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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
MUSI D034.
Course Title (CB02)
Jazz Ensemble
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2021
Course Description
This course will cover sight-reading, rehearsal, performance, and recording of diverse styles of music, composed and arranged for standard jazz ensemble, with emphasis on improvising within the ensemble structure as a goal for each individual.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is transferable to UC and CSU. It belongs on the Music A.A. degree. It is an important course for training for large ensembles in the jazz idiom.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
5

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
MUSMusicApprovedC-ID MUS 180

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
2.0
Maximum Credit Units
2.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours1.02.0
Laboratory Hours3.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
12.0
Laboratory
36.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
24.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
24.0

Prerequisite(s)

Audition based on the ability to play a traditional big band instrument and read music.

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

(Student must audition or meet course prerequisite(s).)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Lecture/demonstration with student application

Assignments

  1. Daily practice and scheduled sectionals.
  2. Preparation for rehearsals, performances and recordings.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Ongoing assessment of repertoire preparation, as well as classroom participation and responsiveness, evaluated in both objective, and individual improvement terms.
  2. Final performances and recordings assessed through demonstration of learned skills.
  3. Mid-term and final tests, assessed for knowledge, independence, accuracy, and interpretation of assigned repertoire by demonstrating correct intonation, phrasing, balance, dynamics, and tone quality on his or her instrument.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Access to a personally owned instrument (some college-owned instruments available for loan)
Essential College Facilities:
  • Adequate rehearsal hall,
  • Adequate jazz library, and recordings of outstanding performances,
  • Basic supply of college-owned instruments for student loan

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
None.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Selected music and materials from the Instrumental Music Library. Music changes every quarter and is dependent upon instrumentation.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Recognize and demonstrate interpretation of diverse styles of jazz ensemble literature while improving technical and sight-reading skills
  • Apply an enhanced understanding of improvisation in performance
  • Detect and correct faulty intonation, rhythms, and phrasing through individual practice, and in rehearsals or sectionals
  • Participate in the creative process of public performance and recording.

CSLOs

  • Sight read, rehearse, and publicly perform selected repertoire from the Big Band literature found in various time periods from the Swing Era to the present.

  • Participate in the art of performing in an ensemble by demonstrating correct intonation, phrasing, balance, dynamics, and tone quality on his or her instrument.

Outline

  1. Recognize and demonstrate interpretation of diverse styles of jazz ensemble literature while improving technical and sight-reading skills
    1. Rehearse jazz rhythmic styles of Swing, Latin, Ballad, and Fusion.
    2. Sight-read new music at every rehearsal with the goal of improving technical and reading skills.
    3. Literature selected from various time-periods in jazz along with composers from diverse cultures, ethnicity, and gender.
  2. Apply an enhanced understanding of improvisation in performance
    1. All students in the ensemble are encouraged to improvise on selected songs.
    2. Students apply scales and motif suggestions in performance.
  3. Detect and correct faulty intonation, rhythms, and phrasing through individual practice, and in rehearsals or sectionals
    1. Either by ear-training or tuning machines, students improve intonation on their instruments.
    2. Correct rhythms, idiomatic phrasing, and concepts of blend and balance are rehearsed in the ensemble setting.
  4. Participate in the creative process of public performance and recording.
    1. Performance and recording etiquette and cooperation are emphasized.
    2. Spontaneous artistic creativity along with excellence in ensemble performance is the common goal.

Lab Topics

  1. Sight reading of new repertoire
  2. Rehearsal of pieces for performances in both large ensemble and sectionals
  3. Practice improvisation and embellishment during reheasals
  4. improving intonation and blend in large ensemble
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