General Information:

Introduction to Jazz History is a survey course, designed to help familiarize the student with the many styles of jazz by studying them from a historical perspective. Listening, discussion, and lecture will make up a major portion of the course.  Grades will be based on attendance, a quiz, tests, and assignments.

Texts:

Megill/Demory, Introduction to Jazz History, 6th ed., Prentice Hall, 2003 (Required - available at Coe College Bookstore)

Carson, Supplemental Materials and Listening Guide for Introduction to Jazz History, Self-Published, 2010

      (Required - available for purchase from the author)

Grading Details

The grade will be based on a 1000-point scale:

A = 950 and up, B = 900‑949, C = 850‑899, D = 800‑849, Less than 800 is failure.

Pluses and minuses are at the discretion of the instructor.

Required Work:

A.  Regular Class attendance and participation (40)                                             10 each                400

The class is scheduled to meet 41 times – everyone gets one excused absence.  

B.   Tests (3)                                                                                                        100 each                300

Three tests will be administered, one on Wednesday, Oct. 13, one on Wednesday, Nov. 10, and one on Friday, Dec. 10. These tests will consist primarily of listening identification. All appropriate listening and reading assignments should be completed before the tests are administered.

C.   Quiz (50 points), homework assignment (50 points)                                                                   100

The quiz, Fri., Sept. 24, will deal with material from the lectures and the assigned listening and reading. The intention is to prepare you for the upcoming tests.  The homework assignment, due Mon., Sept. 13, is to analyze a review of a jazz performance or recording from a periodical:  Downbeat, Rolling Stone, JazzTimes, New Yorker Magazine, New York Times, etc., so that you learn what a reviewer listens for and writes about when analyzing jazz. (See supplemental materials).

D.  Live jazz rehearsals or performances (8)                       25 each                   200

Review eight live jazz rehearsals or performances as approved by the teacher in advance.  Reviews will use the format described in the supplemental materials and must be submitted within THREE class days of the performance or rehearsal reviewed. All reviews must be completed by class time on Monday, Dec. 6.  Electronic mail submission is recommended.  If you attend a Coe Jazz Band rehearsal or performance (see schedule below), or travel to a major city (Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis) on the weekend and attend a performance and get the performer’s autograph on a program or ticket, you can earn double points!

Total:                                                                                                                                              1000

Extra Credit:

If, due to illness or some other extenuating circumstance, you are unable to earn enough points in the preceding manner to get the grade you desire, following are optional ways of earning makeup points.  Extra credit points will be used instead of makeup tests or quizzes, and NO assignments will be accepted late.

A.  Perfect attendance bonus                                                                                25                          25

Students who attend all the class meetings and special sessions get an additional 25 points.

B.   Live jazz rehearsals or performances, or jazz history films (5)                       10 each                  50

Extra credit may be earned by reviewing additional live jazz rehearsals or performances, as approved by the teacher in advance. Reviews use the format described in the supplemental materials and must be submitted within THREE class days of the performance or rehearsal reviewed. A maximum of 2 such events (in addition to the eight required reviews) may be applied for extra credit.

Assignment Schedule

All assignments are to be completed BEFORE the date listed. They will be used in quizzes, lectures, etc., from that date on. Reading and listening assignments may not coincide with that week’s lecture, discussion, or quizzes, because they are spread evenly to avoid a lot of cramming at once. The required listening assignments are usually one hour or less, although recognition will probably require hearing many of these more than once, so plan several hours in the library or online at moodle.coe.edu for each assignment.

There is no separately scheduled final examination.

Pre-approved Live Jazz Events:

·        Any event listed at Jazz Radio KCCK-FM’s website (http://www.kcck.org/calendar/events/) is acceptable for a jazz review.

·        Any Coe Jazz Band rehearsal (Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30, Thursdays, 4:15 – 5:45) is acceptable for a jazz review.

·        The performances of the Coe Jazz Band are acceptable for a jazz review:

o   Friday, Oct. 15, 7:00 pm, Homecoming Showcase, Sinclair

o   Tuesday, Nov. 16, 7:30 pm, Guest performance at Washington High School

o   Sunday, Nov. 21, 2:00 pm, Fall Concert

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