Course Description

Today’s class is titled "Active Listening: A Guide to the Musical Listening Experience," presented by jazz vocalist: Christie Dashiell.   

After telling us a little about herself, Christie will introduce concepts such as time signature, mode, and mood to help us develop our musical listening skills.

Featured Artist

Christie Dashiell

With her sultry soulful flare and cutting edge compositions, D.C. - based vocalist Christie Dashiell has become one of the most sought-after artists on the scene today. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Greenville, North Carolina, Dashiell is a graduate of Howard University and the Manhattan School of Music. As a member of Afro-Blue, Howard’s premier vocal jazz ensemble, Dashiell appeared on NBC’s “The Sing Off.” She has twice received recognition in DownBeat Magazine’s Student Music Awards as Outstanding Soloist and Best Vocalist in the Graduate College division and was selected as a semifinalist in the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Vocals Competition. In 2016, Dashiell released her debut solo album, Time All Mine, debuting on Billboard’s Jazz Album and Contemporary Jazz Album Charts at numbers thirteen (13) and twenty-two (22), in addition to Jazz Times’ Top 50 Writer’s Ballots, Critics’ Poll. Currently, she travels with her own quartet and works with world-renowned pianist Helen Sung, Marcus Strickland, and Twi-Life, and Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock. She has appeared as a featured artist on Blue Note Record’s, Supreme Sonacy, Vol. 1, Marquis Hill’s, The Way We Play, and most recently Wynton Marsalis’ new work “The Ever Fonky Lowdown” with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. She has been seen in concert on various national and international stages including, Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, The Baku Jazz Festival, and Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Tokyo. Dashiell is on faculty at Temple University, Howard University and The University of the District of Columbia.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome

    • Introduction to Active Listening: A Guide to the Musical Listening Experience

  • 2

    Opening Performance

    • A Mash-Up Performed by Our Expert

  • 3

    Expert Introduction

    • Meet Christie Dashiell!

  • 4

    Part #1: Introduction to Active Listening

    • Overview of Key/Mode, Time Signature, Patterns, and Feeling

  • 5

    Part #2: Application

    • Active Listening Practice

  • 6

    Conclusion

    • Final Remarks for Our Expert

  • 7

    Quiz

    • Test Your Knowledge!

  • 8

    Resources

    • Websites to Continue Your Learning