Music Theory and Jazz Theory

Bach 1 1/4C Man · 07-16-2006, 01:10 AM

In Music Theory is there a big difference between Jazz Theory and Traditional Theory in college do you keep them both separate when in Theory 1 and Beginning Jazz Improvisation 1.

What I’m asking is it easy to get confused between the two when you are in your first year of college.

trpt2345 · 07-16-2006, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bach 1 1/4C Man

In Music Theory is there a big difference between Jazz Theory and Traditional Theory in college do you keep them both separate when in Theory 1 and Beginning Jazz Improvisation 1.

What I’m asking is it easy to get confused between the two when you are in your first year of college.

There's not really any difference. Functional harmony is functional harmony. There may be some differences in terminology, but the subdominant goes to the dominant goes to the tonic no matter what.

Michael McLaughlin

Musicians own music because music owns them.
Virgil Thomson

Bear · 07-16-2006, 03:37 PM

Michael hit the nail on the wall. Theory is theory. However, depending on your school of choice, there might be some different terminology. Then you have the not too bright people who argue over jazz versus classical theory... hello? anyone? HAHAAHA..

NickD · 07-16-2006, 04:35 PM

I agree but I think there are differences in the way of looking at things that amount to a sufficienly different code.

For example, in all my years of working as a professional player in Chicago, I never have ONCE been asked to improvise over a figured bass line. I have been asked to read changes many times.

To me it's like writing computer code in Fortran versus C++. It depends on what you are doing. Fortarn is good for science and engineering (Fortran is an acronym for "formula transaltion"). C++ is good for more generic software, though either can do the function of the other. It's just that using the code of rhte main funcition for which it was designed is more optimized.

Figured bass might be ok for an organist improvising a continuo line on a Baroque piece, but when I am looking at a chord pregression with the contemporary "Real Book" style of writing the changes, it all makes more immediate sense to me.

Granted, subdominant goes to the dominant goes to the tonic no matter what, but the code can look a bit different on the paper. Making the connection between the two codes could be a very good exercise for the student!

Just a thought.

Nick

trpt2345 · 07-16-2006, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickD

I agree but I think there are differences in the way of looking at things that amount to a sufficienly different code.

For example, in all my years of working as a professional player in Chicago, I never have ONCE been asked to improvise over a figured bass line. I have been asked to read changes many times.

To me it's like writing computer code in Fortran versus C++. It depends on what you are doing. Fortarn is good for science and engineering (Fortran is an acronym for "formula transaltion"). C++ is good for more generic software, though either can do the function of the other. It's just that using the code of rhte main funcition for which it was designed is more optimized.

Figured bass might be ok for an organist improvising a continuo line on a Baroque piece, but when I am looking at a chord pregression with the contemporary "Real Book" style of writing the changes, it all makes more immediate sense to me.

Granted, subdominant goes to the dominant goes to the tonic no matter what, but the code can look a bit different on the paper. Making the connection between the two codes could be a very good exercise for the student!

Just a thought.

Nick

Chord changes ARE figured bass. The concepts are all the same.

Michael McLaughlin

History is a cyclic poem written by time upon the memories of man.
Percy Bysshe Shelley

NickD · 07-24-2006, 10:39 PM

Mike the concepts might be the same but the language/spelling is different. My post never says the concepts are different.

ND

07-16-2006, 01:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bach 1 1/4C Man Pianissimo User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 51	Music Theory and Jazz Theory In Music Theory is there a big difference between Jazz Theory and Traditional Theory in college do you keep them both separate when in Theory 1 and Beginning Jazz Improvisation 1. What I’m asking is it easy to get confused between the two when you are in your first year of college.
	__________________ Orchestra: Bb: Bach Stradivarius 43* (Gold PLated) C: Bach Stradivarius 229S (H pipe) Pic: Yamaha 9830 Custom Bach Megatone 1-1/4C Jazz: Bb: Conn Vintage One (1BR) Flugel: Kanstul 1525 (Signature) Bach Megatone 1-1/4C Warbuton FL 1

07-16-2006, 03:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bear Mezzo Forte User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: CO Posts: 783	Michael hit the nail on the wall. Theory is theory. However, depending on your school of choice, there might be some different terminology. Then you have the not too bright people who argue over jazz versus classical theory... hello? anyone? HAHAAHA..
	__________________ Of what value would it be to make a prosperous living unless you know how to live?! - anon.

07-16-2006, 04:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
NickD Mezzo Forte User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago northern suburbs Posts: 813	I agree to a point... I agree but I think there are differences in the way of looking at things that amount to a sufficienly different code. For example, in all my years of working as a professional player in Chicago, I never have ONCE been asked to improvise over a figured bass line. I have been asked to read changes many times. To me it's like writing computer code in Fortran versus C++. It depends on what you are doing. Fortarn is good for science and engineering (Fortran is an acronym for "formula transaltion"). C++ is good for more generic software, though either can do the function of the other. It's just that using the code of rhte main funcition for which it was designed is more optimized. Figured bass might be ok for an organist improvising a continuo line on a Baroque piece, but when I am looking at a chord pregression with the contemporary "Real Book" style of writing the changes, it all makes more immediate sense to me. Granted, subdominant goes to the dominant goes to the tonic no matter what, but the code can look a bit different on the paper. Making the connection between the two codes could be a very good exercise for the student! Just a thought. Nick
	__________________ NickD NYTC Stage 1 Artist - Authorized Chicagoland Dealer http://www.newyorktrumpetcompany.com/ http://www.nickdrozdoff.com http://www.myspace.com/nickdrozdoff

07-24-2006, 10:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
NickD Mezzo Forte User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago northern suburbs Posts: 813	hmmm Mike the concepts might be the same but the language/spelling is different. My post never says the concepts are different. ND
	__________________ NickD NYTC Stage 1 Artist - Authorized Chicagoland Dealer http://www.newyorktrumpetcompany.com/ http://www.nickdrozdoff.com http://www.myspace.com/nickdrozdoff

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