HomeMy WebLinkAboutMUS-105Departmental Policy
Syllabus Revised, 5/15/18
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Bergen Community College
Division of Business, Social Sciences, and Performing Arts
Department of Performing Arts
Course Syllabus
MUS-105: A History of Jazz in America
Basic Information about Course and Instructor
Semester and year:
Course and Section Number:
Meeting Times and Locations:
Instructor:
Office Location:
Phone:
Departmental Secretary: [optional]
Office Hours:
Email Address:
Course Description
MUS-105 A History of Jazz in America is a study of the historical development of jazz from its origin as
a form of Black American folk music to its acceptance as a major expression of American art.
3 lectures, 3 credits
Student Learning Objectives: As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be
able to:
1.Articulate a critical perspective on the social, cultural, political and economic forces that led to
the development of jazz in America during the 20th century;
2.Distinguish between the musical characteristics that differentiate the various styles of jazz, such
as ragtime, traditional (Dixieland), stride piano, swing, bebop, post bop, cool jazz, west coast
jazz, free jazz, jazz-rock fusion, acid jazz, smooth jazz, and post-modern jazz;
3.Explain how race, class, gender, and ethnicity along with the social, economic, and legal
practices such as segregation, the New Deal, played a role the evolution of jazz;
4.Demonstrate knowledge of selected significant jazz innovators and soloists, such as Louis
Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane;
5.Employ the basic vocabulary used to describe musical elements, such as melody, rhythm,
harmony, form, and tone color, in written and oral communication;
6.Utilize library resources and online research tools to retrieve primary and secondary sources, in
order to present a historical argument on a topic germane to the history of jazz and American
musical culture.
In pursuit of the foregoing goals, the course is based on the reading and discussion of musicological and
sociological writings on music, as well as on attentive listening techniques for musical selections; students
are given the opportunity and are encouraged to participate actively in class discussions; and students
are required to do a substantial amount of expository and critical writing in response to the material
presented in the course.
Departmental Policy
Syllabus Revised, 5/15/18
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Learning Assessment
The Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) in this course are intended to be aligned with as many of the
college's General Education Goals as possible. They are also correlated with the overall Learning Goals
of the Music Program. In addition, student progress in reaching the course's SLOs is to be assessed
through various means of assessment, such as the "Suggested Means of Assessment" listed below.
Student Learning Objective Suggested Means of Assessment
1.Articulate a critical perspective on the social, cultural,
political and economic forces that led to the development of
jazz in America during the 20th century;
Essay examinations
Quizzes and objective tests
Writing assignments
2.Distinguish between the musical characteristics that
differentiate the various styles of jazz, such as ragtime,
traditional (Dixieland), stride piano, swing, bebop, post bop,
cool jazz, west coast jazz, free jazz, jazz-rock fusion, acid
jazz, smooth jazz, and post-modern jazz;
Essay examinations
Quizzes and objective tests
Writing assignments
3.Explain how race, class, gender, and ethnicity along with the
social, economic, and legal practices such as segregation,
the New Deal, played a role the evolution of jazz;
Essay examinations
Quizzes and objective tests
Writing assignments
4.Demonstrate knowledge of selected significant jazz
innovators and soloists, such as Louis Armstrong, Duke
Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane;
Essay examinations
Quizzes and objective tests
Writing assignments
5.Employ the basic vocabulary used to describe musical
elements, such as melody, rhythm, harmony, form, and tone
color, in written and oral communication; and
Essay examinations
Quizzes and objective tests
Writing assignments
6.Utilize library resources and online research tools to retrieve
primary and secondary sources, in order to present a
historical argument on a topic germane to the history of jazz
and American musical culture.
Writing assignments
Special Features of the Course (if any) [to be designated by the instructor]
E.g., the use of learning technologies in the course (Internet, PowerPoint, web enhancement via a parallel
course website, etc.); the inclusion of technological literacy learning in the course; etc.
Course Texts and/or Other Study Materials
DeVeaux, Scott & Gary Giddins. Jazz: Essential Listening. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2011 (Also
available as an ebook). The textbook contains the key concepts and terminology covered in the course,
along with listening charts for the musical examples.
* The textbook publisher, W.W. Norton & Company, provides free access to the Studyspace for Jazz
Essentials: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/music/jazz-essentials/.
The website includes valuable resources such as chapter reviews, key concepts, and author interviews.
Alternative textbooks or resources can be used by individual faculty with permission of the music
discipline textbook committee. The Faculty Senate “Policy on the Selection of Texts and Other
Instructional Materials,” states that “individual faculty members and/or departments should strive to select
texts, whenever possible, that are most affordable for students.”
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Departmental Policy Syllabus
Revised, 5/15/18
Grading Policy
A student's final grade for the course is based primarily on his or her performance on the required work
for the course (writing assignments, examinations, class presentations, etc.) and on his or her overall
mastery of the material covered in the course. A student's class participation may also be evaluated, and
the grade thereon may be used as a factor in determining the student's final grade for the course; but a
class participation grade will count for no more than twenty percent (20%) of the final grade. A student's
research and writing work will count at least fifty percent (50%) of the final grade.
BCC Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are
registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for
each section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline.
Attendance will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
Attendance Policy in this Course:
[To be designated by the instructor]
Other College, Divisional, and/or Departmental Policy Statements [optional but recommended]
Examples:
Statement on plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty.
ADA statement.
Sexual Harassment statement.
Statement on acceptable use of BCC technology.
Statement on the purpose and value of faculty office hours.
Student and Faculty Support Services [optional but recommended]
List support services, e.g., the Writing Center, the Math Lab, the Tutorial Center, Online Writing Lab
(OWL), Office of Specialized Services, etc. Include information on the BCC Library.
Example:
Student and Faculty Support Services
The Distance Learning Office – for
any problems you may have
accessing your online courses
Room C-334 201-612-5581
psimms@bergen.edu
English Language Resource Center Room C- 212 http://www.bergen.edu/elrc
The Tutoring Center Room L-125 201-447-7908
http://www.bergen.edu/tutoring
The Writing Center Room L-125 201-447-7908
http://www.bergen.edu/owl
The Office of Specialized Services
(for Students with Disabilities)
Room S-131 201-612-5270
http://www.bergen.edu/oss
BCC Library – Reference Desk Room L-226 201-447-7436
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Departmental Policy Syllabus
Revised, 5/15/18
Special Note on the Tutoring Center
The Henry and Edith Cerullo Learning Assistance Center encompasses the Tutoring Center, the
English Language Resource Center, and the Writing Center. The website of the Learning Assistance
Center is located at www.bergen.edu/pages/2192.asp. Tutoring services are available for this course in
the Tutoring Center. As listed above, the Tutoring Center is located in Room L-125, and its phone number
is 201-447-7908.
Include a Course Outline and Calendar [can be combined in a single syllabus section]
The Course Outline and Calendar must include all of the following elements:
A daily or (at least) weekly schedule of topics to be covered.
Dates for exams, quizzes, or other means of assessment. (This does not mean that all evaluation
of students must be in groups and at the same time. Exams and other means of assessment can
be listed as "to be scheduled individually.")
Due dates for major assignments – e.g., when is a paper due; if the topic has to be approved,
when; if an outline or draft is an interim step, when it is due.
Any required special events must be included in the outline/calendar, e.g., a lecture by a visiting
speaker, a dramatic or musical performance, a field trip.
Designation of Student Learning Objectives – by number – for each topic (see sample below).
A note to students stating that the course outline and calendar is tentative and subject to change,
depending upon the progress of the class.
Sample Format for Course Outline and Calendar
Note to Students: The following Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to change,
depending upon the progress of the class.
Week(s) Date(s) Topics & Assignments Learning
Objectives
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
See the Sample Course Outline and Calendar below.
Departmental Policy
Syllabus Revised, 5/15/18
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SAMPLE COURSE OUTLINE AND CALENDAR
[with designation of Student Learning Objectives – by number – for each topic]
Note to Students: The following Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to change, depending
upon the progress of the class.
Week(s) Date(s) Topic/Activity/Assignments
Student
Learning
Objectives
1-2 Sep 6, 8,13,15 Introduction to Jazz: Musical Elements and Instruments
Reading Assignment: Chapters 1 & 2
1-6
3 Sept 20, 22 The Roots of Jazz
Reading Assignment: Chapter 3
1-6
4 Sep 27, 29 New Orleans and Louis Armstrong
Reading Assignment: Chapters 4 & 6
1-6
5 Oct 4, 6 New York in the 1920s
Reading Assignment: Chapter 5
1-6
6 Oct 11, 13 Swing Bands
Reading Assignment: Chapter 7
1-6
7-8 Oct 18, 20, 25,
27
Count Basie and Duke Ellington
Reading Assignment: Chapter 8
1-6
9 Nov 1, 3 The Swing Era: The Soloists
Reading Assignment: Chapter 9 & 10
1-6
10 Nov 8, 10 Bebop
Reading Assignment: Chapter 11
1-6
11 Nov 15, 17 Cool Jazz and Hard Bop
Reading Assignment: Chapter 12
1-6
12 Nov 22, 24 Jazz Composition and Modal Jazz
Reading Assignment: Chapters 13 & 14
1-6
13 Nov 29,
Dec 1,
The Avant-Garde
Reading Assignment: Chapter 15
1-6
14 Dec 6,8 Fusion
Reading Assignment: Chapters 16 & 17
1-6
15 Dec 13, 15 Final Review and Final Exam 1-6
Note to Students: This Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to change,
depending upon the progress of the class.