Bass Syllabus-University Southern California PDF

Alphonso Johnson
(310) 993-1524 Phone

alphonsj@usc.edu
MUJZ 300/301 Private Lesson Syllabus
Purpose of the course: Explore and develop personal playing skills
Course Expectations: Participate in weekly private lessons, perform in the assigned
performance each semester (at least one performance). Complete all transcriptions and
other homework assignments. Be on time for each lesson.
Grades:
Jury Grade 25%
Semester Performance 25%
Written Assignments 25%
Participation 15%
Attendance 10%
Grades are based on the quality and completion of each of the semester assignments. If a
student completes all of the written assignments, semester performance, and passes their
jury, they will receive a grade of at least a B.
Books and Materials: Books, materials and music will be determined based on the focus of the
lessons. Students may be required to compose and/or arrange for the semester. CDs may be
required for a students independent research. Books and materials shall not exceed $100 per
semester.
Disability: Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to
register with Student Affairs each semester. In order to establish disability the student must
submit recent documentation explaining the nature of the disability and how it affects them at the
college level as well as suggested accommodations. After the documentation is reviewed the
dean of students will contact the student for an appointment. The telephone number is (213)
740-0776.
Alphonso Johnson
(310) 993-1524 Phone
alphonsj@usc.edu
Year One
1
st
Semester
Lesson Dates & Location:
LPB G101- Wednesday: 11:00 7:00 p.m. and Fridays: 10:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Materials
Your instrument, tuner, metronome, instrument cable
Portable USB Storage Drive
The New Real Book - Volume 1 by Chuck Sher
Modern Reading Text in 4/4 by Louie Belson and Gil Breine
Self Management Book with note paper and manuscript paper
Course Objectives & Overview:
1). Twelve Tone Scales; Major and Minor Intervals, Major, Blues and Minor Scales,
Pentatonic Scales, Chord Arpeggios, Harmonic Movement, Altered Chords & Arpeggios.
2). Song Form - 12 Bar Blues Scale and Walking Bass Styles
3). Syncopations and Eighth Note Groove Therapy
4). All Major & Relative Minor Scales (2-3 Octaves @ 96 120 bpm)
5). Electric Bass History: 1950 1960s (Leo Fender, Monk Montgomery, Bill Black, Willie
Dixon)
6). 5 Bass Line Transcriptions (The Autumn Leaves. Take The Coltrane, Blue Monk,
Beautiful Love, Four, There Is No Greater Love, Yesterdays, Take The A Train).
Alphonso Johnson
(310) 993-1524 Phone
alphonsj@usc.edu
Year One
2nd Semester
Materials
Modern Reading Text in 4/4 by Louie Belson and Gil Breine
1). Modes of the Major Scale (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian,
Locrian) 2 - 3 Octaves @ 96 - 120 b.p.m.
2). Syncopations and Sixteenth Note Groove Therapy
3). Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor and Jazz Minor Scales
4). Electric Bass History: 1950 1960s
5). Diatonic Seventh Arpeggios (Root, 1st and 2nd Inversions)
6). 5 Bass Line Transcriptions (Straight No Chaser, Footprints, I Love You, My Foolish
Heart, Recordame, Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, What Is This Thing Called Love,
Donna Lee)
Alphonso Johnson
(310) 993-1524 Phone
alphonsj@usc.edu
Year Two
1st Semester
Materials
Odd Time Reading Text by Louie Belson and Gil Breine
1). Harmonic Minor Modes, Melodic Minor Modes, Harmonized Harmonic Minor Scale,
II V I Progression in Minor, Diminished Seventh Chords & Arpeggios, Augmented
Chords and Suspensions
2). Jazz and Slapping Bass Styles
3). Syncopations and Odd Meter Groove Therapy
4). Non-Diatonic Scales (Whole Tone; C Lydian b7; Half-Step/Whole Step
Diminished; Whole-Step/Half Step Diminished; Super Locrian)
6). 5 Solos, 5 Bass Line Transcriptions (Blue In Green, Ceora, All The Things You Are,
Maiden Voyage, Stella By Starlight, I Hear A Rhapsody, Along Came Betty, Airegin with
Intro)
Alphonso Johnson
(310) 993-1524 Phone
alphonsj@usc.edu
Year Two
2nd Semester
Materials
Odd Time Reading Text by Louie Belson and Gil Breine
1). Modes of the Jazz Minor Scale (jazz minor; dorian b2; lydian augmented; lydian b7;
mixolydian b6; locrian #2; super locrian)
2). Lion King Score evaluation
3). Bach Solo Suites
5). 5 Solos, 5 Bass Line Transcriptions (Alone Together, Byrdlike, Bop-Be, Round Midnight,
Oleo/The Eternal Triangle, On Green Dolphin Street, Evidence, Passion Dance)
Alphonso Johnson
(310) 993-1524 Phone
alphonsj@usc.edu
Year Three
1st Semester
Materials
The True Cuban Bass by Carlos del Puerto and Silvio Vergara
The Latin Real Book by Chuck Sher
1). Latin Bass Styles (Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean, South American)
2). Chord Extensions and Soloing
3). 5 Original Latin Compositions
4). 10 Bass Solo Transcriptions
5). Electric Bass History 1970 1980s
6). 5 Solos, 5 Bass Line Transcriptions (Dolphin Dance, Invitation, Bolivia, Body and Soul,
Iris, Bye-Ya, You Must Believe In Spring, In A Sentimental Mood)
Alphonso Johnson
(310) 993-1524 Phone
alphonsj@usc.edu
Year Three
2nd Semester
Materials
The Latin Real Book by Chuck Sher
60 Melodic Etudes by John Patitucci
Course Projects
1). Latin Bass Styles (cont)
2). 5 Arrangements of Latin Standards
3). 10 Latin Bass Solo Transcriptions
5). Shared Recital
6). 5 Solos, 5 Bass Line Transcriptions (Pinocchio, Impressions, Waltz For Debby, Isfahan,
Giant Steps, Tones For Jones Bones, Very Early, Voyage)
Alphonso Johnson
(310) 993-1524 Phone
alphonsj@usc.edu
Year Four
1st Semester
Materials
The Improvisers Bass Method by Chuck Sher
60 Melodic Etudes by John Patitucci
Course Projects
1). Jazz and Improvisational Bass Styles
2). 5 Arrangements of Jazz Standards
3). 10 Bass Solo Transcriptions
5). Write year plan listing goals. Determine what must be done/learned to achieve these goals
by the end of the year. Transcription and solo projects will be
Assigned based on year end goals.
6). 8 Solos, 8 Bass Line Transcriptions (One Finger Snap, Sorcerer, Falling Grace, Nefertiti,
Questar, Prelude to a Kiss, Inner Urge, ESP)
Alphonso Johnson
(310) 993-1524 Phone
alphonsj@usc.edu
Year Four
2nd Semester
Course Projects
1). Full Recital
Grades: Grades are based on the quality and completion of each semester
assignments. If a student completes all of the assignments per
semester, they will receive a grade of at least a B. If the work receives
extra attention by the student and the quality displays that, the grade
will become an A.
Disability: Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to
register with Student Affairs each semester. In order to establish disability the student must
submit recent documentation explaining the nature of the disability and how it affects them at the
college level as well as suggested accommodations. After the documentation is reviewed the
dean of students will contact the student for an appointment. The telephone number is (213)
740-0776.

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Alphonso Johnson

(310) 993-1524 Phone

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