Jazz Composition

Theory and Practice

"Buy Now" to view and securely purchase the available paperback / digital editions at our publishing partner Hal Leonard LLC.
Berklee Textbook featured-textbooks
  • Suggested Retail Price: $39.99
  • Format: Book/CD
  • Pages: 256
  • Dimensions: 9 x 12
  • ISBN: 0-87639-001-7
  • SKU: 50448000
  • Publication Date: August 26, 2003

Related Online Courses & Programs

Jazz Composition

Learn effective techniques that will help you compose jazz tunes that have a balance of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic appeal.

Jazz Arranging

Become a more versatile and sought-after jazz arranger. Jazz Arranging explores techniques that will allow you to write effective jazz arrangements for all types of instrumental combinations, from bop and hard-bop, to big band jazz ensembles.

Specialist Jazz Composition and Arranging Certificate Program

Become a versatile and sought-after jazz composer and arranger by advancing your skills with some of Berklee’s most renowned jazz educators.

Master Arranging and Orchestration Certificate Program

In this program, you’ll move from arranging for the rhythm section, horns, and strings to writing for the full orchestra—all while building your portfolio.

Designed for classroom instruction at the college or advanced high school level.
Includes numerous jazz composition exercises which will help students develop writing skills and apply melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic concepts to the blues, song form, episodic composition, and multi-movement jazz works. Click here to download a free chapter from the book!
Jazz Composition: Theory and Practice covers these concepts:

  • Melodic rhythm
  • Interval patterns
  • Guide tones
  • Compound lines
  • Antecedent and consequent phrase structure
  • Pitch contour
  • Modal harmony
  • Chromatic harmony
  • Pedal point
  • Slash chords
  • Modulation
  • Reharmonization
  • Quartal harmony, and much more

Includes chapters on arranging considerations, motivic composition, and fusion. Each chapter concludes with an extensive list of related jazz compositions and other source material. Also included is a CD with more than 70 minutes of related music examples from the book.

Learn more at TedPease.com! Get in-depth information for educators and students!

“I cannot think of another book that treats jazz composition so comprehensively, is as practical or refers so richly to jazz literature. Ted Pease brings a lifetime’s experience to this one volume, which easily could be the text for a college-level two-semester course. It is a serious book for serious jazz students.”

—American Music Teacher magazine

“A monumental work. Finally a book that really addresses the subject of jazz composition. Should be in EVERY theory classroom and not just jazz.”

—John La Barbera, Composer and Arranger/Associate Professor, University of Louisville

Jazz Composition: Theory and Practice contains a wealth of information, much of which frequently gets short shrift in other jazz arranging/composing texts. The chapter on melodic considerations alone is well worth the price of the book. But, whether you adopt this book as your primary text or as a supplement, it is one that will prove indispensable for its exercises and reference materials.”

—Chuck Owen, Composer and Arranger/Professor, University of South Florida

“Ted Pease has been a mentor to many a jazz musician. His book should be studied by all musicians.”

—George Garzone, Tenor Saxophonist with Joe Lovano Nonet/Associate Professor, Berklee College of Music

Authors

Ted Pease

Ted Pease, winner of two grants in jazz composition from the National Endowment of the Arts, has been a faculty…