Jazz

David Zoffer, Jazz Department Chair

The Preparatory School jazz program develops skills necessary for understanding the jazz tradition of improvisation. Repertoire studied will include classic and contemporary jazz literature as well as its African and European roots. Classes will involve ear training, composing, writing, singing, and playing of materials.

Students begin by taking Jazz Theory I and Introduction to Jazz Ear Training. Classes are scheduled to accommodate as many students as possible.

Jazz Placement and Scheduling

The Jazz Department has a new online form system this year that is being used for placement and scheduling The form provides the department chair with all of your information regarding classes, lessons, ensembles, and scheduling.

Both new and returning jazz students must complete this form. Completion of this form does not constitute registration or payment. If you have already registered, you must still fill out this form in order to get placed in the jazz course schedule.

Returning Jazz Preparatory School Families

Returning students do not have to re-audition, but they may do so if they want to by calling 617-585-1130. Returning students and their parents should already have Login IDs and Passwords. If you are the parent of a Prep student, please log in with your own Login ID and Password. Follow the Prep Jazz Placement and Scheduling Form link below, add it to your cart, and then log in with your existing login credentials. If you’ve forgotten your Password you can retrieve it by clicking "Forgotten?" under the Password field. If you still cannot login, please call the Registrar’s office at (617) 585-1314 or e-mail prepceregistration@necmusic.edu. Please do not create a new account for your family.

New Jazz Preparatory School Families

New students must complete this form in order to audition. Once completed, please call 617-585-1130 to schedule an audition. The first step is creating an online account for your family. To begin creating your family account, follow the Prep Jazz Placement and Scheduling Form link below, add it to your cart, and then click on the "Create New Account" button. Parents, please create an account for yourselves first. Then add your children to your account by clicking “Submit & Add Family Member” at the bottom of the page. If you are not sure whether your family has an account, please call the Registrar’s office at (617) 585-1314 or e-mail prepceregistration@necmusic.edu.

The comprehensiveness of this form, and your corresponding answers, allows us to create a nearly custom schedule for the entire student body based on each student's interests, aspirations, and availability.  We appreciate your completion of this form.

Jazz Placement and Scheduling Form

Private lessons

Private lessons of 30, 45, and 60 minutes are offered. Prospective students must set up an audition or placement interview with the department chair, who will advise each student personally regarding an appropriate studio teacher placement.

For specific information regarding teacher placement, please contact the Preparatory School office by phone at 617-585-1130 or email prep@necmusic.edu.

Jazz Ensembles

Youth Jazz Orchestra (YJO)

Ken Schaphorst, Director

Open by audition to advanced trumpet, trombone, saxophone, guitar, bass, percussion and piano players. While there are no specific age guidelines for this ensemble, most members of the Youth Jazz Orchestra are in grades 10 - 12. Auditions for YJO take place in May.

Rehearsals – Wednesday, 7:15 - 9:15 PM

Small Ensembles

David Zoffer, Chair

These ensembles are designed for instrumentalists and vocalists desiring a small ensemble experience with emphasis on the exploration of various jazz, Third Stream, popular, and fusion styles. Emphasis will be placed on the application of jazz theory concepts through performance. Larger involvement in the program is a preference consideration for placement in ensembles. Groups will receive 28 sixty-minute coaching sessions and the opportunity to perform in workshops and recitals throughout the year.

Auditions take place in the beginning of September. To schedule an audition, please contact the Preparatory School office by phone at 617-585-1130 or email prep@necmusic.edu.

Jazz Classes

History of Jazz

Rick McLaughlin, Instructor

A comprehensive overview of the evolution of American jazz from its roots in African folksong and ritual through the present day. Related topics such as Crossover, Third Stream, Fusion, and jazz-influenced classical music will also be considered. Emphasis will be placed on listening and class discussion, with possible live in-class performances. There will also be reading and listening assignments, plus a class presentation on a live jazz performance of the student’s choice.

Text: Tanner, Megill, and Gerow, Jazz, 8th edition.

Saturday, 12:00 – 1:00 PM

Jazz Analysis and Stylistic Application

David Zoffer, Instructor

This two-year, four-semester class is designed for advanced and intermediate jazz students. It requires some prior knowledge of jazz theory. In this class, compositions will be analyzed from both the “big picture” (form, harmony, arrangement, melody, and rhythm) and the “little picture” (articulation and methods of improvisation). Source material for the first year has included Charlie Parker, Ornette Coleman, Thelonious Monk, Mike Stern, and sources from 20th-century classical music. The purpose of this class is to link jazz history to jazz theory. The second year will explore the styles of Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Buddy Guy, Frank Zappa, and more. Students will compose model compositions based on the material in class. Students will also sing and play along with recorded melodies and improvisations to learn different approaches to delivering material.

Saturday, 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Jazz Ear Training

Introduction to Jazz Ear Training

Joel Yennior, Instructor

This two-semester class is designed to give beginning and intermediate jazz students ear training using musical vocabulary from the many different eras in jazz history. Students will be taught to identify basic intervals, chord sounds, and rhythms that are crucial building blocks in developing basic Jazz aural skills. The class will use recorded source material, and there will be some simple transcription exercises. Designed to complement Jazz Theory I, this class ensures that students not only are familiar with the theoretical terminology and protocol of jazz, but that they also can aurally internalize (hear) and externalize (play and sing) jazz theory concepts.

Saturday, 11:00 am - 12:00 PM

Advanced Jazz Ear Training

Eyran Katsenelenbogen, Instructor

This class is a continuation of the ear training concepts covered in Introduction to Ear Training. It is required for students pursuing jazz certificate level IV.

Saturday, 11:00 am - 12:00 PM

Jazz Theory

If you would like to take a Jazz Theory course, you must schedule an appointment with our faculty. At this meeting, you must print and bring a copy of the Prep Jazz Theory Placement Quiz. Please fill out the Quiz to the best of your ability, and the faculty will place you into an appropriate level class.

Appointments may be scheduled for the beginning of September. To schedule an appointment, please call the us at (617) 585-1130 or e-mail us at prep@necmusic.edu.

Jazz Theory I

Joel Yennior, Instructor

This year-long class is an introduction to the principles used for analyzing jazz compositions and the vocabulary used by jazz musicians for compositional and improvisational development. Emphasis is on understanding common technical terms and also on learning to apply theoretical constructs to playing and/or singing in a performance setting. Recordings of well-known jazz pieces will be used to demonstrate theory concepts. There is a placement examination at the time of auditions.

Saturday, 10:00 - 11:00 PM

Jazz Theory II

Rick McLaughlin, Instructor

This year-long class is a continuation and expansion of the analytic principles and vocabulary introduced in Jazz Theory I. Class topics include dominant function, modal interchange, deceptive resolution, diminished chords and scales, the IV# minor seventh chord with flat 5, modulation, and compound chords. Students spend much time analyzing tunes written by jazz masters and writing. There is a placement examination at the time of auditions.

Saturday, 10:00 - 11:00 PM

Jazz Theory III

Rick McLaughlin, Instructor

This is an advanced jazz theory class, covering sophisticated jazz harmony and improvisation.

Saturday, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

2012-08-24