Basic Improvisation

Authored by Matt Marvuglio, Jim Odgren, Edward Tomassi

Course Code: OPERF-110

Next Term Starts April 8

Level 1
3-Credit Tuition
$1,497
Non-Credit Tuition
$1,250

Learn the solo riffs and licks of the masters: Jimmy Page, BB King,
Charlie Parker and others, and how to develop your own! "What
notes do I play?" is the first question that comes to mind when a
musician is asked to improvise. The answer is easy: notes that are
within the key! Basic Improvisation is designed to get you to
develop your solos, and organize your thoughts and playing with
the sounds around you through a step-by-step approach that
applies to all styles and any instrument. You'll begin by looking at
the 12-bar blues form and the pentatonic scale, and gain a greater
feel for phrasing your riffs and playing 'in the pocket' by studying
rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic repetition. You'll transcribe,
record, and submit for instructor review excerpts of solos from
legendary players from many different genres (B.B. King, Stevie
Wonder, James Brown, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Jimmy Page,
Louis Armstrong and others). You will develop an understanding of
the five elements of music: melody, rhythm, harmony, form, and
color. You will be able to incorporate these elements into your own
playing and also relate them to other improvisers regardless of
your primary instrument.

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Syllabus
Lesson 1What Notes Do I Play?

Playing the C Pentatonic Scale

Playing the Basic Blues in C

Playing the Tonic

Playing Along with Master Improvisers

Lesson 2Improvising from the Melody

Call and Response

Melodic Phrasing

Playing Two Notes

Playing Three Notes

Lesson 3Hooking Up with the Band Rhythmically

 Playing in Time

Adding Anticipations

Lesson 4Minor Blues

A Minor Pentatonic Scale

Riff Blues

Lyric Blues

Rhythmic Motifs

Lesson 5Melodic Motif

Adding the Blue Note

Four-Note Motifs

Harmonic Riffs

Lesson 6Putting It All Together, Part 1

Solo Length

Register

Rhythmic Density

Expression

Lesson 7Chord Tones

Chord Tone Theory

 Using Chord Tones When Soloing

Principles of Voice Leading: Direct vs.

Indirect

Lesson 8Basic Chord Scale Soloing

Chord Scale Theory

Scale Tone Motifs with Rhythmic Variation

Voice Led Chord Scale Motifs

Lesson 9Basic Chromatic Approach Shapes

Single Chromatic Approaches

Double Chromatic Above/Below Approaches

Double Chromatic Below/Above Approaches

Lesson 10Chromatic Approach Shapes and Their Resolution to

Chord Tone Motifs

Creating Basic Chromatic Approach Shapes

Single Basic Chromatic Approach Shapes

Applied to Chord Tone Motifs

Indirect Resolution of Basic Chromatic

Approach Shapes to Chord Tone Motifs

Lesson 11Chromatic Approach Shapes to Chord Scale Motifs

Basic Chord Scale Segment Motifs

 Approaches to Basic Chord Scale Motifs

Lesson 12Putting It All Together, Part 2

Analysis of Contrasting Motif Lines with

Mixed Chord Tones, Chord Scales, and
Chromatic Approach Shapes

Creating Your Own Contrasting Motif Line by

Mixing Chord Tones, Chord Scales, and
Chromatic Approach Shapes

Berklee Keyboard Method

Authored by Paul Schmeling

Course Code: OPIAN-100

Next Term Starts April 8

Level 1
3-Credit Tuition
$1,497

Non-Credit Tuition
$1,250

Master the basics of Keyboard technique and chord voicings, and

gain an understanding of more advanced concepts including blues
progressions and playing three part chords in this 12-week course.
Through exercises that explore the interpretation of lead sheets
and chord symbols, the Berklee Keyboard Method will help you to
improve your performance, harmonic vocabulary, and
composition/arranging skills. By the end of the course you will be
able to improvise over a lead sheet while comping chords with
their appropriate voicings.

By the end of this course, you will:

 Understand how to read treble clef, bass clef and play simple
melodies on the grand staff

 Understand accidentals and play the black keys on the

keyboard

 Increase your ability to read and play different notes

simultaneously

 Understand and play melodies with major and minor triads in

right hand

 Understand voice leading triads

 Understand a lead sheet and play chords and bass with left
hand

 Add three-part chords to your playing

 Understand altered 9ths, 13ths and Blues progressions

Read Less
OverviewSyllabus Requirements Instructors Enroll NowNo application

required Request Info

Add to Favorites

Need guidance?

1-866-BERKLEEInt'l: +1-617-747-2146

Call, Text, or Email us

Syllabus
Lesson 1Treble Clef

 Treble clef notes related to keyboard

 Right hand keyboard fingering numbers

 Moving 5-note one hand position to various

locations within treble clef

 Playing a simple treble clef notated melody

with right hand

Lesson 2Bass Clef

 Bass clef notes related to keyboard

 Left hand keyboard fingering numbers

 Moving 5-note one hand position to various

locations within bass clef

 Playing a simple bass clef melody with the

left hand

Lesson 3Grand Staff

  Grand staff notes related to keyboard

 Moving both hands to various 5-note

positions on the grand staff

 Playing simple one line melodies with both

hands in octaves

 Playing simple one line melodies switching

hands and clefs

Lesson 4The Black Keys/Accidentals

 The black keys of the keyboard - their

significance and location

 Moving hand positions around which

include accidentals creating major/minor
tonalities

 Playing simple one line melodies in

octaves which include accidentals

 Playing simple one line melodies switching

clefs which include accidentals

Lesson 5Independence Between Hands

 Studies to Increase the Ability to Read and

Play Different Notes Simultaneously

 Rhythmic Independence Studies

 Playing Two Notes Simultaneously in One

or Both Hands

Lesson 6Major and Minor Triads

  Major and Minor Triads in Root Position

 Inversions of Major and Minor Triads

 Melodies with Major and Minor Triads in the

Right Hand

Lesson 7Voice Leading Triads

 Diatonic Triads

 Voice-Leading the I IV V Progression

 The I VI II V I Diatonic Progression

 Voice Leading the I VI II V I Progression

Lesson 8Left-Hand Chord Playing

 Voice Leading Left-Hand Chords

 The Lead Sheet

 The Left Hand as Both Chords and Bass

Lesson 9Right-Hand Chord Playing

 Voice Leading Right-Hand Chords

 "Slash Chords"

 Arpeggiating Right-Hand Chords

Lesson 10IIm7 V7 Imaj7 Left-Hand Shells

 The IIm7 V7 Imaj7 Progression

 Left-Hand Shells
  Using Left-Hand Shells to Support Right
Hand Activity

Lesson 11Using the 3rd and 7th of the IIm7, V7, Imaj7

 Finding and Voice Leading the 3rd and 7th

 Using the 3rd and 7th in the Right Hand

with Left- Hand Bass

 Using the 3rd and 7th to Support Melody

Lesson 12Three-Part Chords

 Adding the 9th and 13th to the Dominant

7th

 Adding sus 4 to the Dominant 7th

 Comping Patterns Using Three-Part Chords