Course Syllabus

Course: MUSC 2146

Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Jazz Ensemble

Semester Approved: Fall 2022
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2028
End Semester: Summer 2028

Catalog Description: Jazz Ensemble is a standard jazz big band. The jazz ensemble will perform literature inclusive of all jazz styles. The group will perform concerts, attend festivals, and tour. This course also covers various aspects of the music business such as creating promotional material and marketing, identifying technological resources for jazz education, and creating networking strategies to secure employment. An audition is required to participate in this course. This course is repeatable for credit.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1-3; Lecture: 1-3; Lab: 0
Repeatable: Yes.


Justification: Jazz is a uniquely American form of art that is generally taught at the college level in a big band setting. This course is standard at four-year institutions throughout the state. Students wishing to continue band at a four-year institution must develop competitive performance skills while at Snow College. Music education majors need this experience at Snow College in order to teach this subject in secondary schools.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand this literature with respect to its historical context as well as the stylistic, expressive, and formal qualities associated with the music. Upon completion of each semester of this course, students will be able to accurately perform the music selected by the instructor. Students will communicate this understanding of literature to their audience in concert. Students will demonstrate competence in this outcome through regular playing tests, performance in rehearsals and sectionals, and public performance.

Students will study jazz recordings by legendary artists to gather and develop the musical tools and nuances necessary to improvise in performance. Rehearsals are required to improve performance by providing feedback. Students will submit developed marketing materials such as professional performance photos, performance video footage, and a resume to demonstrate their understanding in this area.  Students will demonstrate competence in this outcome through regular playing tests, performance in rehearsals and sectionals, and public performance.


Content:
Music from all stylistic periods of legitimate jazz literature will be studied, practiced, rehearsed and performed. Proper instrumental technique will be stressed. Improvisation will also be a main focus and will be introduced to those with no prior background. Students will participate in several photo sessions and video shoots to develop promotional materials. Students will study and submit a professional portfolio and music resume to aid in their future employment opportunities.

Key Performance Indicators:
Students will prove their mastery of selected literature and knowledge of historical music styles during concerts each semester (70%-80%). 30 to 40%

Students will submit their selected professional portfolio materials developed at Snow College (10%-20%). 30 to 40%

Students will learn the art of being professional in terms of showing up on time, having accurate attendance, and being flexible and open while receiving instructions from the director (10%-20%).  30 to 40%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Music as selected by the ensemble director


Pedagogy Statement:
The literature studied and performed by this ensemble is representative of a broad collection of diverse composers.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 30
Optimum Class Size: 20