History Of Jazz - MUSIC 131 (Asynchronous Online) – Autumn, 2022
Course Syllabus
INSTRUCTOR: Cuong Vu
INSTRUCTOR ARTIST WEB SITE: https://music.washington.edu/people/cuong-vu
PLEASE CONTACT THE TA'S FIRST
TEACHING ASSISTANTS:
Beau Wood: beauwood@uw.edu
Tobias Miller: tobiasm2@uw.edu
TEXT: Jazz Styles (11th edition) by Mark Gridley
Not Required, supplemental: History Of Jazz: Lecture Notes, Overheads... (2nd edition) by Tom Collier
Gridley Reading assignments are posted below. Page numbers refer to the current edition.
Music 131b is an on-line course offering a musical, historical, and cultural overview of jazz music from its origins to the present. The course is divided into 10.5 weekly lessons that span the history of jazz from the late nineteenth century to today. Each lesson includes reading and listening assignments, video lesson, discussion forum, and practice (ungraded) quiz. Each lesson component will be discussed in more detail below.
NOTE: Before you begin, please look at "Start Here" under the "Pages" menu (look to your left).
EXAMS:
The three midterm examinations are in a multiple-choice format and cover:
• reading assignments from the Gridley textbook (The Collier book will be explained below)
• required listening examples (explained below)
• video lessons
On each of the three exams, three or four recordings from the required listening examples will be available during the exam. You will be expected to identify the primary artist, other significant musicians on the recording, style of jazz, and important musical and historical characteristics of each piece.
Although the course is set up as an independent learning experience without a specific meeting time, students will be required to take the three exams together as a class at one specific time. This quarter, each exam will be given precisely at 9:30am. Please make sure that you can be available on the three exam days at that time. The exams will only be available on the three dates listed below for a 50 minute period beginning at 9:30am, ending at 10:21am. You may use your textbooks during the exams, but keep in mind the time frame that you have to complete the exam. Having to "look up" too much information will slow you down and possibly keep you from completing the work within the 50 minute time period.
NOTE: Due to the independent learning nature of this on-line course as well as the lack of a formal class meeting time, no Final Exam will be scheduled.
Midterm Exam 1 – Friday, October 20th @ 9:30am
Covering lectures, readings and listening assignments for weeks 1-3
50 points (multiple-choice)
Midterm Exam 2 – Friday, November 17th @ 9:30am
Covering lectures, readings and listening assignments for weeks 4-7
50 points (multiple-choice)
Midterm Exam 3 – Friday, December 8th @ 9:30am
Covering lectures, readings and listening assignments for weeks 8-10
50 points (multiple-choice)
WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
September 27-October 6 (Lesson 1):
Reading: Gridley, pp. 3-57 (use of the Collier book explained below)
• Introduction
• The Basics Of Jazz Improvisation; listening to jazz, etc.
• Origins Of Jazz
• Demonstration Video: "Melody, Harmony, Rhythm" (see videos below)
• 1st Discussion Forum Due: Friday, October 6th
October 9-13: (Lesson 2)
Reading: Gridley, pp. 59-97
• Early Jazz - New Orleans to Chicago
• Louis Armstrong and beyond
• 2nd Discussion Forum Due: Friday, October 13th
October 16-19: (Lesson 3)
• Reading: Gridley, pp. 99-161
• The Swing Era – Goodman, Ellington, Basie, Holiday, etc.
• 3rd Discussion Forum Due: Thursday, October 19th ** (not Friday!!)
• Midterm Exam 1 - Friday, October 20th @ 9:30am
October 23-November 3: (lessons 4 & 5)
Reading: Gridley, pp. 163-259
• Bebop - Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, etc.
• Cool Jazz - Miles Davis, Modern Jazz Quartet, Dave Brubeck, etc.
• Hard Bop - Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, etc.
• 4th Discussion Forum Due: Friday, October 27th
•5th Discussion Forum Due: Friday, November 3rd
November 6-10 (lessons 6 & 7)
Reading: Gridley, pp. 261-305
• Demonstration Video: "Modal Jazz" (see lesson videos below)
• Miles Davis - cool / modal / 60’s band
• John Coltrane
• Jazz Video Report 1 Due: Wednesday, November 8th
• 6th Discussion Forum Due: Friday, November 10th
• 7th Discussion Forum Due: Thursday, November 16th ** (Not Friday!!)
• Midterm Exam 2: Friday, November 17th @ 9:30am
November 20-24: (Lesson 8)
Reading: Gridley, pp. 307-361
• Avant-Garde jazz - Ornette Coleman
• Demonstration Video: "Free Jazz" (see lesson videos below)
• A.A.C.M. - 1960-1979 Chicago free jazz
• Free jazz (World Saxophone Quartet, Dave Holland, Cecil Taylor)
• 8th Discussion Forum Due: Friday, November 24th
November 27-December 1: (Lesson 9)
Reading: Gridley, pp. 363-389
• Fusion – Miles Davis, Weather Report, etc.
• Writing Assignment, Short Term Paper Due: Wednesday, November 29th
• 9th Discussion Forum Due: Friday, December 1st
December 4-8: (Lesson 10)
Reading: Gridley, pp. 391-443
• Post Modern Bop – Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, etc.
• Hip-Hop Jazz / Acid Jazz, other voices
• Jazz Video Report 2 Due: Wednesday, December 6th
• Jazz Video Extra Credit Due: Wednesday, December 6th
• 10th Discussion Forum Due: Thursday, December 7th** (Not Friday!!)
• Midterm Exam 3: Friday, December 8th @ 9:30am
DISCUSSION FORUMS:
Discussion forums allow you and your classmates to share knowledge while adding to the collaborative nature of jazz and music itself. There are ten discussion forums, one for each week of the quarter. Each forum participation is worth 2 points, or a total of 20 points for the quarter. Topics for discussion are provided for each forum in the "Assignments" menu on the left side of this screen under "Discussion Forums". Further instructions for forum submissions are included along with each forum assignment.
NOTE: The first Discussion Forum is due on the eighth day of class, Friday, October 6th!!
LESSON VIDEO PRESENTATIONS:
In the "Pages" menu on the left side of this screen, you will find video PowerPoint lecture overviews by the instructor introducing and discussing the important elements of each lesson. The videos are labeled "Lesson XX Presentation" and run between 15-30 minutes in length. It is highly recommended that you view the video presentation for each lesson in order to gain a more thorough understanding of the important elements of jazz history and jazz music.
Three additional video performance demonstrations are located in the "Assignments" menu on the left side of this screen labled (drum roll) "Videos". Unlike the PowerPoint-based video presentations (above), these videos show the instructor demonstrating topics on "melody, harmony, and rhythm", "modal jazz", and "free jazz". The additional demonstration videos are included in the above Weekly Assignment Schedule.
OUTSIDE LISTENING ASSIGNMENTS:
Listening assignments outside of class are a very important component of this course. The assignments parallel jazz history and provide additional listening opportunities for examples played and discussed in the lessons. The listening & identification sections of the three exams will be drawn from these assignments which are available for review throughout the quarter. The listening assignments are located under the "Assignments" menu on the left side of this screen and identified as "Outside Listening". The listening assignments can also be accessed under the "Pages" menu. It is important to keep up to date with the outside listening since your grade will be affected by how well you absorb the important musical qualities and historical importance of the examples used on the exams. It is highly recommended that you take time to listen to each example carefully and utilize the lecture notes provided in class and in the Collier textbook. Most people need to listen to each example at least two-three times in order to effectively absorb the music. All listening examples are embedded in the MUSIC 131b Canvas module and, therefore, there is no need to search outside sources to gain access to the recordings.
Collier Book and Outside Listening Examples
The required Collier book, History Of Jazz: Lecture Notes, Overheads... (2nd ed.), is intended to support the outside listening examples discussed above. Unlike the Gridley textbook, the Collier book is organized and written in the manner of a listening manual. The book provides concise, descriptive analysis of each listening example along with other important information relative to the recording. When reviewing the outside listening examples, it is highly recommended to have the Collier book open to the page respective to the recording being heard.
WRITING ASSIGNMENT/ SHORT TERM PAPER:
A short term paper (minimum of 1500 words) is required. You will choose one of three topics and compose a well-researched paper including proper citations and a formal bibliography showing at least four distinct sources above and beyond the required course textbooks. Credible jazz sources including journals such as Downbeat, Jazz Times, JazzIz, Earshot, and All About Jazz have comprehensive internet websites. Other trustworthy music websites include All Music Guide and Discogs. Most living jazz artists maintain sites that provide helpful research information. A few deceased artists have websites that are administered by artist estates and/or families.
Sources that are not acceptable include Wikipedia and "fan" sites maintained by fans of an artist.
Specific information and the list of three topics to choose from can be found under the "Assignments" menu on the left side of this screen. This paper is due no later than 11:59pm, Wednesday, November 29th. Late papers not accepted!!!
JAZZ CONCERT REPORTS: Students in MUSIC 131 are required to attend two UW School of Music jazz concerts or approved performances outside of the University. Alternatively, students can watch on-line jazz concerts. Please check with the TA's if the concert you intend to attend is acceptable.
The assignment is broken into two submissions, Jazz Video Report 1 and Jazz Video Report 2: one complete concert or 60 minutes of individual videos per-submission.
You must use the Music 331 Concert Report Form in completing each assignment.
NOTE: Jazz Video Reports 1 and 2 must be submitted on this form to receive credit.
The deadlines for the reports are as follows:
Report 1: due no later than 11:59pm, Wednesday, November 8th
Report 2: due no later than 11:59pm, Wednesday, December 6th
You may turn in concert reports prior to the due dates. However, the above dates are absolute deadlines: only one report will be accepted after the first date and NO reports will be accepted after the second date.
Each report is worth a maximum of 15 points (30 points total). Failure to meet the above report deadlines could result in a failing grade for the course.
EXTRA CREDIT:
A third concert report can be used for extra credit. The extra credit report will be worth a maximum of 8 points, or half of a full-credit required report. The extra credit report must be submitted no later than 11:59pm on Wednesday, December 6th
PRACTICE QUIZZES:
Several ungraded practice quizzes are provided to help you study for the three graded Midterm Exams. The practice quizzes do not neccesarily represent the actual questions on the midterm exams, but include questions that are relevent to preparing for the graded exams. You are not required to complete the Practice Quizzes. They are only provided for your benefit to help you prepare for the "real thing". The Practice Quizzes are located on the left-hand menu under (drum roll) "Quizzes".
EMAIL POLICY: You are highly encouraged to email the TA's or instructor regarding questions relevant to a jazz-related topic, practice quiz question, discussion forum, jazz video report, or reading assignment. ided at the top of this Syllabus page.
GRADES: Your final grade will depend on the number of points you compile: There is a total of 200 points possible in this course counting exams and concert reports. Here is a breakdown on the number of points needed for a specific grade:
4.0 - 185-200 points
3.9 - 184
3.8 - 183
3.7 - 182
3.6 - 181
3.5 - 180 (90%) 'A' grades
3.4 - 178-179
3.3 - 176-177
3.2 - 174-175
3.1 - 172-173
3,0 - 170-171
2.9 - 168-169
2.8 - 166-167
2.7 - 164-165
2.6 - 162-163
2.5 - 160-161 (80%) 'B' grades
2.4 - 156-159
2.3 - 152-155
2.2 - 148-151
2.1 - 144-147
2.0 - 140-143
1.9 - 138-139
1.8 - 136-137
1.7 - 134-135
1.6 - 132-133
1.5 - 130-131 (70%) 'C' grades
1.4 - 128-129
1.3 - 126-127
1.2 - 124-125
1.1 - 122-123
1.0 - 120-121
0.9 - 117-119
0.8 - 114-116
0,7 - 110-113 (55%) 'D' grades
0.0 - 0-109 fail