Keith Waters's research focuses on the analysis of jazz, particularly jazz of the 1960s. He has written the 2019 book _Postbop Jazz in the 1960s: The Compositions of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea_ (Oxford University Press), the 2011 book _The Studio Recordings of the Miles Davis Quintet 1965-68_ (Oxford University Press), and is the co-author of _Jazz: The First Hundred Years_, now in its 3rd edition. He has articles published in Music Theory Spectrum, Journal of Music Theory, Music Theory Online, Annual Review of Jazz Studies, and others. He has also written on early 20th-century French music, including the book _Rhythmic and Contrapuntal Structures in the Music of Arthur Honegger_. As a jazz pianist, he has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and in Russia, and has appeared in concert with jazz artists Eddie Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, James Moody, Sheila Jordon, Chris Connor, and others.
keywords
analysis of jazz, rhythm and meter, early 20th-century music
MUEL 1081 - Basic Music Theory
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Introduction to music notation, meter and rhythm, scales, intervals, triads, seventh chords, fundamentals of harmonic progression, voice leading, aural skills and composition. For nonmusic majors who have little or no previous background in the subject.
MUEL 3642 - History of Jazz
Primary Instructor
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Summer 2018 / Summer 2019 / Summer 2020 / Summer 2021 / Summer 2022 / Summer 2023 / Summer 2024
Surveys the distinctly American art form of jazz music from its origins to the present, including the various traditions, practices, historical events and people most important to its evolution. Offered fall and spring.
MUSC 1111 - Semester 2 Theory
Secondary Instructor
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Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Continuation of MUSC 1101. Explores principles of harmony, voice leading and form. Continues emphasis on both model composition and analysis. Introduces chromatic elements (such as applied dominants and modulation), harmonic syntax and structural analysis of excerpts from music literature. Offered spring only.
MUSC 1131 - Aural Skills Lab, Semester 2
Secondary Instructor
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Spring 2021 / Spring 2023
Continuation of MUSC 1121. Focuses on sight singing, rhythm and dictation of diatonic melodies; adds chromatic elements, more complex rhythms and two-part dictation. Includes harmonic dictation using vocabulary from MUSC 1111. Includes individual and group improvisation within harmonic contexts. Offered spring only.
MUSC 3091 - Jazz Theory and Aural Foundations 2
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018
Presents the grammar and syntax of jazz and is the second course of the sequence. Units of study include elements of form, harmonic substitution, reharmonization, non-standard forms and harmonic progressions. Post-tonal concepts as they relate to jazz are introduced as well as foundational studies in jazz rhythm. Aural studies of all theoretical material is integrated throughout the semester.
MUSC 4151 - Topics in Music Analysis
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019
Examines critically a specific topic or repertory, such as Song Analysis or Music of Brahms. Uses readings and analyses, with grades to be determined from reading responses, analytical assignments and writing. Offered fall of even-numbered years.
MUSC 5061 - Advanced Tonal Analysis
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
Surveys tonal repertory and analytical techniques. Student must have passed general written theory and aural skills preliminary exam or completed remediation before enrolling in course.
MUSC 5091 - Contemporary Theory - Jazz and Modal Music
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2022 / Spring 2024
Studies the composition and improvisation of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea and their contemporaries. Broadly examines modality in jazz and its similarities to music of Ravel and Debussy, as well as systems of organization in Messiaen and others. Strategies for analysis and integration of the material into a personal vocabulary as a composer and improviser are explored. Offered spring of even-numbered years.
MUSC 5151 - Topics in Music Analysis
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2023
Analytical study of a specific topic to be determined by the instructor (e.g., German Lieder, Bartok quartets, tonal rhythm, Schenker, etc). Study published analyses representing a variety of methodologies and produce original analyses. Student must have passed graduate preliminary exams or completed remediation before enrolling in this course. Recommended prerequisite: MUSC 5061 or MUSC 5071 as appropriate to the topic, or instructor consent required.
MUSC 6801 - Advanced Topics in Music Theory
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021
Intensive study of a specialized topics in theory and analysis through critical reading and analysis, class presentations and independent research. Student must have passed graduate preliminary exams and completed 6 credits hours of graduate-level theory before enrolling in course. Instructor determined prerequisite will be enforced as appropriate to the topic.
MUSC 7046 - Seminar in Jazz Literature
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2024
Provides advanced study in jazz literature and styles. Students present results of research on individually chosen topics or aspects of a topic central to the class. Requires class presentations and a major paper or project. Recommended prerequisites: MUSC 5091 and MUSC 5642. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Offered spring semester only.
