The Evolution of Modern Piano

OSH 650 / Non Credit
Course taught in: English
Locations: TBA
Instructor: Brian Murphy

Course Description

In this course, we will delve into and explicate various styles of modern piano, from Ragtime/Stride through Swing, New Orleans, Blues/Boogie Woogie, Bebop and Beyond to finish with Popular Pianists. Here are some examples: Scott Joplin (Ragtime), Fats Waller (Stride), Duke Ellington (Swing), Ray Charles (Blues), Bud Powell (Bebop) and George Shearing (Popular).

Week 1 RAGTIME/STRIDE: Scott Joplin, Eubie Blake, Thomas "Fats" Waller, Earl "Fatha" Hines
Week 2 SWING: Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, Nat "King" Cole
Week 3 NEW ORLEANS: Jelly Roll Morton, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John
Week 4 BLUES/BOOGIE WOOGIE: Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, Jay McShann, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis
Week 5 BEBOP AND BEYOND: Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Lennie Tristano, Hampton Hawes
Week 6 POPULAR PIANISTS: George Shearing, Carole King, Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder

Mr. Brian Murphy is a pianist, composer, clinician, instructor, and arranger who has recorded and performed extensively in U.S., Canada, and around the world. Brian has collaborated with the great Tito Puente on a number of award-winning albums. He has conducted workshops on improvisation and has received grants. He has guided Honors Jazz Ensembles in the development of their music-related skills: ear training, sight reading and interpretation, chord & inversion recognition, the importance of playing in tune and keeping steady time, how to listen and communicate within an ensemble, the conversational element of improvisation, trading 2, 4 and 8 measure phrases. He was in 2008 New World School of the Arts (Miami) Adjunct Professor for Advanced Jazz Ensemble.

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