Jazz Piano Class FAQ

Jazz Piano Class at Fullerton College
Frequently Asked Questions  

Class starts soon! Apply now for January 2024.

[Handout for “My Piano Arrangement Is Better than Yours”]

Contact Jeremy Siskind, jsiskind@fullcoll.edu with further questions

Basics

Is the class remote?
Yes! The class is held on Zoom. You’ll receive a link before the first day.

How many levels are there?
Two. Most students start with the Beginning class (MUSA 134F), but there’s also an Intermediate class available (MUSA 234F). I’ve listed the subjects covered in each class below.

When does the class meet?
Mondays and Wednesdays. Each class has two sections. You’re allowed to mix or float between the sections.The class technically lasts for 1 hour, 5 minutes.

Students in the beginning class can choose between 10 AM or 4:45 PM (California time).
Students in the intermediate class chan choose between 8:45 AM or 3:30 PM (California time).

It’s strongly encouraged that you attend the class live. That said, each session is recorded and archived so that students who need to miss or want to revisit the material can watch at their leisure. Attendance is not a part of your grade. Mondays are small-group lesson days, so if you have to choose one of the days to attend live, Monday would be the best option.

When does the semester start and end?
The class is offered twice a year, once in the Fall semester and once in the Spring semester. Spring semester 2022 starts the third week of January and lasts until the third week of May. For more information about dates and breaks, click here.

How much does it cost?
This course is a one-credit class. For California-based students, the class costs $46 + applicable fees. For non-Californian students, the course costs $323 + applicable fees. Please look at this website for full info about the fees (sadly, even if you’re “off-campus” you cannot avoid paying them).

Content & Practicing

I have no previous jazz piano experience. Can I take this course?
Yes! The beginning course is designed for students with little or no jazz experience. However, having solid piano skills is key.

What do we learn?
Level 1 – by the end of the first semester, you’ll know how to read leadsheets, play melodies in a (real) swing style, comp with simple patterns and variations, come up with a bassline in two and chords to accompany a vocalist, form jazz voicings, ornament a melody, create altered dominants, and improvise over common jazz progressions.

Level 2 – you’ll work on minor keys, modal voicings, basslines in four solo piano in a swing style, solo piano in a ballad style, ii-V-I licks, creating a “dream solo,” more advanced comping variations, shared-hands voicings, Red Garland comping, and more.

Can I view the syllabi?
View the class-by-class schedule for the fall semester here:
Level 1 Schedule     Level 2 Schedule

Are there out-of-class assignments?
Yes. There are written assignments turned in for credit and you’re expected to practice in order to master the material. There are both written and playing quizzes in the course to help evaluate your progress. About once a week, students post videos of their progress on Discussion Boards for peer comments as well as feedback from Prof. Siskind.

How much time should I dedicate to spending outside of class?
As cheesy as it is to say, the more time you spend, the more progress you’ll make. Although every individual is different, as an estimate, roughly 30 minutes a day would be enough to make significant progress.

Registration

What does it take to register?
The registration process does involve filling out paperwork. Even though Fullerton is a community college, you still have to “apply.” I recommend allowing at least 2 weeks for the registration process (much of this is waiting for approvals).

How do I register?
Here’s what you need to know:

  • Start here to apply.
  • Once you have your student ID number you can register on this site.
  • The beginning course is called MUSA 134F Jazz Piano Repertoire and Technique (careful – make sure to type MUSA instead of MUS). The intermediate course is called MUSA 234F Jazz Piano Repertoire and Technique II.
  • Most students are initially rejected because of a prerequisite requirement built into the system. We need to then fill out a  Pre-Requisite Challenge Form (click the link to download). Here’s a Sample Prerequisite Challenge that shows you how to correctly fill it out. That will clear you for admission. Email the completed form (front and back) to operez@fullcoll.edu and CC Jeremy at jsiskind@fullcoll.edu.

What about international students?
“International students can register and take the class by following the same steps as listed above, however, an international student hold may appear on your account. If this happens, please contact the International Student Center at isc@fullcoll.edu and let them know that you are enrolling in Jeremy Siskind’s online Jazz Piano class and would like to request the international hold be removed from your account. Please include your Fullerton College student ID number in your email. They will then be able to assist in removing the hold.”

But I’m a professional pianist! I can’t have my prerequisites waived?
Although I might know you’re a great pianist, our computer system doesn’t. The Prerequisite Waiver form is a way to override the prerequisites in the computer system.

Certificate Program

What’s this about a certificate program?
We’re in the early stages of launching a Jazz Piano Teaching Certificate at Fullerton College. Offering a certificate will not only allow teachers to earn a credential that might help them stand out in a crowd but will also help potential jazz students identify qualified teachers.

When will the certificate get approved?
Probably at the end of 2022 or beginning of 2023 (things move slow in California state education bureaucracy)

If I take the class now, will it still count for the certificate once it’s approved?
Yes! I’ve gotten a specific promise from my Dean that even if you take the classes now before the program is official, you can count them towards the certificate.

What classes are required for the certificate program?
The certificate program will require seven credits – three required classes and four from restricted electives. Here are the courses in the proposal.

Required (3 credits)                                                                Credits
MUSA 134F Jazz Piano Repertoire & Technique I                  1.0
MUSA 234F Jazz Piano Repertoire & Technique II                 1.0
MUSA 202F Jazz Piano Applied Lessons                               1.0

Restricted Electives (4 credits required)
MUS 113F – Jazz History – An Appreciation                            3.0
MUS 156F – Beginning Jazz Improvisation – Instrumental       1.0
MUSA 202F – Jazz Piano Applied Lessons                             1.0
MUS 205F – Pop/Commercial Music Theory                            3.0
MUS 206F – Pop/Commercial Musicianship                            1.0
MUS 266F – Jazz Combo                                                         1.0
MUS 269F – Alternative Jazz Lab Ensemble                           1.0
MUS 276F – Jazz Band                                                            1.0
MUS 287F – Vocal Jazz Ensemble                                           1.0

Can classes I take at a different college count towards the certificate?
Yes! You can take the restricted classes from your local community college. As long as they’re approved by me and my dean, they will count towards the certificate program.

What else do I need to know about this class?
We have fun! 18 out of 18 students gave this class a 5/5 “Excellent” rating on the anonymous end-of-semester survey.

What are Prof. Siskind’s qualifications?
You can call me Jeremy. For starters, I’m the winner of the Nottingham International Solo Jazz Piano Competition and a two-time laureate of the American Pianist Association’s Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz. In the pedagogical world, I’m the chair of the Frances Clark Center’s Creative Music Making committee, the author of more than 20 books including Jazz Band Pianist and Playing Solo Jazz Piano, and the teacher of internet-star-prodigy Justin-Lee Schultz. I have degrees from the Eastman School of Music (Jazz Performance and Music Theory) and Columbia University (English and Comparative Literature) and I’m the student of 15-time Grammy nominee Fred Hersch.

Selected Anonymous Student Comments

It’s been a pleasure to learn something like this in a really methodical way. I appreciate the structure that Prof. Siskind gave this class because I feel like sometimes other methods of teaching can be so chaotic and uncorrelated.”

“Jeremy’s thoughtful curriculum is truly unprecedented – it is well-sequenced so that the student sounds good and so stays motivated, is not overwhelmed, and is learning tons! I can’t rave enough!”

 

“Being able to get real-time and specific feedback on what I did was very useful and enlightening. Especially when needing to fix something, I would know right away if what I did was better or if I still needed to work on it.”

 

“This class was very enjoyable and I think it provides a safe space for new jazz pianists to learn! The content is super interesting, the syllabus is well organized, the delivery is awesome!”

 

“This is the first time I have heard clear, logical, understandable explanations of how jazz chords are created. My knowledge and understanding of jazz, beyond simply listening for pleasure, has increased immensely, and this makes me very happy.”

 

“Every word, explanation, demonstration was extremely valuable. I wouldn’t want anything left out.”

 

“With a file drawer filled with jazz books –“how to do it” — none are as well explained as Prof. Siskind’s class lectures and handouts. I looked through some books again, and, honestly, none give the fundamental descriptions/explanations that gave me the understanding I have been looking for about what makes jazz work.”

 

“The course expectations and schedule was very clear and easy to follow, the assignments were an appropriate level of difficulty and frequency, and the small group sessions were awesome.”

 

“I really learned a lot this semester and I really appreciate how Prof. Siskind broke down such complex material into manageable, easy-to-understand pieces. I think that the best thing about the class was the care that was taken to ensure that we could do what was required.”

 

“I only wish that I had the benefit of taking this class before I started teaching. I learned a great deal about how to engage students and pace the material. I now have better skills and knowledge to teach jazz to my own students.”

 

“Thank you to Jeremy for being so passionate about your music and teaching. Thank you for being positive, patient and honest, each at the right times.”

 

“I appreciated how Prof. Siskind covered a huge amount of material in a very systematic, thorough way, starting with the basics of swing rhythm, articulation and the three basic 7th chords. He made sure we understood the concepts thoroughly with assignments and quizzes.”

 

“I loved hearing Prof. Siskind demonstrate and how he tailored the semi-private coaching to each individual.”

 

“The concepts are explained well and there was always time for questions/ clarification.  Prof. Siskind’s excitement and encouragement made learning fun. Thanks! Looking forward to the next class.

 

“It was broad enough to get an understanding of jazz piano theory and yet specific so that I could actually play jazz piano. I now have a good starting point and inspiration to continue with it.”

 

“All in all an excellent experience for me. Prof. Siskind made me feel very comfortable in the class and I felt I learned so much. Thank you.”

 

“It was very valuable to have the greatest guidance from Prof. Siskind who understands the struggle of the transition of being a classical pianist learning a new language called Jazz.”

 

“Prof. Siskind helped break the concepts down so it would be easy to handle as a pianist, (feeling the achievements), but yet always gives us extra challenges when we’re up for it. “

 

“The most valuable part is knowing that with his guidance, I can actually play some jazz and start to enjoy it! “

 

“I think Prof. Siskind understands our struggle as a classical pianist, and also as working adults who have a studio of students ourselves. I’ve learned soooo much in this class, and thanks to Prof. Siskind who helped built my confidence in playing jazz. I truly love this class and love Prof. Siskind! :)”

 

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