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Unit outline_

JAZZ2623: Jazz Music Skills 3

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Sydney

Harmony and Arranging Module: Concentrates on more complex harmonic material that forms the basis for Jazz Improvisation 3. Students will learn big band orchestration which will include ensemble scoring, sax soli, background writing, form and the related uses of counterpoint. There will be detailed analysis of scores of major composers and arrangers. Methods of reharmonisation of existing jazz and standard compositions will be explored further. Aural Module: Consolidates and expands upon concepts and skills introduced in Jazz Music Skills 1 and 2, plus introducing advanced chord types, and increasingly complex harmonic structures. N.B Both the Harmony and Aural Modules must be passed in order for the student to proceed to Jazz Music Skills 4.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Jazz
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
JAZZ1622
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Andrew Robertson, andrew.robertson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Andrew Robertson, andrew.robertson@sydney.edu.au
Andrew Scott, andrew.scott@sydney.edu.au
Steve Barry, steve.barry@sydney.edu.au
Matthew McMahon, matthew.mcmahon@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Skills-based evaluation End of Semester Test (Harmony Module)
Written test, summary of Semester content
8.34% Formal exam period
Due date: 16 Jun 2023 at 23:00
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Small test Auralia In Class tests x 2 (ET Module)
Smaller Auralia class ear training tests
5% Multiple weeks
Due date: 12 May 2023 at 23:00
1 hr
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5
Assignment Weekly Homework Assignments
Weekly homework tasks (Harmony module) x 5
5% Multiple weeks
Due date: 26 Apr 2023 at 23:00
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Participation Participation & Attendance
General participation in class and punctual attendance in Jazz Music Skills
10% Ongoing
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:00
Throughout semester
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO10 LO9 LO4 LO3 LO2 LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6
Small continuous assessment Preliminary Individual Assessment & Goal-Setting (JP)
Preliminary Individual Assessment & Goal-Setting
3.33% Week 03
Due date: 10 Mar 2023 at 23:00
15 mins
Outcomes assessed: LO9 LO10
Small test Theory Test (Jazz Piano Module)
Jazz theory test
5% Week 06
Due date: 31 Mar 2023 at 23:00
1 hr
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO10 LO9
Small continuous assessment Mid-Semester Individual Assessment (JP Module)
Mid-Semester Individual Assessment
5% Week 07
Due date: 21 Apr 2023 at 23:00
1 hr
Outcomes assessed: LO9 LO10
Small test Ear Training Class test 1
Ear Training written/aural test
8.33% Week 08
Due date: 21 Apr 2023 at 23:00
1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5
Assignment Larger arranging assignment
Saxophone section + Brass section arrangement. 32 bar length
5% Week 09
Due date: 30 Apr 2023 at 23:00
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Participation group assignment Con Sings! (SPW)
Various rehearsals and performance in Special Projects Week
5% Week 10
Due date: 05 May 2023 at 23:00
Various rehearsals and performance
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Small continuous assessment Final Individual Assessment (JP Module)
Final Individual Assessment in Jazz Piano
8.33% Week 11
Due date: 12 May 2023 at 23:00
1 hr
Outcomes assessed: LO9 LO10
Small test Ear Training Class Test 2
Auralia ear training test
16.67% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:00
2 hrs
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5
Small continuous assessment Duo Assessment (JP Module)
End of Semester duo performance assessment
5% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:00
15 mins
Outcomes assessed: LO9 LO10
Assignment End of Semester assignment (Harmony module)
Full Big Band arrangement, 1 x 32 bar form
10% Week 13
Due date: 28 May 2023 at 23:00
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Weekly Homework Assignments: Homework Assignments, due in various weeks, different topics based on content covered in class. There will be 10 weeks of homework tasks, each worth 1.5%. They will be simple and short activities focusing on the learnings of that week’s class.
  • 3 Larger Arranging Assignments: Three larger assignments throughout the semester delivered in Week 2 (due Week 5); Week 5 (due Week 6) and Week 6 (due Week 8). Each assignment will be designed to build skills toward the final exam.
  • End of Semester assignment: Smaller-sized Big band arrangement of 16 bars + ending with full score and parts. The writing of a successful arrangement demonstrates the student’s knowledge of jazz harmony and arranging in the most immediate and direct way. This arrangement will demonstrate an overall grasp of both
    fundamentals and more advanced concepts in jazz harmony, and exhibit facility with the content covered in class.
  • End of semester exam: handwritten short score of small band arrangement from given lead line.
  • Final exam – ear training module: Final Exam will consist of a written exam in which the student will be asked to identify and transcribe exercises performed on the piano by the examiner.
  • Class tests: class test will consist of a written test in which the student will be asked to identify and transcribe exercises performed on the piano by the examiner

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

  • Assessment criteria for assessments in this unit of study can be found on Canvas in the appropriate folder.
  • Assessed work will be marked according to these criteria.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

Absent fail

0 - 49

When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Weekly Ear training class Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Jazz harmony and arranging class Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Jazz Piano Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO7 LO9 LO10

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Dean, Head of School or professor most concerned. The Dean, Head of School or professor most concerned may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items where attendance is lower than 90%.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate knowledge of fundamental jazz harmonic principles through improvisation in a coherent way
  • LO2. analyse jazz arrangements from a range of styles and eras
  • LO3. write arrangements for jazz big band in a number of styles.
  • LO4. recognise intervals within two octaves
  • LO5. identify all chord qualities including eleventh chords, with possible alterations of the 9th and 5th
  • LO6. identify 7th chords in all inversions
  • LO7. transcribe short melodies
  • LO8. transcribe 8 bar chord progressions – including chromatic passing chords, non-functional bass movement and modulations.
  • LO9. Play jazz melodies on Piano with left hand accompaniment
  • LO10. Perform A and B jazz voicings on Piano for Maj7, min7, dom7 chords

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Changes to number of assessments and weighting plus re-write of sequential learning program.

More information and resources are to be found on Canvas

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.