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Survey of Jazz History


Course Description

A historical survey of the development of jazz as an indigenous American art form.


Athena Title

SURVEY JAZZ HISTORY


Semester Course Offered

Offered spring


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

The successful student will be able to: * analyze the aesthetic qualities of jazz, demonstrating a knowledge of important composers, performers, and the world/cultural influences in the development of jazz; * assess the commonality and diversity of the various world and social cultures that have contributed to the development of jazz in America; * evaluate the impact and role of jazz in society; * visually and aurally analyze various jazz works; * compare the music of other cultures to their own by tracing the world and ethnic roots of jazz and contemporary influences on its stylistic evolution; * communicate understanding of these outcomes in a research paper and in an oral presentation.


Topical Outline

Topics of study include: * precursors of jazz: blues, ragtime, brass band marches; * influences of world musical cultures and styles in the origins and development of jazz (West Africa, Afro-Cuban, Western Europe, Latin America, etc.); * jazz styles: Hot Jazz (Dixieland), Swing/Big Band; Modern Jazz (Bop, Cool, Hard Bop/Funk Jazz, Third-Stream); Jazz in the 1960s (Modal, Free); Jazz from the 1970s to the Present (Fusion, Neobop).


General Education Core

CORE IV: Humanities and the Arts

Syllabus