Jazz in America, Music 103

Office: N117. Hours: T.B.A. Phone: 564 5653
send e-mail to:Kehlenbach_Brian@sac.edu
Required Textbook: Jazz Styles by Gridley, Accompanying CD

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Course Outline

Jazz in America will trace the history of one of America's only true art forms. We will study the various stylistic and musical elements of jazz in order to learn how to distinguish one period from another. We will also learn to develop listening skills in order to gain insight into the many levels of appreciation which are possible with this type of music, as well as with all other types. Another integral component of this class will be to trace the early roots of jazz as the influences of West Africa, through the black slave population in this country, combined with European influences in the establishment of this truly unique style.

Class schedule

• week 1 Chapter 1, pp. 3-11 #1 Listening to Jazz
• week 2 Chapter 2, pp. 13-25 #2 Jazz Heritages
• week 3 Chapter 3, pp.27-40 #3 The Blues
• week 4 test #1 (study guides 1, 2, and 3)
• week 5 Chapter 4, pp. 43-51 #4 Ragtime
• week 6 Chapter 5, pp. 53-68 #5 Dixieland
• week 7 Chapter 6, pp. 71-74 #6 Boogie Woogie
• week 8 test #2 (study guides 4, 5, 6)
• week 9 Chapter 7, pp. 77-86 #7 Swing
• week 10 Chapter 7, pp. 87-99 #7 Swing (continued)
• week 11 Chapter 8, pp. 101-114 #8 Bebop
• week 12 test #3 (study guides 7 and 8)
• week 13 Chapter 9, pp. 117-127 Chapter 12, pp 167-168 #9 Cool Jazz and Latin Jazz
• week 14 Chapter 10, pp. 129-142 #10 Hard Bop, Funky, Straight Ahead
• week 15 Chapter 11, pp. 145-160 #11 Free Form, Avant-Garde
• week 16 Chapter 13, pp. 171-187 #12 Crossover, Jazz Fusion

Evaluation:

1. Daily quiz and attendance. Each week of classes is worth 6 points. In order to earn these points you must take the in-class quizzes. Short quizzes will be given toward the beginning of the class period two days a week on some topic studied in the previous class. Each is worth 3 points. These quizzes CAN NOT be made up. These points CAN NOT be made up for any reason. REMEMBER: IF YOU MISS THE EQUIVALENT OF THREE WEEKS OF CLASS (9 HOURS) YOU WILL NOT RECIEVE A PASSING GRADE. THIS IS COLLEGE POLICY.

2. Tests. There will be three tests in the semester. Each is worth 100 points. Tests will consist of matching, multiple choice, short answers, essays, and listening identifications. You should never be absent on a test day.

3. Outside Activities. During the course of the semester, you will attend two concerts of jazz music as described below:
1. (50 points) The SAC Jazz Ensemble Concert (time and day to be announced). This costs $6 and is held on campus in Phillips Hall. You will write a short review on a form provided by the instructor.
2. (100 points) Any other jazz concert of your choice, as long as it is pre-approved by the instructor. You will write a three to five page paper which evaluates the performance.

4. Final Exam. This is worth 122 points. The final will cover study guides 7-12. There will also be an essay portion which deals with issues covered throughout the year. There will also be a listening portion which covers representative pieces which were heard throughout the year. You will not receieve a passing grade if you miss class on the day of the final.

Point tally:

• test: 100 points
• test: 100 points
• test: 100 points
• in-class points: 78 points
• SAC jazz concert (short review): 50 points
• Jazz concert paper 100 points
• Final Exam: 122 points
• total: 650 points

Grade Scale

• 585 - 650 =A
• 519 - 584 = B
• 453 - 518 = C
• 387 - 452 = D
• 0 - 386 = F