Evolution of Jazz
MUSIC 007: Section 100
Penn State Altoona, Spring 2011; M, 7:05 - 8:20 p.m.
- COURSE SYLLABUS Instructor: Doug Stephens
Class Room: DT-Aaron Bldg, Room 6
Office Hours: by appointment
Cell / Voice Mail: 814-934-9660
e-mail: dgs115@psu.edu
Text: On-line Course Materials: MUSIC 007 – The Evolution of Jazz.
Additional materials: Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, 5-CD set with text on reserve in Eiche Library.
(Listening resources available on-line at http://www.aa.psu.edu/music)
Course Overview: Music 007, Evolution of Jazz, presents a survey of American Jazz from its beginnings through the
th
late 20 Century. Various jazz styles and their major contributors will be discussed. The course is non-technical in
nature and is geared towards non-musicians. Necessary music terminology and concepts will be discussed to
provide students with a greater understanding of how to listen to jazz and what to listen for in a jazz recording or
performance. Critical listening skills will be stressed through classroom lecture and assignments.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
Describe the fundamental musical elements of jazz.
Discuss the historical context and significant contributions of selected jazz eras.
Identify and recognize the musical characteristics of selected jazz styles.
Identify and recognize the selected master jazz performers and their primary instrument.
Describe jazz as a phenomenon in American society.
Attendance: You are expected to attend every class. Excellent attendance will be rewarded. Students must be
present for in-class exams and quizzes. Missed quizzes and exams will be made up only with a validated excuse.
Consistent attendance is critical for syllabus updates, in-class exercises, videos, lecture material not covered in the
on-line material, and exam reviews. Students are responsible for obtaining missed lecture notes and hand-outs.
After two, each “unexcused” absence will lower your final grade five percentage points (5%) per absence.
However, if you know you are going to be legitimately absent from class, and you inform me in advance of your
absence, this absence will be viewed as “excused.” Notification of your absence must occur at least 24-hours prior
to the start of the class not being attended, or your absence will be viewed as “unexcused.” (For example, if you
are planning to be absent from class on Monday, I must be informed by 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.) All notifications of
absence must be made by you personally, via phone, e-mail or written note.
Statement of Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is defined as “the pursuit of scholarly activity, free from
fraud and deception,” and it is an educational objective of this institution. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not
limited to) cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by
others, unauthorized prior possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used
without informing the instructor, and/or tampering with the academic work of other students. Any suspected
instance of academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade for the assignment. No opportunity will be given to
recover lost points for assignments that you fail due to academic dishonesty. Repeated dishonesty will result in a
failing grade for the course and a consultation with the department head. Penalties may include, but are not
limited to, a course grade of “F” on your transcript and dismissal from the University. (Policies & Rules for Students,
section 49-20)
Students with Disabilities: Any student with a disability should notify the instructor and provide corresponding
documentation from the Office of Disability Services, if applicable. Any student in need of a disability assessment,
should contact the Office of Disability Services, in the Sheetz Family Health Center (949-5540), or visit
www.aa.psu.edu/healthwellness on the internet.
Course Assessments:
Exams (2 @ 100 pts each)
200 pts
40%
Quizzes (10 @ 10 pts each)
100 pts
20%
Written Assignments (2 @ 50 pts each)
100 pts
20%
60 pts
12%
Discussion Boards (4 @ 15 pts each)
Participation (3 pts per class)
+
Total
40 pts
500 pts
+
8%
100%
Your final grade for the semester will then be determined as a percentage, based on the number of
points you earn out of the total number of points possible.
93 – 100%
90 – 92.9%
88 – 89.9%
83 – 87.9%
80 – 82.9%
78 – 79.9%
70 – 77.9%
60 – 69.9%
below 60%
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
D
F
Quizzes:
Quiz content will be drawn from material covered in the classroom lectures and the assigned on-line readings. You
will be allowed to refer to your own notebook while taking the quiz. Each ten-question, on-line quiz will have a
twenty-minute time restriction and you will only be permitted to take each quiz once.
Exams:
There will be two on-line exams given for this course. Exam content will be based on a combination of the
information presented in the classroom lectures as well as the assigned on-line readings. Each fifty-question exam
will have a thirty-five minute time restriction and you will only be allowed to take each exam once.
Written Assignments & Discussion Boards:
Over the course of the semester, you will be required to submit a total of two written assignments and participate
in a total of four discussion boards. Specific directions for these assignments are available in their corresponding
lesson tabs in ANGEL. Be sure to include relevant jazz terminology, as defined in class. Be honest. Tell me how you
personally reacted to the performers and their interpretations of jazz.
Participation:
Your level of participation in this course will have a direct impact on how much you learn about Jazz during the
semester. The amount of effort you put into the readings and assignments will not only be reflected in your quiz
and exam scores, but also in your level of participation during the weekly lectures. Participation points will be
awarded at the instructor’s discretion and will also be reflective of your ability to meet all deadlines and effectively
complete all assignments.
Course Outline: Schedule of Topics and Assignments;
The on-line reading assignment associated with each lesson topic is to be completed prior to
that lecture’s corresponding date.
You will be required to take an on-line, “open-notes” quiz during the weeks indicated.
Exam-week lectures will consist of an in-class review period for the correpsonding exam.
This schedule is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.
Please Note: Make-up quizzes & exams will not be offered for unexcused absences or tardiness.
Lecture Date
M – JAN 10
M- JAN 17
(MLKing Jr. Day)
NO CLASS
Lesson Topics
Assignment
1: Music Basics
2: What is Jazz?
3: The Blues
4: Appreciating Jazz Improvisation
M – JAN 24
5: Origins of Jazz
6: Early Jazz
M – JAN 31
7: Swing
M – FEB 7
8: Duke Ellington
9: Count Basie
M – FEB 14
10: Bop
M – FEB 21
11: More Bop
Discussion Board #1
Quiz #1
Discussion Board #2
Quiz #2
Quiz #3
Written Assignment #1
Quiz #4
Quiz #5
M – FEB 28
Exam Review / Mid-term Exam
MAR 6 - 12
Spring Break – NO CLASSES
M – MAR 14
12: Cool Jazz
13: Hard Bop
M – MAR 21
14: Miles Davis & His Sidemen
M – MAR 28
15: John Coltrane
Discussion Board #3
16: Avant-Garde & Free Jazz
M – APR 11
17: Evans, Hancock, Corea & Jarrett
M – APR 18
18: Jazz-Rock Fusion
19: Contemporary Jazz
Quiz #6
Quiz #7
Discussion Board #4
M – APR 4
M – APR 25
Assessment
Quiz #8
Quiz #9
Written Assignment #2
Exam Review / Final Exam
Quiz #10
I, ____________________________________________ have received and have read the
(PRINT YOUR NAME)
“COURSE SYLLABUS” for MUSIC 007: Section 100; Spring 2011. I further acknowledge that I
understand the academic expectations for this course, as outlined in this syllabus and as
identified by the instructor, and I accept my personal responsibility for meeting these
expectations.
____________________________________________
________________________
SIGNATURE
DATE
Best contact info:
e-mail; _______________________________________________________
phone; _______________________________________________________