The following are minimum requirements based on 8 semesters of 1 credit lessons. In order to move to the junior level the student must pass an upper division audition.

FRESHMAN LEVEL PROFICIENCY

Semester one: All major and natural minor scales in 5 positions. Major/minor triads and arpeggios in position. “Freddie Green” chord forms of triads and sixth chords.  Johnson, Swing And Big Band Guitar.  Melodic rhythm studies #1-6, Leavitt, Melodic Rhythms For Guitar

Standard 4 and 5 note chord voicings for 6^th and 7^th chord. Leavitt, A Modern Method For Guitar Vol. 2.

Semester two: Dorian and mixolydian scales in 5 positions. Augmented and diminished triads and arpeggios in position. “Freddie Green” chord forms of all types of seventh chords (4 positions of each). Johnson, Swing And Big Band Guitar. Melodic rhythm studies #6A-12, Leavitt, Melodic Rhythms For Guitar.  Reading studies in 1^st and 2^nd position. Leavitt, Reading Studies For Guitar.  .  The ability to sight-read chord symbols and comp in a four to the bar “Freddie Greene” style to most standard jazz repertoire.

SOPHOMORE LEVEL PROFICIENCY

Semester three: Harmonic minor scales in 5 positions. 2 octave arpeggios of  7^th chords of all types.  Melodic rhythm studies #12A to18-19, Leavitt, Melodic Rhythms For Guitar.  Reading studies in 3^rd and 4th position. Leavitt, Reading Studies For Guitar.  Blues In 12 Keys. Galbraith, Guitar Comping.  Harmonic minor scales studies in 7 keys. Galbraith, Daily Exercises in the Melodic and Harmonic Minor Modes.  Comping with the omission of 4, 5^th or 6^th string roots on blues, rhythm changes and standard jazz repertoire.

Semester four: Real melodic minor (jazz minor) scales in 5 positions. 3 octave arpeggios of triads, Maj. and min. 6^th and 7^th chords of all types. Melodic rhythm studies #18-19A to 27-28. Leavitt, Melodic Rhythms For Guitar. Reading studies in positions 5-7. Leavitt, Reading Studies For Guitar. Melodic minor scales studies in 7 keys. Galbraith, Daily Exercises in the Melodic and Harmonic Minor Modes.

 UPPER DIVISION AUDITION

Ability to sight-read any required Leavitt study and any American popular standard tune from a leadsheet (both melody and chords). Performance of an unpublished single note solo by a recognized player at least 32 bars in length. Performance of an original chord-melody solo on a standard ballad. Improvised single note solo choruses on Blues For Alice by Charlie Parker clearly outlining the chord changes.

 JUNIOR LEVEL PROFICIENCY

Semester five: Diminished/dominant 7b9 scales and arpeggios over the entire fingerboard. Memorization of Jim Hall’s composition “Careful” with dom. 7b9/diminished scale improvisation. Reading studies in 8^th position. Leavitt, Advanced Reading Studies For Guitar.  Melodic rhythm studies #27A-28A to 38-39A. Leavitt, Melodic Rhythms For Guitar.  Successful application of walking bass/comping with commonly placed chordal stabs.

Semester six: Harmonized major scales studies in all keys from any chord voicing. Reading studies in 9^th position. Leavitt, Advanced Reading Studies For Guitar.  Melodic rhythm studies #40- 43B. Leavitt, Melodic Rhythms For Guitar.  Successful application of walking bass/comping with “Charleston” rhythm chordal stabs. Half hour junior recital.

SENIOR LEVEL PROFICIENCY

Semester seven: Harmonized harmonic minor scales studies in all keys from any chord voicing. Reading studies in 10^th-11th position. Leavitt, Advanced Reading Studies For Guitar.  Study 1A-3A. Szymczak, Reading Contemporary Guitar Rhythms. Advanced chord-melody concepts including inner line motion and two and three note comping chords played beneath a melody.

Semester eight: Harmonized melodic minor scale studies in all keys from any chord voicing. Reading studies in 12th position. Leavitt, Advanced Reading Studies For Guitar.  Study 3B-5A. Szymczak, Reading Contemporary Guitar Rhythms. Fluency with improvised chord-melody style utilizing inner line motion and two and three note comping chords beneath an improvised melody.  Full hour senior recital.