Principal Study Jazz 1

The Principal Study is the primary focus of your learning experience, supported by regular individualised lessons in your discipline. You will be expected to devote a substantial amount of time to independent learning, as part of a continuous cycle of lessons, individual practice and reflection.

Module aims

This module is designed to:

• Foster technical and expressive mastery in jazz
• Develop a mature and imaginative musical personality and provide opportunities for its projection in-and-through practice
• Develop a knowledge base that informs and supports the skills of improvisation and facilitates creativity in the solving of complex musical problems
• Nurture and develop composition/arranging ability to a high standard with a view to engagement at a professional level.
• Enable you to acquire the skills to pursue and sustain fulfilling, lifelong learning leading to informed performance at a professional level
• Develop perception, listening skills and self awareness and their application through responsive liaison and co-operation in rehearsal and performance.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• LO1 Demonstrate technical and expressive mastery in jazz
• LO2 Project a mature musical personality in-and-through your principal study
• LO3 Employ a range of knowledge and understanding in-and-through the process of making music

Assessment

Assessment 1: Performance B (50% or 25% + 25%)

Assessed LOs: 1, 2, 3.

Assessment 2: Performance A (50%)

Assessed LOs: 1, 2, 3.

The Assessment Specifications associated with this module outline a number of different options from which to choose, according to your department and specialism, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate the learning outcomes of the module across a range of contexts and repertoires.

Assessment criteria

Assessors will look for:

LO1 – Demonstrate technical and expressive mastery in jazz

• perceptive listening
• agility/fluency
• range and flexibility of sound
• exploitation of the capabilities of the instrument/voice
• melodic shaping, line and texture
• dynamic range and shaping
• control of tempo and time feel
• intonation
• in singing: pronunciation, accent, languages
• command of jazz theory and harmony

in Composing and Arranging

• clarity of intention in the score
• idiomatic use of instrumental/vocal resources
• confident handling of form and structure
• understanding of texture, colour and balance

LO2 – Project a mature musical personality in-and-through your principal study

• spontaneity and originality in improvisation
• structure and thematic development in improvisation
• individuality in concept and approach
• performances which can challenge both the artist and audience
• creativity in performance
• stage presence
• communication and leadership within the ensemble

in Composing and Arranging

• originality and creative imagination

in Collaboration on Creation of New Work

• critical understanding of the collaborative process
• creative and effective collaboration with the composer

LO3 – Employ a range of knowledge and understanding in-and-through the process of making music

• understanding of structure, form and genre
• a knowledge of jazz repertoire, its content, context and trend
• contribution to audience experience
• quality of information
• imagination

in Studio Recording Projects:

• an informed and considered choice of recorded sound quality appropriate to the repertoire
• an informed and considered choice of editing points appropriate to the recording
• ownership of and engagement in all aspects of process
• rationale for choice of repertoire, sound quality and edit points
• an understanding of context with reference to other recordings

Feedback

You will recieve regular formative feedback from your tutor in your lessons, and a written report twice a year. In some departments the tutor report will take the form of a mutually constructed feedback session.

You will receive a written feedback report on each A and B assessment.

Resources

Essential

Key resources will be recommended by principal study tutors.

Summary details

Module title	Principal Study Jazz 1
SCQF level	11
Credit rating	80 SCQF (40 ECTS)
Total notional student effort hours	800
Status	Core
Module coordinator	Head of Department
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	Supporting Studies 1
Anti-requisites	None
Next steps	Principal Study Jazz 2 or MA Negotiated Study
Learning modes	Indicative hours
Scheduled study	30 (minimum)
Independent study	770 (maximum)
Total notional student effort	800