Learn the basic concepts of improvisation from Gary Burton, one of the most renowned improvisers in the jazz world, including the mental, melodic, and harmonic processes that contribute to the instinctive skills that an improviser puts to use when taking a solo.
Jazz Improvisation
Jazz Improvisation
This course is part of Music Education for Teachers Specialization
Instructor: Gary Burton
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4.8
(784 reviews)
Intermediate level
Recommended experience
Flexible schedule
Approx. 13 hours
Learn at your own pace
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What you'll learn
Use storytelling as a tool to improve your improvisation
Practice and use various scales to improve your improvisation skills
Identify harmonic motion in a song
Use guide tones and guide tone lines when you're improvising
Skills you'll gain
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Assessments
9 assignments
Taught in English
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This course is part of the Music Education for Teachers Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 6 modules in this course
Welcome to the course! Here we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience.
What's included
3 videos3 readings1 assignment
Since everybody who is taking this course starts from a different place in terms of their experience as an improviser, it's important at first to cover some basic material. We'll begin our journey by exploring the language used by jazz improvisors. Improvisation is analogous to language in many ways. With music, we become fluent when the vocabulary (scales and chords) and grammar (harmonic progressions) are assimilated into conversational content or story (melodic themes and structure) and we no longer have to consciously think about them while we play.
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt
In this lesson, we'll explore the improviser's lingo. We'll identify the most common chord scales and the type of harmony they relate to including major, minor, and dominant 7.
What's included
6 videos3 readings2 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt
Improvisers must be able to quickly recall chord scales and be able to play around on them fluently. This becomes important when choosing which chord scale to use on a given harmony—another thing we must be able to determine immediately. When a new tune is put in front of you at a session or a rehearsal, there isn't time to take the music home and spend an hour or two working out the correct scales. Improvisers need a quick, mostly intuitive way of making these scale choices in real time as the tune is being played. This week, we'll explore my method for making these quick musical decisions.
What's included
7 videos2 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt
It is important for an improviser to clearly imply the harmonies when improvising. It is not enough to just play correct notes on each chord. In this lesson we'll examine how the improviser helps the harmonies move. Part of the improviser's job is to help the listener follow the changes as the chords move from one to another.
What's included
5 videos1 reading2 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt
This week we will discuss how the improviser develops melodic themes in a solo. As mentioned in week 1, there are natural comparisons between speech and improvising that illustrate how this functions. The most common technique for telling a musical story that engages the listener for the duration of your solo is by using a traditional concept called theme and variation. That is, you introduce a theme—a musical phrase—then repeat it, making variations on it to develop an interesting storyline. A good solo is like an explanation, or a good story. The explanation or story is the content of improvisation.
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
Instructor
Instructor ratings
4.8 (69 ratings)Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Music and Art
Curtis Institute of Music
University of Washington
Duke University
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4.8
784 reviews
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Showing 3 of 784
RZ
5
Reviewed on Sep 9, 2017
Gary is an amazing instructor, not to mention a pioneer in the advancement of Jazz. 10/10 recommend to any intermediate to experiences musician.
MG
5
Reviewed on Nov 19, 2016
This was a truly great course, I learnt so much. And I have been playing piano for almost 60 years! Thanks to a wonderful teacher and musician (brilliant rendition of Chick Corea's Crystal Silence)
RM
5
Reviewed on Dec 16, 2017
Gary Burton is a great educator - He can give you a very good overview without losing too much time on details.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. Learners should have basic proficiency on an instrument before enrolling in this course.
While prior knowledge of music theory concepts is not required for enrollment, it would be helpful for you to have a working knowledge of basic concepts, such as key signatures, chord scales, the circle of 5ths, etc. If you feel you need to review these concepts before enrolling in Jazz Improvisation, we recommend first enrolling the our Developing Your Musicianship course offered on Coursera.
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.