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Unit of study_

JAZZ2624: Jazz Music Skills 4

2025 unit information

Harmony and Arranging Module: Students learn big band orchestration including 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. Selected arrangements will be rehearsed and recorded by a Big Band. Students may study contemporary techniques encompassing elements of polytonality, serial composition, extended instrumental effects and textural voicings. This subject also deals with the harmonic concepts used in Jazz Improvisation. Aural Module: Consolidates all concepts from Jazz Music Skills 1, 2 and 3. By its conclusion, students will have systematically examined, over four semesters, aural concepts that are essential to creative musical interplay in jazz performance. N.B Both the Harmony and Aural Modules must be passed in order for the student to complete.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Sydney Conservatorium of Music

Study level Undergraduate
Academic unit Jazz
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
? 
JAZZ2623
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
? 
None
Assumed knowledge:
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None

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

  • LO1. demonstrate knowledge of fundamental jazz harmonic principles through improvisation/compostion 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. become fluent in more complex jazz harmony and arranging techniques
  • LO5. complete a smaller-sized arrangement for full big band.
  • LO6. compose full 3-5 minute Big Band arrangement incorporating advanced understanding of harmony, harmonic devices, structure and voicing skills
  • LO7. recognise all intervals within two octaves
  • LO8. identify all chord qualities including all extension and alterations up to 13ths
  • LO9. transcribe short melodies and chord progressions of increasing complexity including chromaticism, modulations and non-functional movement.

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2024
Normal day Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2025
Normal day Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2020
Normal day Sydney
Semester 2 2021
Normal day Remote
Semester 2 2021
Normal day Sydney
Semester 2 2022
Normal day Sydney
Semester 2 2023
Normal day Sydney

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

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