This course develops the student's ability to formulate and develop their own composing and arranging ideas, informed by historical, contemporary and stylistic concepts and practice.  This is achieved by listening, and analyzing historical and contemporary arranging and composition techniques and then applying them in other contexts. In considering past and present arranging and composition musical practice, the student is introduced to issues of range, register, blending, rhythm section writing and small group concepts.

This course fosters: ability to analyse, criticise, evaluate and interpret music from score, sound and other sources; an understanding of the methodologies used in arranging for various ensembles; research skills; problem solving and critical reasoning; an open-minded attitude to musical invention; a sensitivity to  conceptual issues involved in the musical process; and ability to meet practical requirements and deadlines.

The unique aspect of the entire study of jazz arranging and composition is a practical-focussed approach - as each new area is explored, students will be given the opportunity to use these skills in an experiential sense. This will translate into various musical works being produced by the students that will be then be performed for further analysis and evaluation.  This reflective process continues on throughout the course, giving the student a useful feedback mechanism.

A graded result reflects the level of achievement and participation, taking into account academic effort, commitment and progress and level of expertise including the student's capacity to undertake increasingly complex tasks. Emphasis will be placed on regular critical feedback and formative evaluation by staff. The assessment requirements and criteria for evaluation will be defined in written guidelines handed out at the beginning of each semester.

10 - 12 weekly music assignments (40%) and two music scores (30% each).

One 2-hour lecture per week.

enrolment in a Jazz major; or for non-jazz students MUSM1210 and approval by Jazz Area coordinator.