Jazz Composition and Arranging

Tom Boras received a Bachelor of Music in composition from the University of North Texas and a Masters of Music in composition from the New England Conservatory of Music, and a doctorate degree from Columbia University. Tom has taught at Berklee College of Music, Columbia University, and since 1985, at New York University, where he held the position of Associate Professor of Music and Director of Jazz and Contemporary Music Studies.

1. Definitions - Generic Form of Jazz Arrangements - Layouts - Notation Conventions. 2. Line Concepts - Melodic Writing. 3. Three Definitions of Reharmonization. 4. Bass Motion and Bass Lines. 5. Writing for the Rhythm Section and for Saxophones, Trumpet and Trombone. 6. Basics of Voicings. 7. Melodic Analysis for Soli Textures and Reharmonization of Secondary Tones. 8. Music Textures: Melodic Foreground and Middleground. 9. Music Textures: Contrapuntal or Polyphonic and Homophonic Textures. 10. Scoring Backgrounds or Accompaniment for Solos. Appendix A: Modal and Tonal Concepts. Appendix B: The Blues. Appendix C: Ranges for Common Woodwind Doubles and Other Brass Instruments. Appendix D: Two Full Scores.