MUS 271 : Jazz Performance 4
Creative Arts and Industries
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)
Course Overview
The successful jazz musician requires a high degree of instrumental proficiency to engage at a professional level as the world of improvisational music offers a wide variety of challenging musical situations. This musical art form requires many key performance skills such as improvisation, interpretation, communication, technical ability, memorisation of repertoire, and professionalism. The course establishes foundational knowledge and technique so that the student can move towards the refinement of musical skills through the progression of further study.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Help each student master the elements of music through an in depth study of scales, chords, tuning, sound generation and relevant musical literature with the main focus on personal instrumental abilities. (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 8.1 and 8.2)
- Develop fundamental knowledge in the rhythmic and harmonic language that is integral to the discipline of Jazz improvisation. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1)
- Integrate technical skill with musical insight enabling strong musical control and communication in every aspect of music making. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Perform technically and artistically at a level consistent with instrumental syllabus for stage two assessment (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Demonstrate stylistic awareness while developing a jazz repertoire that is committed to memory (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Construct and perform jazz improvised solos over selected jazz tunes with appropriate rhythmic phrasing (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
- Demonstrate a good understanding of all aspects of jazz theory associated with the relevant course repertoire (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 5.1, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
- Transcribe perform and analyse recorded solo examples appropriate for stage two (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
- Demonstrate use of techniques such as melodic and rhythmic development, motive development, and melodic embellishment in solo construction (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 6.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Repertoire Assessment | 30% | Individual Test |
| Technical Assessment | 30% | Individual Test |
| Improvisation Assessments | 40% | Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Repertoire Assessment | ||||||||||
| Technical Assessment | ||||||||||
| Improvisation Assessments | ||||||||||
Teaching & Learning Methods
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
-Performance Lessons: 12 hours
-Improvisation Lectures/Tutorials: 24 hours
-Performance Practise and Study: 60 hours
-Improvisation Practise and Study: 48 hours
-Performance Assessments: 1 hour
Total = 150 hours
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including classes and tutorials to complete and receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including practical classes and studios will not be available as recordings.
Attendance on campus is required for assessments.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery. Individual lessons will be organised with your principle instrument teacher.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Lowered points for TECH and added them to REP, to give students a longer end-of-semester performance which will help them develop and prepare for stage III courses.
Other Information
Complete attendance of all lessons and classes is essential for successful completion of this course.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.