-Diminished Scale

  • Minor 6th-Diminished Scale

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WEEK 8

  • Application of the Barry Harris Concepts to Common Progressions

  • Application to “Stella by Starlight”

TEXTBOOK AND DETAILS

Textbook
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Required Textbook for Jazz Theory Levels One, Two, and Three:
Hal Leonard Jazz Piano Method - Book 1

Required Textbook for Jazz Theory Level Four:
Hal Leonard Jazz Piano Method - Book 2

The books are available through your local music store or Amazon. 

Content from the books is adapted for all instruments. See above for the weekly schedule of topics that will be covered.

Class Format: Classes are held online via Zoom. Students will generally be on video and unmuted for class discussions and when asking questions. The syllabus shows which pages in the textbook summarize the content of each session, allowing a student to miss a class due to an unavoidable conflict but not fall behind in the course. We encourage participation, discussion, and an interactive class dynamic.

After You Pay for the Course: You'll receive a receipt by email (check your spam/junk folder if you do not receive it). You will receive a link to a short online form to complete your registration. Once the form is completed, you will receive the syllabus for the course. On the day of the first class, you will receive the Zoom link for the course. 

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