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Course Syllabus

MUSC 3146 Jazz Ensemble III

  • Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
  • Department: Music
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 4; Lab: 0
  • Repeatable: Yes.
  • Prerequisites: Admittance into Bachelor's of Music program and MUSC 2146 or permission of instructor. Audition required.
  • Corequisites: May be required to take Jazz Improvisation at the discretion of the Instructor.
  • Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2024
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2029
  • End Semester: Summer 2030
  • Optimum Class Size: 20
  • Maximum Class Size: 30

Course Description

Jazz Ensemble is a standard jazz big band. The jazz ensemble will perform literature inclusive of all jazz styles. Historical context and professional level expectations will be addressed, including but not limited to the responsibilities of each chair, showing leadership or doubling on other instruments (typical of the saxophone section). May be repeated for credit.

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, and nationwide.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will accurately perform the rhythms, melodies and harmonies of the music selected by the director.
  2. Students will perform essential skills as part of a section, including, proper intonation blend and balance.
  3. Students will show improvement in both speed and accuracy of literature learning as measured by small group assessment.
  4. Students will understand the music in its historical setting as well as the stylistic, expressive, and formal qualities associated with the particular era of music history.
  5. Students will communicate the understanding which they have gained to their audiences.
  6. Students will improve their ability to improvise over chord symbols in solo sections of repertoire.

Course Content

Members of the ensemble will learn and perform appropriate literature as selected by the instructor. Content includes study of:• Intonation• Balance• Blend• Style and Articulation• Historical Context• Performance Practice• ImprovisationJazz is widely regarded as one of the broadest cultural and artistic disciplines. Students will be exposed to artistic works and approaches from a wide variety of cultural perspectives.