The blues is an American art form and the most important musical form in jazz. Although there are other formal paradigms of the blues, such as 8-bar or 16-bar, this course focuses on different incarnations of the 12-bar blues. There are considerable differences between Early Jazz blues, Swing blues, Bebop blues, Modal blues, and Post Bop blues. Each type has its unique harmonic syntax, melodic vocabulary and, associated with them, improvisational techniques. While other aspects of jazz performance practice have been constantly changing from one stylistic convention to another, the blues has never lost its identity and expressive power, and continues to exert a powerful influence on the harmonic and melodic syntax of jazz.
Offered By
The Blues: Understanding and Performing an American Art Form
University of RochesterAbout this Course
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for BusinessSkills you will gain
- Music
- Chord
- Jazz
- Jazz Improvisation
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for BusinessOffered by
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Blues Progressions – Theory and Practice
Blues Scales
Keyboard Realization
“Bird” Blues and Other Blues Progressions
Reviews
- 5 stars86.88%
- 4 stars10.83%
- 3 stars1.39%
- 2 stars0.34%
- 1 star0.52%
TOP REVIEWS FROM THE BLUES: UNDERSTANDING AND PERFORMING AN AMERICAN ART FORM
Great and detailed course! The instructor's enthusiasm can be felt through the screen! Really worthwhile to spend time on if you're into blues or jazz.
The prof explains the concepts very clearly and provides helpful resources
The quiz/assignments could be more challenging to better put into practice the learned material.
A very comprehensive course with clear explanation on the various type of the progressions and scales used in Jazz and Blues music.
Thanks a lot, Dariusz Terefenko! You are a terrific teaching and outstanding musician! This course changed the way I thought about music, it really made the difference!
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.