Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-blues
For anyone with even a passing interest in jazz, the blues is an undeniable cornerstone. It’s the very bedrock upon which so much of this vibrant musical genre is built. If you’ve ever found yourself captivated by the soulful melodies and intricate improvisations of jazz, then Coursera’s “The Blues: Understanding and Performing an American Art Form” is a course you absolutely need to explore.
This comprehensive offering, taught by esteemed instructors, delves into the heart of the blues, dissecting its evolution and its profound impact on jazz. While the blues has many forms, this course wisely focuses on the ubiquitous 12-bar blues, tracing its journey through different eras of jazz – from Early Jazz and Swing to Bebop, Modal, and Post-Bop.
The syllabus is meticulously structured to guide learners from the fundamentals to advanced concepts. Lesson 1 lays a solid foundation, exploring the history and harmonic structure of the generic and minor blues forms, as well as the essential A A’ B phrase structure. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the harmonic underpinnings that give the blues its distinctive flavor.
Moving into Lesson 2, the course tackles the core elements that make the blues ‘tick.’ The blues scale, jazz rhythms, and iconic blues riffs are brought to life, with practical demonstrations of call-and-response techniques and the application of the blues scale in improvisation. This hands-on approach, featuring live musicians, is incredibly effective for internalizing these concepts.
Lessons 3 through 5 delve into more sophisticated harmonic concepts. You’ll learn about guide tones, invertible counterpoint, and the construction and function of four- and five-part chords, along with crucial voice-leading techniques. The analysis of jazz standards like “Now’s The Time,” “Billie’s Bounce,” and “Blues For Alice” in Lesson 4 provides real-world context, complemented by ear-training and rhythmic displacement exercises. Lesson 5 continues this analytical journey with standards like “Mr. PC” and introduces essential improvisational tools such as tritone substitutions and pentatonic scales.
The latter half of the course, Lessons 6 and 7, is dedicated to the art of improvisation. “Improvising the Blues – Part 1” focuses on practical application, demonstrating motivic development, guide-tone lines, and chordal arpeggiation. The inclusion of play-along tracks and observations of live Eastman musicians is invaluable for students to practice and internalize these techniques.
Finally, “Improvising the Blues – Part 2” expands on modal categories and scalar patterns in improvisation, further solidifying your understanding of pentatonics. Again, the blend of expert demonstration and student practice opportunities makes this section particularly rewarding.
**Recommendation:**
“The Blues: Understanding and Performing an American Art Form” is an exceptional course for aspiring jazz musicians, seasoned players looking to deepen their understanding of blues harmony and improvisation, or even serious music enthusiasts who want to appreciate the genre on a more profound level. The instructors’ expertise, the clear syllabus, and the practical, demonstration-heavy approach make this a highly recommended learning experience. It doesn’t just teach you about the blues; it empowers you to perform it.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-blues