Thursday, January 4

Learning to Swing, Developing a Jazz Language and Nomenclature

Readings: 

• Marsalis, Moving to Higher Ground, Chapter 2 (Speaking the Language of Jazz, pp. 3-20).

Tuesday, January 9

Harmonic Basics: The Blues, Rhythm Changes, and Simple II-V-I progressions

Readings:

• Marsalis, Moving to Higher Ground: Chapter 3 (Everybody's Music: the Blues, pp. 47-62)

• Levine, The Jazz Theory Book, pp.15-25.

Thursday, January 11

The Origins of Jazz: African Diaspora to New Orleans and Beyond

Readings:

• Dunscomb & Hill, Chapter 2 (Jazz! America's Original Art Form, pp. 13-27), Chapter 13 (Big Band History: An Overview, pp.136-150)

Tuesday, January 16

Basic Rehearsal Techniques: Warm-ups, Band Set-Up, Balance, Blend, Articulations, and Tuning

Readings:

• Lindsay, Jazz Arranging Techniques: Jazz Articulations and Effects, pp. 60-63.

Thursday, January 18

Basics of Jazz Improvisation

Readings:

• Dunscomb & Hill, Chapter 9 (Jazz Improvisation: An Introduction, pp. 95-102).

• Dunscomb & HIll, Chapter 10 (Jazz Improvisation: Sample Lessons, 103-118)

• Norgaard, M. (2017). Descriptions of improvisational thinking by developing jazz improvisers. International Journal of Music Education, 35(2), 259–271.

Tuesday, January 23

Rehearsal Techniques: The Rhythm Section

Readings:

• Dunscomb & Hill, Chapter 16a-d (The Rhythm Section, pp. 184-235)

Thursday, January 25

The Rhythm Section: Other Styles (Latin, Rock, Funk, Avant-Garde)

Readings:

• Dunscomb & Hill, Chapter 8 (The Jazz Concept: Latin)

Tuesday, January 30

Rehearsal Techniques: The Winds (Saxophone, Trumpet, & Trombone, and Sax Doublings)

Readings:

• Dunscomb & Hill, Chapter 17a-c (Wind Section of the Jazz Ensemble, pp. 236-272)

Assignment Due:

• Lesson plan for 5 minute rehearsal on a 32-bar section (to work with ESMS Jazz Band) (Selected piece will be determined by John Aguilar, to be distributed at a later date).

Thursday, February 1 (To be confirmed; date flexible)

Beginning Jazz Band Rehearsal Demonstration: John Aguilar, Eagle Staff Middle School

Readings:

• West, C. (2014). Preparing Middle School Music Teachers to Teach Jazz. Journal of Music Teacher Education, 23(2), 64–78. http://doi.org/10.1177/1057083713487077

Tuesday, February 6

Jazz Harmony and Voicings

Readings:

• Pease & Pullig, Modern Jazz Voicings, Chapter 3 (Basic Voicings, pp. 24-40).

Assignment Due: 

• Harmonization Exercise (Pease & Pullig, p. 37, #1; p. 39, #1-3.

Thursday, February 8

Simple Arranging Techniques

Readings:

• Lindsay, Jazz Arranging Techniques, Chapter 6, pp. 53-64.

Tuesday, February 13

More Jazz Arranging Techniques

Assignment Due: 

• Bring in lead sheet of your jazz band arrangement.

Thursday, February 15

Selecting Jazz Repertoire for Large and Small Ensembles

Readings:

• Dunscomb & Hill, Chapter 15 (The Music: How to Evaluate and Select Music That Fits Your Ensemble, pp.162-183)

Tuesday, February 20

Basics of Score Study

Readings:

• Wright, Inside the Score: "Basie-Straight Ahead" by Sammy Nestico

• Wright, Inside the Score: "Three and One" by Thad Jones

Thursday, February 22 (To be confirmed; date flexible)

Guest Speaker: Kelly Barr Clingan, Education Director, Seattle JazzED

Readings:

Familiarize yourself with the offerings of Seattle JazzED (www.seattlejazzed.org) 

Assignment Due:

• List of 20 potential selections for large jazz ensemble

Tuesday, February 27

Small Combo Performances

Meet with your combos and prepare the performance of a simple jazz tune.

Assignment Due: 

• Observation report of a middle or high school jazz band rehearsal 

Thursday, March 1

Listening Quiz; Budgeting and Boostering

Readings:

• Dunscomb & Hill, Chapter 5 (Conquering Scheduling Challenges, pp. 43-53), Chapter 6 (Budged: What You Need and How to Get it. pp. 54-61).

Tuesday, March 6

Recruiting, Auditioning, and Developing a Jazz Program

Readings Due:

• Dunscomb & Hill, Chapter 12 (The Jazz Ensemble: Organization and Audition Basics, pp. 129-135).

Assignment Due:

• Analysis of a big band score (of your choice)

Tuesday, March 8

Current Issues in Jazz Education; Open Review of Topics

Readings:

• Watson, K. E. (2017). A Comparative Analysis of Method Books for Class Jazz Instruction. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 1–7.

Final Exam Date TBD

Performances of Jazz Arrangements & Jam Session

Assignment Due on MARCH 13:

• Full score and parts of your arrangement.