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

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 competence with the use of -

1. ‘Functional Harmony'
2. chord/ scale relationships
3. Roman Numeral analysis of substitute dominant sevenths and tritone substitutions. 
4. basic arranging and composition concepts including ranges, register, vocal writing, rhythm section writing and horn writing for small groups, score and part production.

One major composition/arrangement score (50%), [learning outcome 4]

10 weekly music assignments (50%), [learning outcomes 1-3]

4 hours per week comprising two two-hour classes.

Prerequisite:  MUSM1303

Incompatibility:  MUSM2210 and MUSM2211 and MUSM1235 and MUSM1236

MUSM1303 Jazz Harmony, Arranging and Composition 1