MC 1 - About the Jazclass Courses

The Jazclass Courses are suitable for both PC and Macintosh computers. You can either download them directly online, or receive them by Airmail postage on a CD.

All Courses are in webstyle format and feature the same layout, appearance and approach as the Jazclass lessons online. All courses include midi files for Audio demos and play-a-long tracks, and sheet music for exercises and songs for all instruments. All lessons are displayed on a white background for best printout results.

MC 2 - The Jazz Theory Course

The Jazz Theory consists of 20 lessons on intervals, scales, modes, chords, chord substitutions, and typical chord progressions used in Jazz standards, ballads and popular songs.
This Course provides a clear insight into the principles of all types of Western music starting from rockbottom basics.
It comprehensively covers the basic material used in most 2-year University courses on the subject of Jazz Theory.
The Course includes quizzes, numerous exercises, ear training tests, midi demos, play-a-long tracks and an extensive Subject Index.         more info

The lesson topics for the Jazz Theory Course are : JT Lesson 1 - Tones, Semitones and Symmetric scales JT Lesson 2 - Tetrachords and the Major scale JT Lesson 3 - Intervals of the Major scale JT Lesson 4 - Other Intervals JT Lesson 5 - Triad Chord Qualities JT Lesson 6 - Triad Chord Inversions, Scale-tone Triads JT Lesson 7 - Basic 12 bar Blues, Cadences, the Blues scale JT Lesson 8 - Seventh Chord Qualities JT Lesson 9 - The Overtone Series JT Lesson 10 - The Circle of Fifths and its Application in Jazz and Classical music JT Lesson 11 - The Pentatonic scales JT Lesson 12 - Seventh Chord Inversions, Scale-tone 7th Chords of the Major scale JT Lesson 13 - The Scale-tone 7th Chord Progression of the Major scale JT Lesson 14 - Modes of the Major scale JT Lesson 15 - Chord / Scale relationships for Improvisation JT Lesson 16 - The IIm7 - V7 - Imaj7 Chord Progression JT Lesson 17 - The IIm7b5 - V7 - Im7 Progression and the Harmonic minor scale JT Lesson 18 - Overview of the Minor scales JT Lesson 19 - Chord Substitutions, Skeleton Chords, Chord Plurality JT Lesson 20 - 6 and 69 Chords, Altered-, Augmented- and Suspended- Chords, Modes of the melodic minor scale for Improvisation.

MC 3 - The Jam Factory Course

The Jam Factory consists of 20 easy songs for improvisation with discussions of :

1. The song's musical characteristics
2. Related Jazz Theory topics
3. Exercises on jazz phrasing
4. Woodshed practice

The Jam Factory Course is an ideal follow on from the Improvisation Email Course.         more info

MC 4 - The Music Notation Course

The Music Notation consists of 16 lessons. It teaches you to read music from the very beginning, suitable for all instruments.
The Course includes over 50 pages of exercises and songs with midi file demos for each one so that you can hear what it should sound like. (There are separate demos for different instruments - Concert key-, Bb- and Eb- instruments - to cover the correct pitches for all instruments.)
The Course also includes an extensive Subject Index for easy reference.         more info

The lesson topics for the Music Notation Course are : MN Lesson 1 - The Piano Keyboard Subjects : Early History - Note Letter names - The Keyboard MN Lesson 2 - The Treble Clef Subjects : The Great Staff - Clefs - The Treble Clef Staff MN Lesson 3 - Intervals (1) Subjects : More notes on the Treble Clef - Intervals MN Lesson 4 - The Bass Clef Subjects : Bass Clef Staff - The Piano Staff MN Lesson 5 - The C Clef Subjects : More notes on the Bass Clef staff - The C Clef MN Lesson 6 - Note Length Subjects : Note Length - Note Stem Positions - Bar lines - Time Signature - Tapping the beats MN Lesson 7 - Ledger Lines Subjects : Ledger Lines - Rests - Minim Rest Positions MN Lesson 8 - Dotted Minims Subjects : Dotted Minims - Rhythm Patterns - Ties - Repeat Signs MN Lesson 9 - Accidentals Subjects : Tones & Semitones - Sharps & Flats - Naturals - Chromatic scale MN Lesson 10 - Quavers Subjects : Quavers - Tapping the Beats - Grouping Quavers - Staccatos MN Lesson 11 - Key Signatures Subjects : C major scale - F & G major scales - Key Signatures - Dotted Crotchets MN Lesson 12 - Intervals (2) Subjects : Major scale intervals - Syncopation - Reading Syncopation - D Major scale - Anacrusis MN Lesson 13 - Triplets Quavers Subjects : Triplet quavers - Swing quavers - Slurs - Tenutos - Accents MN Lesson 14 - Compound Time Subjects : Compound Time - Altering Intervals - Intervals Qualities - Identifying Intervals MN Lesson 15 - Semiquavers Subjects : Semiquavers - Semiquaver Rhythms - Dynamics - Tempos MN Lesson 16 - Triplet Crotchets Subjects : Triplet crotchets - Major and Minor keys - Scales Practice - Ornaments

MC 5 - The Piano Technique Course

The Piano Technique consists of 10 lessons on a professional piano technique. It follows the methods of world acclaimed piano teachers at the School of Music and Conservatoire of Paris.
This is how outstanding Jazz pianists like Jacques Loussier and Oscar Peterson developed their seemingly effortless fluency and crystal clear tone.
The Course includes an extensive Practice Folder (to print out) with 75 pages of scales, chords, etudes, essential exercises and songs for well organised, sustained progress.         more info

The lesson topics for the Piano Technique Course are : PT Introduction PT Lesson 1 - Concept PT Lesson 2 - Anatomy PT Lesson 3 - Warm up Exercise PT Lesson 4 - Scale Practice 1 PT Lesson 5 - Scale Practice 2 PT Lesson 6 - Fixed Hand Position Exercises PT Lesson 7 - Fluency Exercises PT Lesson 8 - Arpeggios PT Lesson 9 - Digital Patterns PT Lesson 10 - Chords PT Songs

MC 6 - The Rhythm Class

The Jazclass Rhythm Class consists of 12 lessons.
It outlines 20 basics rhythm segments which form the basis for all rhythms in Jazz, Blues, Latin and other popular music in 4/4 time ('Common time').

The course contains play-a-long timing exercises for all 20 segments and their various derivatives.
The course also includes 34 pages of 2-bar and 4- bar rhythm patterns with Audio demos and Play-a-Long midi files.

Lesson topics are :

Lesson 1  - Timing Practice Lesson 2  - Tapping the Beat Lesson 3  - The Basic Rhythm Segments Lesson 4  - Basic Rhythm Segments with Rests Lesson 5  - Triplet Quavers Lesson 6  - Swing Quavers

Lesson 7    - Triplet Quavers with Rests Lesson 8    - Ties within a Bar Lesson 9    - Ties connecting Bars Lesson 10  - Ties with Triplet Quavers Lesson 11  - Triplet Crotchets Lesson 12   - Semiquavers

MC 7 - The Saxophone Course

The Saxophone Course consists of 10 lessons on a superior method to develop a professional tone and technique. As attested by numerous students and experienced saxophonists this Course will put you way in front of the pack.
Here are some details of the Saxophone Course.

1. The Course is suitable for adult players, from beginners to advanced.

2. The Course includes a Practice Folder (for printing out) with 50 pages of essential Exercises and Songs. This ensures a well structured approach for each of your practice sessions.

3. An effective Practice Schedule, Log book and Progress Chart are included to maximise the productivity of your practices.

4. The Course contains an extensive Subject Index, making it a valuable source of reference for many years of practice.

The lesson topics for the Saxophone Course are : SX Lesson 1 - The Concept of Resonator Control SX Lesson 2 - Posture SX Lesson 3 - Embouchure, Mouthpiece, Reed SX Lesson 4 - Air Support and Breathing SX Lesson 5 - Voicing and the first Overtone Exercises SX Lesson 6 - Oral tract Registers, the way to a powerful sound SX Lesson 7 - Articulation SX Lesson 8 - Fingering Principles SX Lesson 9 - Organic Imagery and Long tone Practice SX Lesson 10 - Vibrato- and Altissimo- Exercises. Practice Schedule.

MC 8 - Improvisation Course

The Improvisation Course has been upgraded to a full html course with proper music notation and will no longer be distributed by email. (Howover the Email version is still included as a backup for those who are not familiar with normal music notation.)
Besides the lesson texts the course includes many Audio demos, songs, play-along midi files and sheet music for C-, Bb- and Eb- instruments.

At the end of this Course you will have a clear understanding of the most common chord progressions used in Jazz and the various approaches for creative Jazz improvisation.

Like all the other Jazclass courses, the Improvisation course is easy to follow. You will learn heaps, and it is great fun.

Each Lesson contains six elements : Music Concept - like a chord progression, or chord/scale relationship important for improvisation. New Song (with play-a-long midi) - which illustrates and applies that concept. Improvisation - an aspect of tone selection or phrasing to practise in the song. Swapping 2s and 4s : a great new feature of the Improvisation Email Course. The Woodshed - routines for the practice of scales and chords in all keys. A Quiz - with answers. All songs are easy to play and easy to improvise over, and will teach you how to apply important principles learnt in the Lesson.

The lesson topics for the Improvisation Course are : Lesson  1 -  Improvising on Triad chords (A Happy Day - Scarborough Fair) Lesson  2 -  The I - VIm - IIm - V Chord Progression (Hey There - Where's Woody ?) Lesson  3 -  Major Pentatonic scale (Skyeboat Song) Lesson  4 -  Minor Pentatonic scale (Blues on Nimble Toes) Lesson  5 -  Dominant 7th chords and the Mixolydian mode (Paseo) Lesson  6 -  The Circle of Fifths (Swing Time) Lesson  7 -  Minor 7th chords and the Dorian mode (Dance with me Annushka) Lesson  8 -  Mixing Dominant and Minor chords (The Rainbow - Lost in Space) Lesson  9 -  The Scale- tone Chord Progression of the major scale (Street Dance) Lesson 10 -  The IIm7 - V7 - Imaj7 Chord Progression (I Told You So) Lesson 11 -  The IIø - V7 - Im Chord Progression (Lonesome Bossa) Lesson 12 -  Modes and Chord Functions (Sure Thing - Why ?)

MC 9 - Jazclass Improvisation Package

This combination of Courses covers all essential aspects of good Blues and Jazz Improvisation in 62 easy to follow lessons. The lessons are great fun to do and include numerous exercises, quizzes, ear tests, practice routines and 60 songs for easy improvisation.

The Jazclass Improvisation Package (JIP) is suitable for all instruments and consists of : Blues Basics Email Course = 10 lessons Improvisation Course = 12 lessons Jazz Theory Course o = 20 lessons Jam Factory Course = 20 lessons Rhythm Class = 12 lessons All Courses include separate song scores for Concert key- (keyboard, guitar, flute, violin, harp, voice, recorder, etc.), Bb- (trumpet, clarinet, tenor & soprano sax) and Eb- instruments (alto & baritone sax). There is a Special price for the whole Package   More info