Music 204: History of Jazz
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Music 204 Syllabus

Seattle Central Community College
Humanities/Social Sciences Division
Music 204.02
History of Jazz
Instructor: Brian Kirk  e-mail: Bkirk@sccd.ctc.edu
Web address: http://seattlecentral.edu/faculty/bkirk/
Daily 10-10:50am
BA 104
Office: BA 204 Hrs: By Appointment Only

This course is designed to introduce students to the American art form known as Jazz. Jazz has influenced the development of new styles in every genre of music. Jazz music is often called "America's classical music and it has proven to be an appropriate study in colleges and universities around the world (Tanner p.3). 

Course Objective
The goal of this course is to awaken a sense of appreciation or to extend an already existing appreciation of this music, and to stir the student's emotions enhance communicative abilities in jazz.

Music 204 will explore the musical relationships between styles through listening and discussion of historical jazz musicians and the remarkable music they create. The musical facts should help you to hear and understand the music more logically; the historical facts put each era and its stylistic practices in the proper time and perspective.

As this is a five credit-hour course spanning over a single quarter, it will be impossible to cover every aspect in the development of jazz. Therefore, the ultimate "unwritten" objective of this course is to foster a self-motivated desire and interest in jazz music that will lead to a lifetime of learning and enjoyment.

Video performances are used frequently in this class to illustrate the information presented to you in your textbook. Due to the limited availability of many of the films, attendance of each class session is important. 

                                                  Course Materials

Text: Concise Guide to Jazz, 4th  Edition Mark Gridley

Supplemental CD: A compilation of recordings illustrating Jazz Funeral Bands, Delta Blues, Gospel, Ragtime and Stride Piano

The Music 204 Supplemental CD can be checked out at the SC Media Center, located in the campus library. This CD will be used for demonstration of the origins of jazz.

Class Handouts: 
Students will be responsible for information contained in the course handouts given by the Instructor. Please, if you were absent, make an appointment with instructor during office hours for the handouts.

                                                Written Assignments  

1) Chapter Response Question Sheet (weekly assignment) Ten assignments
 

Students are required to listen to the Gridley demo and jazz recording CD's and answer the numbered questions that coincide with each listening demonstration and/or textbook subject matter.
Chapter Response Paper Headings should look like this:

Music 204 History of Jazz
Name
Date
Chapter Response #1, #2, etc.

Students must number each response question, i.e. 1, 2, 3. Please use complete sentences when answering all response questions.

2) Video Response and Reflection Journal

Students are required to take notes on the videos viewed in this class and submit a journal at the end of the quarter.

 Video Performance Journal Instructions
Part I
Write a summary of the historical and musical content of each film that we view. (250 words) Discuss the main topics discussed in the video and describe the musical events, styles, instruments, places and people in the form of a short essay. 
Part II
The paper must have direct information from the video (the title of the video, the current date and time, the students name and Music 204 History of Jazz) Students' response and reflection writing must describe your thoughts and opinions of the places, historical figures, events and musical performances illustrated in each of the films.

3) Research Paper (due at the end of the quarter)

Students are required to submit a research paper on one particular jazz artist discussed in your textbook. The paper must be six typed pages of information in length, and a bibliography, discography, works cited and title page. Use the MLA Style Guide as a reference for the writing format. Your paper must have a minimum of four books as references. Internet sources can be used and count as one (1) source. 

The discography must list at least 5 recordings that feature the artist you have selected. Please Note! In the case of  Scott Joplin, Robert Johnson or any other jazz musician whose works are unavailable on audio recordings, you may list the recordings of other musicians who have recorded their compositions.

Concert Reviews (2 performance reviews)

Students are required to attend two live jazz performances. You are to write a one page paper (approximate length, 250 words) on each performance. The paper must list the musicians by first and last name, the instruments they played in the group, the venue of the performance, and your description and opinion of each performance. The paper must be keyboarded (typed).

Midterm Exam/Final Listening and Written

Students need an instructor Scantron card  to take all exams. Scantron cards and can be purchased in the campus bookstore. Scantron E-883

Grading Policy
Your final grade will be calculated based on the following chart: