This course develops the student's ability to formulate their musical ideas, informed by historical and contemporary cultural and stylistic concepts and practice, and to research, analyse, discuss and critically reflect on music. It deepens the student's understanding of jazz and the historical, social and cultural contexts which affected its development. In considering past and present musical practice, the student is introduced to issues of criticism, analysis, history, interpretation and cross-cultural understanding. It also develops the student's command of specialist musical language as found in a range of musical genres, styles, forms and contexts, to develop aural skills and awareness, and writing skills. It deepens the student's understanding of the elements of notation, rhythm, melody, harmony, counterpoint and voice leading, tonalities and structure. These are studied from aural, practical and theoretical perspectives. There is a strong emphasis upon developing the student's aural awareness and skills in applying the harmonic language of jazz within a range of contexts. Aural and theoretical skills are applied to a wide range of literature and material.

This course also 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.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

Demonstrate understanding and competent use of -

1. the basics of diatonic ‘Functional Harmony'
2. chord/ scale relationships
3. Roman Numeral analysis of diatonic chords and secondary dominant 7ths. 
4. basic arranging and composition concepts including ranges, register, piano voicings, rhythm section writing and small group concepts.

Two in-class tests (20% each), [learning outcomes 1-3]

Major composition/arrangement assignment (30%), [learning outcome 4]

10 weekly homework assignments (30%), [learning outcomes 1-3].

4 hours per week comprising two two-hour classes.

None

Incompatibility:  MUSM2210, MUSM2211, MUSM1235 and MUSM1236

None