As part of both the sophomore barrier and junior barrier, students will take an exam testing their proficiency with the following concepts, all of which are covered in core course curriculum.
Scale/Chord Relationships – being able to identify scales that accompany chords
Functional Harmony
Reharmonization Techniques using Functional Harmony
Cycle Substitution
Delayed Cycle Substitution
Non-Functional Harmony
Reharmonization Techniques using Non-Functional Harmony
Analyzing Functional and Non-Functional Chord Progressions
Motive Manipulation
Motive Planing Within Broad Key Center
Piano Chord Voicing Techniques
Block Voicing Technique
5/9 Plane Voicings – 2 to 5 Note Voicings
Spread Voicings w/ Upper Structures
Cluster Voicings
Bass Line Construction
Walking lines
2 Beat lines
“Latin” lines
Rhythmic Theory
6/8 West African Clave
Cuban 3 – 2 Son Clave
Brazilian 2 – 3 Clave
6/8 African 3 – 2 Rhumba Clave
Cuban 3 – 2 Rhumba Clave
Cuban 2 – 3 Rhumba Clave
Cascara Patterns
3 – 2 Clave Pattern
2 – 3 Clave Pattern
Common Polyrhythms and Metric Modulations
Additionally, students taking the junior barrier exam are expected to demonstrate proficiency with the following topics covered in MUJ 480-481 Jazz Arranging I-II.
Standard Instrument Ranges & Transposition
Chord Identification & Harmonic Analysis
Harmonization
Common Arranging Rules/Guidelines
Lower Limits in Voicings
Avoid Notes
Spacing in Voicings
Appropriate Registers
Error Detection