MUSP 254: Competitive Collegiate Jazz Combos

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2024
Credits: 4
Total Contact Hours: 144
Lecture Hours : 36
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 108
Outside of Class Hours: 72
Total Student Learning Hours: 216
Prerequisite: Audition.
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

The preparation and performance of professional jazz combo literature with the primary goal of maximizing adjudication consideration and reward at jazz combo competitions and festivals. Participation in jazz combo competitions and festivals is required. This course may be taken four times. 36 lecture hours, 108 lab hours arranged.

Course Objectives

  • Maximize adjudication consideration and reward by successfully preparing and performing professional jazz combo literature at jazz combo competitions and festivals.
  • Recognize and correctly translate, interpret and respond to music notation terms and symbols found in professional (grade 5-6) level jazz combo literature, as well as the idiomatic jargon and terminology typically used in jazz combo rehearsal.
  • Produce an professional level characteristic instrumental tone quality on their instrument, control and adjust intonation through an professional range of their primary instrument's tessitura, correctly interpret and accurately project professional (grade 5-6) level musical rhythm on their instrument, project their individual part with an professional level control of balance and blend, and recognize and critique the achievement of these instrumental performance parameters by other members of the jazz combo.
  • Interpret musical style and select the appropriate performance approach for professional (grade 5-6) level jazz combo literature.

Major Course Content

  1. Assessment of individual students' entry instrumental proficiency
  2. Introduction to and a brief history of jazz combo competitions and festivals
  3. Introduction to jazz combo adjudication evaluation:
    1. Adjudication and adjudicators
    2. Various performance evaluation rubrics and criteria reference systems
    3. Various jazz combo classification systems
    4. Various philosophies regarding music performance competition
  4. Review of professional jazz combo rehearsal and performance etiquette
  5. Review and development of professional level characteristic tone production techniques
  6. Review and development of professional level intonation adjustment techniques
  7. Review and development of professional level articulation techniques
  8. Introduction to professional level technical velocity and fluency development strategies
  9. Review of advanced musical rhythm concepts
  10. Review and development of professional level phrasing, expression and dynamics techniques
  11. Introduction to professional level individual, sectional and ensemble balance and blend concepts
  12. Introduction to professional level notation and jazz combo performance terminology
  13. Review and development of professional level sight-reading skills
  14. Review and development of a professional level personal practice regimen
  15. Preparation and performance of professional (Grade 5-6) level jazz combo  literature focusing on maximizing adjudication consideration.

Hours Arranged Content

  1. In addition to the lecture led portion of full ensemble rehearsals, instrument sections and section groupings meet weekly to review, develop and assess:
    1. Tone production techniques
    2. Intonation adjustment techniques
    3. Articulation techniques
    4. Technical velocity and fluency, and tone flexibility skills
    5. Phrasing, expression and dynamics techniques
    6. Individual, sectional and ensemble balance and blend
    7. Musical rhythm reading skill
    8. Musical rhythm execution and precision
    9. Observe and evaluate live and recorded jazz combo competition and festival performances
    10. Prepare assigned jazz combo literature for competition and festival performance
  2. Additional full ensemble and sectional rehearsals are arranged, especially during the weeks approaching competition and festival performances.
  3. Competition and festival performances are scheduled.

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Internet and/or library research (composer; historical era; stylistic, structural and formal elements; jazz combo history; jazz combo competitions; etc.) including listening, of jazz combo literature rehearsed and performed.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

1. Written evaluation of live and recorded jazz combo performances using competition and festival music adjudication forms.
2. Essays evaluating live and recorded jazz combo competition and festival performances.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Individual practice of instrumental skills. Study, mark and prepare individual parts. Study and evaluate reference recordings. Write performance evaluation essays.

Instruction Type(s)

Lab, Lecture