Jazz Style and Practice MUSIC2026

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Culture and Creative Arts
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 2 (SCQF level 8)
  • Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course examines the historical emergence of jazz style, as well as introducing and developing essential skills in jazz performance, analysis, and composition/arrangement. This includes providing students with an opportunity to perform in a jazz combo setting; to create jazz arrangements; and to observe, analyse and transcribe recorded jazz performances.  

Timetable

10 x 1 hour lectures

12 x 1 hour tutorials

4 x 2 hour workshops

 

Over 20 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None.

Co-requisites

None.

Assessment

transcription and analysis - 30%

portfolio containing 2 of 3 elements - 70%

 

1. Critical Essay (1500 words)

2. Arrangement/composition (minimum 3 mins)

3. Group Performance Individually Assessed

Course Aims

This course aims to:  

 

■ Provide students with an opportunity to examine the histories, repertoires and styles of jazz music

■ engender an awareness of jazz ethics and performance practice

■ develop students' ability to perform and improvise in a jazz style 

■ introduce students to jazz composition and arrangement

■ allow students to work together in a group performance setting

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Discern the primary aspects of jazz history, repertoire and style; 

■ understand how jazz is typically performed, including a sense of jazz ethics; 

■ collaborate in jazz performance, including improvising modally in a jazz style according to their performance abilities; 

■ apply practical approaches to making jazz music, i.e. performance or arrangement/composition; 

■ compose an original piece of jazz music, or arrange an established piece, for jazz ensemble. 

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.