MUSJAZZ 3101 - Jazz Musicianship 3

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2022

Jazz Musicianship 3 will continue to build on the theoretical and practical skills developed in Jazz Musicianship 2A and 2B. Students will explore melodic, rhythmic and harmonic features of advanced jazz standards and contemporary jazz tunes through study of relevant texts, audio and video files, musical scores and transcribed solos. Students will apply their knowledge through technical exercises which feature advanced chord progressions (including non-functional harmony and Coltrane changes) extended and altered chords, various scale types (including triad + 1, pentatonics and hexatonics) various intervallic patterns (such as 3rds and 4ths) and upper structure triads. There will be a continued focus on the development of the student's rhythmic awareness through the playing of stylistically appropriate rhythm patterns and exercises with a particular focus on controlling rhythmic subdivisions and displacement. Odd time signatures will also be investigated. Free Jazz concepts will be explored, with a particular focus on the early FreeBop approach utilised by Ornette Coleman. Students will be encouraged to compose music in many of the styles and approaches discussed in class.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MUSJAZZ 3101
    Course Jazz Musicianship 3
    Coordinating Unit Elder Conservatorium of Music
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites MUSSUPST 1001, MUSSUPST 1002, MUSJAZZ 2101, MUSJAZZ 2102
    Incompatible MUSJAZZ 3400A/B, MUSJAZZ 3500A/B
    Restrictions Available to BMus students only
    Course Description Jazz Musicianship 3 will continue to build on the theoretical and practical skills developed in Jazz Musicianship 2A and 2B. Students will explore melodic, rhythmic and harmonic features of advanced jazz standards and contemporary jazz tunes through study of relevant texts, audio and video files, musical scores and transcribed solos. Students will apply their knowledge through technical exercises which feature advanced chord progressions (including non-functional harmony and Coltrane changes) extended and altered chords, various scale types (including triad + 1, pentatonics and hexatonics) various intervallic patterns (such as 3rds and 4ths) and upper structure triads. There will be a continued focus on the development of the student's rhythmic awareness through the playing of stylistically appropriate rhythm patterns and exercises with a particular focus on controlling rhythmic subdivisions and displacement. Odd time signatures will also be investigated. Free Jazz concepts will be explored, with a particular focus on the early FreeBop approach utilised by Ornette Coleman. Students will be encouraged to compose music in many of the styles and approaches discussed in class.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Mr James Muller

    Course Co-ordinator and Lecturer: Mark Ferguson 
    email: mark.ferguson@adelaide.edu.au
    p
    h: 8313 3828
    room: Madley MB18

    Workshop Director: James Muller
    email: james.muller@adelaide.edu.au
    p
    h:8313 3667
    room: Schulz 810
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes:

    1. To achieve a high level of understanding of the rhythmic, melodic and harmonic devices used in jazz from bebop onwards.

    2. To improvise over standard jazz and contemporary jazz repertoire demonstrating the internalisation of the devices above on the student’s chosen instrument.

    3. To demonstrate an awareness and control over the stylistic differences within the bebop and post bebop traditions.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    2

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1, 3

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    3, 4

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1, 2, 3
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Access to and knowledge of the music notation program Sibelius will be expected in this class.

    Recordings of the relevant tunes will be available in the Library, via youtube links and via Spotify playlists.

    Fakebooks such as The Real Book (legal version) and The New Real Book will be used.
    Recommended Resources
    David Baker’s 'Advanced Improvisation' Vol’s 1 and 2

    'Jazz' by Gary Giddins and Scott DeVeaux

    'Introduction to Polyrhythms and Metric Modulations Vol. 2' by Ari Hoenig and Johannes Weidenmueller

    'Beyond Bebop Drumming' by Jon Riley

    'How to Improvise: An Approach to Practicing Improvisation' by Hal Crook


  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    Jazz Musicianship 3 will continue to build on the theoretical and practical skills developed in Jazz Musicianship 2A and 2B. Students will explore melodic, rhythmic and harmonic features of advanced jazz standards and contemporary jazz tunes through study of relevant texts, audio and video files, musical scores and transcribed solos. In workshops the students will explore the relevant concepts further and apply them to the relevant tunes in medium to small groups.

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Students are expected to take attend lectures each week, take notes then study the lecture material, analyse the relevant recordings and practice the relevant material on their instrument (available online through MyUni within 24 hours from presentation). Students are also expected to participate in the weekly workshop sessions where lecture content is explored in greater detail and applied directly to relevant jazz tunes. Students will work together on exercises designed to facilitate a greater understanding of the relevant concepts then split into smaller groups to apply these concepts to the tunes in a more ‘practical’ manner.

    Learning Activities Summary
    Students will explore rhythmic subdivision in depth, study the application of upper structure triads, revisit bebop concepts, re-examine riffs and their application to a variety of jazz tunes, study pentatonics and altered pentatonics, pursue motif development concepts, experiment with different odd-time approaches and investigate free jazz concepts and non-functional harmony. Each topic will be explored through the analysis of improvised jazz solos followed by practical application to relevant chord progressions as a class, followed by more detailed application to relevant tunes in a small group context.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    ASSESSMENT (Summative)

    Learning Objective/s Addressed

     

    Assessment breakdown

    Riff Assignment

    10%

    1, 2, 3

    Bebop Assignment

    10%

    1, 2, 3

    Rhythm Assignment

    10%

    1, 2, 3

    Contemporary jazz composition assignment (with performance component)

    20%

    1, 2, 3

    Workshop participation

    10%

    1, 2, 3

    Exam

    40%

    1, 2, 3


    Due to the current COVID-19 situation, modified arrangements have been made to assessments to facilitate remote learning and teaching. Assessment details provided here reflect recent updates.
    1. All assessments will submitted online through My Uni.
    2. Exam will be conducted online.

     

    Assessment Detail

    Specific details of the assessment for will be provided by the Lecturer.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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