MUS 275 : Jazz Composition and Arranging 1

Creative Arts and Industries

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Composition and arranging in the jazz idiom exploring small ensemble and big band contexts. Scoring, voicing concepts and sectional writing that assist students in the development of a portfolio of work.

Course Overview

Along with deepening their understanding of associated jazz harmony and aural skills, the emphasis of this course lies on the manipulation of existing, and the creation of new jazz music material. It builds on the knowledge obtained in Music 274 and explores further, more advanced jazz-theory, -composition and -arranging concepts. This course is based on composition assignments that incorporate jazz-arranging components, advanced jazz theory concepts supported by advanced solfege and complex aural tasks related to pitch, poly-rhythm and harmony. The skills acquired in MUS 275 will build the basis for continuation into MUS 375.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MUS 274

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
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Music

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Be able to harmonize melodies within a jazz context, 2,3,4 part, all techniques (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  2. Have knowledge of jazz song form – Coltrane Matrix, Rhythm Changes, 32 bar standards, Blues, through composed (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  3. To be able to use a wide variety of jazz arranging- and chart writing concepts (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  4. Be able to score for all instruments commonly used in jazz music making. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  5. Be proficient in scoring and composing for rhythm section (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  6. Be able to perform melodic development of motifs and phrases to create original material (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  7. Be able to perform / recognise •Intervals (advanced x1)•Chord colors (advanced x1)•Polyrhythm •16th note rhythm•Speedy recognition of melodic fragments•Solfege•Advanced rhythmic and melodic dictations (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  8. Be able to compose music "to task" through using a set range of jazz composition and arranging concepts and techniques to create original jazz music. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Theory/Aural Test 1 15% Individual Test
Aural Test 2 15% Individual Test
Composition Assignment 1 10% Individual Coursework
Composition Assignment 2 10% Individual Coursework
Composition Assignment 3 10% Individual Coursework
Composition Assignment 4 10% Individual Coursework
COmposition Assignment 5 10% Individual Coursework
Composition Assignment 6 10% Individual Coursework
Student presentations and contribution to class activities 10% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Theory/Aural Test 1
Aural Test 2
Composition Assignment 1
Composition Assignment 2
Composition Assignment 3
Composition Assignment 4
COmposition Assignment 5
Composition Assignment 6
Student presentations and contribution to class activities
Assignments are to be completed/submitted, according to submission type specied on Canvas, by the due date. If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, please complete an application for extension form at the following link:

https://www.forms.auckland.ac.nz/en/student/creative-arts-and-industries/te-whare-o-ng_-pkrero-poro---school-of-music-undergraduate-exten.html

You must submit your extension application as early as possible before the assignment due date. 

Late assignments that do not have an approved extension will be penalized 10% for each day or part thereof. No assignment will be accepted after that assignment has been returned to students.

Teaching & Learning Methods

  • Lectures
  • Ear Training classes
  • Independent study
  • Listening and research of relevant music examples

Exam Mode

  • There is no final exam for this course.

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.

Lectures: 36hrs (incl. 4hrs in-class Theory and Aural tests)

Independent study / preparation of assignments: 114hrs

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials and workshops to successfully complete the course. Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials and workshops will not be available as recordings. The course may include live online events such as tutorials.

Attendance on campus is required for the tests and assessments. 

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.

• Sibelius files uploaded to Canvas
• Canvas uploads, misc. file formats.
• Physical paper handouts (students are to provide and maintain a course folder)
• Audio examples (in-class listening/analysis and independent study; YouTube; Spottify etc)
• Participation: Live playing in class (students to bring instruments if required), preparation of presentations, presenting draft compositions or arrangements for each assignment prior to submission dates.
• Sibelius files

Health & Safety

Should students be having issues coping, feeling excessively stressed or mentally unwell, the following resources are available:
Student Learning Centre: 09 3737599 Ext 88850
University Health and Counselling Service (USCS). 09 9237681
Student Disability Service:09 3737599 Ext 82936

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.

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Other Information

Software:
Some of the learning resources will be made available as Sibelius files. Sibelius notation software is available on the computers in the lab, level 1, KMC 820. Students may use their own version of Sibelius, which must be Sibelius 7 or higher. 

Due to the collaborative element of this course, full attendance is essential for successful completion of this course. 
Students are also required to participate with practical suggestions / solution seeking within the context of on-the-spot compositions and development of melodic as well as harmonic and rhythmic fragments. 
This participation attracts a mark weighing 10% of the coursework. Such participation can only be evaluated during class when the latter is attended.

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.