The Evolution of Jazz MUH 2116
Spring 2012
Instructor: Professor Barry Bernhardt Office: WPAC 155B Class hours: Phone: 305-348-1547 MW: 4:00 – 5:15 pm. Email: [email protected] Location: Office hours: GL 100 Gladly arranged by appointment
Course Description:
This course will investigate Jazz in order to develop an aesthetic awareness of this art form and its role in American culture.
Course Objectives:
1. The student will develop active listening skills and an ability to analyze the various styles of Jazz
2. The student will gain an aesthetic appreciation and understanding of Jazz as an art form
3. The student will develop an historical perspective of Jazz and the society in which it has evolved
4. The student will gain an active awareness of musical elements and how these musical elements are manipulated in Jazz, through creative and improvisational activities
5. The student will gain improved writing skills through assigned essays and other writing projects
Expectations of Students:
1. Attend class regularly and actively participate in class discussions, analysis, and listening and writing projects.
2. Attendance checked/recorded at each class. More than one unexcused absence will lower your final grade by 15 points per absence.
3. Perform satisfactorily in examinations, written assignments, assigned readings and class discussions. Please note that examinations missed cannot be made up at a later date. Late projects/assignments will not be accepted!
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The Evolution of Jazz Course Outline:
1. Musical Elements and Aesthetics, Early Jazz prior to 1930: Classes 1 - 2
* Develop a basic vocabulary for discussion: scales, pitch, beat, identifying instruments, meter, polymeter, syncopation, etc.
* Acquire listening skills for rhythm, melody, harmony, instrumentation, form, etc.
* In-class demonstrations and interactive experiences
* Origins of Jazz; Early Jazz prior to 1930
* Jazz; Jazz heritages - Africa, the European tradition, New Orleans, Hollers, Spirituals, Work Songs, Shouts, Cakewalk, etc.
2. Dixieland and Piano Styles: Classes 3 - 4
* New Orleans – Chicago Dixieland
* Early Jazz languages; the Blues, Ragtime, Dixieland: Buddy Bolden, Scott Joplin, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Bix Beiderbecke,others......
3. The Evolution of Jazz: Swing, Bebop, Cool, Hard Bop, Free Jazz, Modal Jazz, Jazz- Rock Fusion, Contemporary Jazz: Classes 5 - 14
Style analysis, written essays, individual assignments to observe the changing social and cultural contexts for Jazz and how Jazz reflects society in the twentieth and twenty- first centuries.
*The Swing Era: Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Art Tatum, others......
*Bebop: Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, others......
*Cool, Hard Bop, Free Jazz, Modal Jazz: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans, Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, others......
*Jazz-Rock Fusion, the Contemporary scene: Weather Report, Steps Ahead, The Yellow Jackets, Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, and others......
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Textbook:
Jazz; Eleventh Edition; Paul Tanner, David W. Megill, Maurice Gerow; McGraw-Hill Higher Education
VII. Basis of Student Evaluations:
* Examinations (4) 400 points (4 Exams/100 pts each) * Research Paper 100 points * Assignments as described below 200 points (50 points/each) * Attendance 100 points TOTAL POINTS FOR SEMESTER: 800 POINTS POSSIBLE
GRADING SCALE:
A=90%/+ B=80-89% C=70-79% D=60-69% F= 59-below
VIII. Description of Evaluations:
EXAMS: 4 Exams will be given throughout the course of the semester. Each exam will consist of Matching, Multiple Choice, Short Answer, and Listening. Students will be expected to purchase the 3-CD recordings that accompany the text for the listening exams. Some additional recordings will be available on YouTube or iTunes.
RESEARCH PAPER: Each student will be expected to a research project on a major jazz artist or big band from 1940 to present. This major research project should be a paper of at least 4-5 pages in length, 12 pt. Font, double-spaced. Sources must be correctly sited.
ASSIGNMENTS: As given throughout the Semester, covering various topics, including viewing historic concerts during class and writing a report of at least one page DS typed to review each performance. Daily attendance will be required, as some of these assignments will be done in class and unannounced.
CLASS PARTICIPATION: Your active participation in this class may help you over the hump, if you are on the bubble in the grading scale. Be prepared to talk and interact! And always attend class! Attendance will be taken at each class.
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MUH 2116 Spring (2012) Class Schedule Month/Dates: Monday Wednesday January Meet with Instructor NO CLASS 9/11 Attendance/Syllabus January NO CLASS Listening to Jazz, Jazz Heritages 16/18 MLK Holiday Tanner: Chapters 1 & 2 January Jazz Heritages continued, The Blues , Piano Styles: 23/25 Tanner: Chapters 2 & 3 Ragtime – Boogie Woogie EXAM #1: REVIEW Tanner: Chapter 4 Jan./Feb. EXAM #1 + Begin Early New Orleans & Chicago 30/1 Early New Orleans Jazz Jazz (Dixieland) Tanner: Chapter 5 Tanner: Chapter 5 February Early New Orleans & Chicago Swing 6/8 Jazz (Dixieland) Tanner: Chapter 6 Tanner: Chapter 5 13/15 Swing Swing Tanner: Chapter 6 Tanner: Chapter 6 20/22 Duke Ellington Duke Ellington Tanner: Chapter 7 EXAM #2: REVIEW
27/29 EXAM #2 + Begin Bop Bop continued Tanner: Chapter 8 Tanner: Chapter 8 March Cool/Third Stream Miles Davis 5/7 Tanner: Chapter 9 Tanner: Chapter 10
12/14 SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK
19/21 Miles Davis EXAM #3: REVIEW Tanner: Chapter 10 26/28 EXAM #3: Hard Bop, Funky, Gospel Begin Hard Bop Tanner: Chapter 11 Tanner: Chapter 11 April Hard Bop, Funky, Gospel Free Form/Avante-Garde 2/4 Tanner: Chapter 11 Tanner: Chapter 12
9/11 Jazz/Rock Fusion Jazz/Rock Fusion Tanner: Chapter 13 Tanner: Chapter 13 16/18 Contemporary Contemporary Tanner: Chapter 14 Tanner: Chapter 14 23/25 FINAL EXAMS FINAL EXAMS TBA TBA
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POLICIES
1. CELLULAR PHONES are a distraction and discourteous to everyone in the learning environment. Please ensure yours is turned “off” (or at least “silent”) during class time. Unless you are expecting an emergency call, do not answer phones in class. Text messaging during class in not allowed.
2. PLAGIARISM, of any kind, will not be tolerated and penalties will be enforced. Please refer to the FIU Student Handbook for a detailed description of ‘plagiarism’ and its’ consequences.
3. ATTENDANCE is a requirement of this course. Unexcused absences will be penalized at the rate of 25 point for each missed class being deducted from your final grade. Perfect attendance will attain 100 points of participation credit. Lateness will also be penalized: two tardies will equal one unexcused absence – a penalty of 10 points off your grade. Only documented medical excuses will be considered excused. It is your responsibility to sign your name on the roll for each class! To qualify for the full 100 points of participation you must attend all classes on time.
4. WORK must be handed in by the due date. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Drafts are welcome, and strongly encouraged, for revision before final work is due. Work should be typed, double-spaced and well written. Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling are expected. Poor writing will be penalized.
5. You must upload all work to Blackboard where it will be graded and returned. You may also want to CYA by sending me an email of all work.
6. CHANGES to the schedule may be made and will be announced in class or emailed to you. It is your responsibility to note changes on your schedule.
7. THE ONLY METHOD I WILL USE TO CONTACT YOU WILL BE VIA YOUR FIU EMAIL ADDRESS . Please go to webmail.fiu.edu for information about your account. GRADES WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED OVER E-MAIL.
If you have difficulties or questions at any time – please see me, call me or email me.
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IX. Instructor Information:
Professor Barry W. Bernhardt Associate Director of Bands Director of Marching Band Florida International University Class Location: GL 100 School of Music Office: WPAC 155B School of Music Office Phone: (305) 348-1547 Marching Band Office: West-6; Room 102 Marching Band Office: Phone: (305) 348-1561 E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: Gladly arranged by appointment
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