MCCCD Program Description

American Jazz and Popular Music

Course: MHL145

First Term: 2014 Spring

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: The study of cultural and social contributions to the evolution of American jazz and popular music from the mid-1800`s to present.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe the basic elements of music. (I) 2. Describe the instruments most associated with jazz. (I) 3. Define "Improvisation" and explain its role in jazz performance. (II) 4. Describe 19th and early 20th-century genres of American music and their indebtedness to African and European music. (III) 5. Describe the unique culture of New Orleans at the turn-of-the-century and its influence on the formation of jazz. (IV) 6. List several of the major musicians of early jazz. (IV) 7. Describe the influence of Louis Armstrong on 20th-century popular music. (V) 8. Compare and contrast the styles of early New Orleans with the music of the Swing Era. (IV, VI) 9. List several of the major musicians of the Swing Era. (VI) 10. Describe the effect Swing music had on the formation of Rhythm & Blues and other mid-20th-century forms of popular music and culture. (VI) 11. Compare and contrast the music of the Swing Era with the "modern" jazz styles. (VI, VII) 12. List several of the major musicians of "Modern Jazz." (VII) 13. Describe the influence of Latin music on jazz, and vice versa, from early New Orleans jazz to the 1960s. (IV, VI, VII, VIII, XI) 14. Describe how Miles Davis and his sidemen influenced the formation of several jazz styles. (IX) 15. Describe what aspects of avant-garde jazz diverge from traditional techniques and which aspects are retained. (X) 16. Describe what aspects of Fusion are derived from traditional jazz and which are derived from popular music, such as rock and funk. (XI) 17. Describe the attitudes of race in the 20th century, and their influence on the history of jazz through the 1960s. (III-X)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Elements of Music A. Melody B. Harmony C. Rhythm 1. General concepts 2. Meter and Pulse 3. Swing D. Forms 1. Concepts 2. Blues form and its variations 3. AABA and other "song" forms E. Expression 1. Timbre and variations related to cultural constructs 2. Dynamics 3. Articulation 4. Feel F. Instruments 1. Those common in jazz 2. Development of style as related to instruments 3. Technological influence II. Improvisation A. As a cultural marker B. As a central component of jazz style and development C. As it is relates to non-jazz styles of the 20th century D. Who is improvising in what contexts? 1. Horns and lead instrument vs. rhythm section III. Origins of Jazz Music A. Popular music of the 19th and early 20th century in the United States 1. Minstrelsy 2. Ragtime 3. Brass Bands 4. Blues 5. African-American Sacred Music B. African musical traits found in jazz 1. African cultural traits found in jazz C. European musical traits found in jazz 1. European cultural traits found in jazz D. United States cultural and history of the 19th and early 20th century 1. Related to popular culture 2. Related to popular music culture IV. New Orleans -- The Birthplace of Jazz (pre-1920) A. Why New Orleans? 1. Political/Military history a. Spanish and French rule 2. Cultural history a. Racial diversity b. "Creoles of Color" c. Port city 3. Musical history V. New Orleans-Style Jazz (1910s-1920s) A. Prominent musical influences present in the style B. Prominent cultural elements present in the style 1. In the communities of people who created, consumed, and reproduced the music C. Significant artists 1. Joe Oliver a. N.O.-style music moves north to Chicago 2. Louis Armstrong a. Follows Oliver north (1) Trumpet and vocal style (a) Improvisation (b) Personality (c) Entertainment 3. Sidney Bechet D. Musical characteristics 1. Instruments 2. Lyrics (where appropriate) E. Influence upon and relevance within society and popular culture VI. The Swing Era (1930s-1940s) A. Prominent musical influences present in the style B. Prominent cultural elements present in the style 1. In the communities of people who created, consumed, and reproduced the music C. Significant artists 1. Duke Ellington 2. Count Basie 3. Fletcher Henderson 4. Benny Goodman 5. Glenn Miller D. Musical characteristics 1. Instruments 2. Lyrics (where appropriate) E. Influence upon and relevance within society and popular culture VII. Bebop (1940s-1950s) A. Prominent musical influences present in the style B. Prominent cultural elements present in the style 1. In the communities of people who created, consumed, and reproduced the music C. Significant artists 1. Charlie "Bird" Parker 2. John "Dizzy" Gillespie 3. Miles Davis D. Musical characteristics 1. Instruments 2. Lyrics (where appropriate) E. Influence upon and relevance within society and popular culture VIII. Hard Bop, Cool and West Coast Jazz (1950s-1960s) A. Prominent musical influences present in the style B. Prominent cultural elements present in the style 1. In the communities of people who created, consumed, and reproduced the music C. Significant artists 1. Miles Davis 2. Art Blakey 3. Horace Silver 4. Dave Brubeck 5. Stan Getz 6. John Coltrane D. Musical characteristics 1. Instruments 2. Lyrics (where appropriate) E. Influence upon and relevance within society and popular culture IX. Avant-Garde (1960s-Current) A. Prominent musical influences present in the style B. Prominent cultural elements present in the style 1. In the communities of people who created, consumed, and reproduced the music C. Significant artists 1. John Coltrane 2. Ornette Coleman 3. Cecil Taylor 4. Albert Ayler D. Musical characteristics 1. Instruments 2. Lyrics (where appropriate) E. Influence upon and relevance within society and popular culture X. Fusion (1970s-Current) A. Prominent musical influences present in the style B. Prominent cultural elements present in the style 1. In the communities of people who created, consumed, and reproduced the music C. Significant artists 1. Miles Davis 2. Weather Report 3. Mahavishnu Orchestra D. Musical characteristics 1. Instruments 2. Lyrics (where appropriate) E. Influence upon and relevance within society and popular culture XI. Current State of Jazz A. Prominent musical influences present in the style B. Prominent cultural elements present in the style 1. In the communities of people who created, consumed, and reproduced the music C. Significant artists 1. Kurt Rosenwinkel 2. Esparanza Spaulding 3. Robert Glasper D. Musical characteristics 1. Instruments 2. Lyrics (where appropriate) E. Influence upon and relevance within society and popular culture

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: May 21, 2013

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.