Course: MU640 Jazz Ensemble

Grade: 10, 11, 12

Subject Area: Music

Type: Standard

Credits: 1

Course Information:

This is a year long course that requires selection of both Fall and Spring semesters. Entrance into this ensemble is by audition or invitation of Mr. Stark only, and is open to freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Members study and perform advanced jazz ensemble literature, jazz history, music theory, style, and vocabulary. The ability to improvise, and a desire to learn how to improvise, is highly encouraged for participation in this course. Students are expected to participate in selected rehearsals and performances outside of the school day, including Marching Band and Pep Band performances and rehearsals. Additional opportunities to perform in the community may occur as well. A master calendar of these required events is provided at the beginning of the school year for student planning purposes.

In addition to the performance aspect of the class, students may complete written work, listening exercises, and reading for the course..

Outcomes:

• Understand and apply note-reading concepts appropriate for their level of experience

• Understand and apply rhythm-reading concepts appropriate for their level of experience

• Understand extensive music vocabulary and apply their meaning to performance and in written work in relationship to the seven elements of music(melody, rhythm, texture, harmony, expression, form, and timbre)

• Understand the relationship of pitches within major, minor, mixolydian, dorian, diminished, half-diminished, whole tone, and blues/pentatonic scales and modes (whole and half steps) and be able to apply that knowledge to music in any key or mode

• Experience, in rehearsal and performance, major works by master composers of various cultures and historical eras

• Perform with appropriate balance, tone and presentation (stage presence/professionalism)

• Participate in a structured rehearsal demonstrating understanding of each musician’s role and expectations within the rehearsal

• Perform with appropriate technique and playing position for their instrument(s) in all 12 major and blues scales, dorian and mixolydian modes, and do so throughout the full range of their instrument

• Understand and apply a vast array of articulations within music and exercises. Specifically understand and apply how these articulations differ between symphonic and jazz performance. (minimally: slur, staccato, accent, marcato, tenuto)

• Complete written analysis of a variety of musical selections, performances and musicians

• Improvise original melodies in variety of styles, and in any key, over standard chord progressions in the jazz idiom, and do so with a consistent style, meter, and tonality. (example of progressions, 12-bar blues, 32-bar rhythm changes, modal progressions, etc)

Notes: Audition or recommendation of previous instrumental music instructor is required.