EMAIL COURSES
Chords Basics - Blues Basics - Improvisation

Easy to follow lessons of quality music education, usually only taught at Jazz Colleges

Now available as direct download (for PC or Mac) or, if you prefer, sent to you by Airmail on a CD. All lessons at your finger tips to work at your own pace if you prefer. But you may recieve regular lessons by email as well, just to help you keep your practice momentum going ! How the Email Courses work         How to Order         Prices         Special : Jazclass Improvisation Package Example of a typical Comment Dear Mr Furstner, just want to give you some feedback on my progress. I was very reluctant about doing this course, as I thought it was just like all the others. I can't actually believe it but I am improvising! There is a lot of material to absorb, but to do it at my own pace is fantastic. Of all the books I have purchased, this is the one and only course I can actually say I am really getting something out of. Its also very helpful to have you there to answer questions. David - Sydney

The Chords Basics Email Course consists of 10 lessons. You receive the text of each Lesson by Email, at the rate of one new Lesson each 14 days. This leaves you plenty of time for study and practice. (The lesson texts are also included on the CD so that you can progress at your own pace if you prefer.) Besides the lesson texts the Course Library contains all Audio demos, songs, play-a-long midi files and sheet music (for C-, Bb- and Eb- instruments). You can download the Course library and a free copy of the Jazz Theory Course or have them sent to you on CD by Airmail postage (to anywhere in the world). This is all included in the purchase price. Chords Basics will introduce you to the principles of intervals, chords and the chord progressions contained in the major scale. At the end of the course you should have a clear understanding of these important musical elements. This will help you to understand how chords and scales are used in all styles of Western music (Classical, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Popular).

EM 2 - Chords Basics : Topics

The lesson topics for the Chords Basics Email Course are :

• Lesson  1 -  Intervals 1 - Perfect and Major Intervals.

• Lesson  2 -  Intervals 2 - Other Intervals.

• Lesson  3 -  Triad Chords 1 - The four qualities of triad (3-note) chords (Song for Tara).

• Lesson  4 -  Triad Chords 2 - Types of chord voicings - Triad Blues (Ski Jump Blues).

• Lesson  5 -  Triad Chords 3 - The I - VIm - IIm - V chord progression (Swing Time - At the Hannans Ball).

• Lesson  6 -  Seventh Chords 1 - The five qualities of 7th (4-note) chords.

• Lesson  7 -  The Overtone Series - Acoustics of a single tone.

• Lesson  8 -  The Circle of Fifths - Acoustic origin and function in music.

• Lesson  9 -  Seventh Chords 2 - Scale-tone 7th chords of the major scale (Up and Down Blues).

• Lesson 10 -  Seventh Chords 3 - Scale-tone 7th chord progression of the major scale (Street Dance).

Each Email Lesson : prints out on 6 to 10 standard size pages is in simple and easy to follow language is supported by numerous (Email type) illustrations contains a fun Quiz, with answers for self assessment. The Course includes ear training with midi files of 8 demos and 12 ear tests on interval- and chord- identification. The Course also includes four songs for analysis and practice with play-a-long midi files. You may also ask me questions about anything you do not understand.

The skill of improvisation takes longer to develop than the duration of a single course. However the Blues Basics Email Course will get you well on the way and the material provided will guide your further progress long after completion of the last lesson.

Blues Basics is suitable for players of all instruments. Some knowledge of the keyboard is useful but not necessary. The course focuses on the melodic and improvisation aspects of the twelve bar blues. It explains the various popular chord progressions and scales for the blues, and how to use these in improvisation. Emphasis is on the Blues in the keys of G, C and F. Appropriate Play-a-Long midi files are provided for all instruments. Each lesson includes at least one new blues song. Midi files of 50 Audio Demos are also included to illustrate various aspects. Swapping 2s and 4s : a great new feature of the Blues Basics Email Course. You may ask me questions about anything you do not understand.

You can do the Blues Basics Email Course :

1. by itself (1 lesson every two weeks)

2. or combine it (1 lesson per week) with the Chords Basics or Improvisation Course (more about this).

EM 4 - Blues Basics : Topics

The lesson topics for the Blues Basics Email Course are : Lesson  1 -  Basic Blues Format (Triad Blues) Lesson  2 -  Swing Quavers (Swing Quavers Blues) Lesson  3 -  Syncopation (Cheeky Blues - Frosty) Lesson  4 -  7th Chords Blues (Take Seven - Lines for Nines) Lesson  5 -  Minor Pent. Blues (Bad Man Blues) Lesson  6 -  Blues Scale Blues (Don't Nag Me Blues) Lesson  7 -  Mixolydian Blues (Rain Forest Blues) Lesson  8 -  Embellished Blues (Chasing the Blues) - Blues waltz (Porqué) Lesson  9 -  Lydian Blues (Quirky Blues) Lesson 10 -  Minor Blues (Blues for Wally)

The Blues Basics - Primer is a modified web version of Blues Basics - Lesson 1.

The Improvisation Course has been upgraded to a full html course with proper music notation and will no longer be distributed by email. Howver the Email version is still included in the download (or CD) 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. Just like the other two courses, the Improvisation Course 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.

EM 6 - Improvisation Course : Topics

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 IIm7b5 - V7 - Im Chord Progression (Lonesome Bossa) Lesson 12 -  Modes and Chord Functions (Sure Thing - Why ?)

Improvisation Course - Primer

After completing the Improvisation Course you can follow up with the Jam Factory Course.
This Course introduces many new ideas, reviews some of the subjects previously dealt with and includes twenty additional songs for great improvisation practice.