Course Syllabus
Course: MUSC 1146
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Jazz Ensemble I
Semester Approved: Fall 2022
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2027
End Semester: Summer 2028
Catalog Description: A standard jazz big band. Audition required. Performs literature inclusive of all jazz styles. Performs concerts, attends festivals and does touring. This class also covers various aspects of the music business such as creating promotional materials and marketing, identifying technological resources for jazz education, and networking strategies to secure employment (Repeatable for Credit).
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1-3; Lecture: 1-3; Lab: 0
Prerequisites: none
Corequisites: none
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. The course typically transfers without problem. Music education majors need this experience at Snow College in order to teach this subject in secondary schools. Students wishing to continue band at a four-year institution must develop competitive performance skills while at Snow College.
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. Students will express and communicate this understanding to their audience via concert performances.
Students will create marketing materials such as professional performance photos, performance video footage, and a resume. Students will be assessed through periodic group examination of specific marketing materials, especially as pertaining to social media development.
Students will study jazz recordings by legendary artists to gather and develop the musical tools and nuances necessary to improvise in performance. This will be assessed through group discussions and limited written assignments.
Content:
Music from all stylistic periods of jazz and jazz-adjacent literature will be studied, practiced, rehearsed and performed. Various cultural and historical perspectives regarding the assigned repertoire will be explored. 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:
Concert Performances 40 to 60%
Marketing Projects & Group Examinations 20 to 30%
Group Discussions & Written Assignments 20 to 30%
Pedagogy Statement:
Course instructions follows an active applied format in which students will practice various performance techniques suggested through real-time feedback and group discussion/critique. Historical styles will be examined through in-class discussion and replication of recorded examples. Students are encouraged to express their unique background and cultural heritage through the artistic avenues provided through jazz improvisation and other stylistic factors.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 23
Optimum Class Size: 20
