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UTAustinX: UT.8.03x Jazz Appreciation

Syllabus for UT.8.03x – JAZZ APPRECIATION

Primary Goal of the Course: Learn how to listen, think, and speak intelligently about music, particularly jazz.

Course Description: An introduction to and discussion of the jazz idiom, emphasizing listening skills and comprehension of the process of improvisation. Particular attention will be paid to musical contributions of leading jazz artists throughout the history of the music.

Topics for each week are as follows:

      • Week 1 Introduction/Improving Listening Skills/How Jazz Works
      • Week 2 Developing Listening Skills: Hard Bop
      • Week 3 Refining Listening Skills: Cool Jazz and Bebop
      • Week 4 Bebop and Swing: The Classic Jazz Eras
      • Week 5 Ellington and the Beginnings
      • Week 6 Louis and Miles
      • Week 7 Miles and Trane
      • Week 8 Trane, Free Jazz, and Mingus
      • Week 9 Keyboard Giants: Monk, Evans, Hancock, and Corea
      • Week 10 Fusion and Stars of Today

Schedule of Video Availability

We believe the study of jazz is incomplete without a variety of musical examples, so our course videos include many short excerpts from important jazz artists and eras, in keeping with fair use principles. We are excited to offer access to videos rich with musical examples that provide a valuable learning experience for students. To balance the artists' rights with the principle of open access to education, most videos will be posted for a limited time.

As the course progresses, videos from previous weeks will be replaced with downloadable transcripts of the videos. These transcripts include written information on the musical excerpts discussed. To get the most benefit from the course, please watch the videos as many times as you would like during the following availability schedule:

    • Week 1: Jan. 19 (14:00 GMT) - Jan. 31 (23:00 GMT)
    • Week 2: Jan. 23 (14:00 GMT) - Jan. 31 (23:00 GMT)
    • Week 3: Jan. 30 (14:00 GMT) - Feb. 7 (23:00 GMT)
    • Week 4: Feb. 6 (14:00 GMT) - Feb. 14 (23:00 GMT)
    • Week 5: Feb. 13 (14:00 GMT)- Feb. 21 (23:00 GMT)
    • Week 6: Feb. 20 (14:00 GMT)- Feb. 28 (23:00 GMT)
    • Week 7: Feb. 27 (14:00 GMT)- Mar. 6 (23:00 GMT)
    • Week 8: Mar. 5 (14:00 GMT)- Mar. 13 (23:00 GMT)
    • Week 9: Mar. 12 (14:00 GMT)- Mar. 20 (23:00 GMT)
    • Week 10: Mar. 19 (14:00 GMT)- Mar. 27 (23:00 GMT)

Last day to complete all coursework: Mar. 28, 2016

Grading Policy

Grades will be determined by the following formula:

        • Participation: 20% (evaluated by one “participation check” question each week in one of the week’s units)
        • Listening Assignment 1: 5% (evaluated by “assignment check” question in the unit)
        • Listening Assignment 2: 5% (evaluated by “assignment check” question in the unit)
        • Listening Assignment 3: 5% (evaluated by “assignment check” question in the unit)
        • Listening Assignment 4: 5% (evaluated by “assignment check” question in the unit)
        • Cerego Sets: 60% (evaluated by “progress to memory goal” percentage of each set)
            • Jazz Facts 1 15%
            • Deep Listening 1 15%
            • Jazz Facts 2 15%
            • Deep Listening 2 15%

60% of total points must be earned in order to pass the course. Earning a score of 90% or higher qualifies you for the Honor Roll!

Cerego Sets

We have created an enhanced learning program provided through our partnership with the memory management company Cerego. Cerego will help you study more effectively, and will provide a learning path that is individually tailored to your knowledge about the subject. You will access the Cerego sets within the course units, so there is no need to go to another site. (Cerego also has mobile apps that will allow you to practice the jazz sets on your phones or tablets, but your progress on these devices may not be accurately reflected in the edX course. If you are striving for course completion, we recommend you do all the work within the edX site.)

Complete information about Cerego activities is provided in separate pages and videos. These activities will replace traditional tests and/or quizzes, and will make your learning experience much more enjoyable.

Course Due Dates

            • January 29, 2016 (23:00 GMT) Short Assignments 1 & 2 (Listening To Jazz)
            • February 23, 2016 (23:00 GMT) Short Assignment 3 (More Listening To Jazz)
            • March 28, 2016 (23:00 GMT) Short Assignment 4 (Further Listening To Jazz)
            • March 28, 2016 (23:00 GMT) Cerego Set: Deep Listening 1
            • March 28, 2016 (23:00 GMT) Cerego Set: Jazz Facts 1
            • March 28, 2016 (23:00 GMT) Cerego Set: Jazz Facts 2
            • March 28, 2016 (23:00 GMT) Cerego Set: Deep Listening 2

You’ll receive reminders about the due dates and video availability schedule throughout the course.

There will also be “Enhance Your Experience” activities that are suggested from time to time. These activities are optional, ungraded activities that we believe will be of value to you, even though they are not required as part of the course.

We hope you enjoy the process of discovering jazz as much as we enjoy sharing this art form with you.