Music 15B

Jazz, Blues and Popular Music in the American Culture

Clinton Day Instructor
Email: cday@there.net
3 Units; Section B2, Code 22580

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will focus on the contemporary music scene with in-depth investigation of trends in artistic
expression, including the history of blues and jazz as uniquely American forms. Included are study of
historical and influential aspects of America’s indigenous music and culture. We will examine the origins
from which this music has emerged and its role in social history.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
This music appreciation course, seeks to improve listening skills, develop historical awareness, and refine
critical judgment of America’s music and culture. The student will be able to:

• Describe the evolution of blues and jazz from a historical point of view.
• Demonstrate familiarity with major artists in the jazz and blues field, both their historical
significance and their musical contributions.
• Speak with some knowledge and authority about the various jazz and blues styles, and will
understand the “language of jazz.”
• Describe the place of jazz, blues and popular music in American social history and understand the
role which racism has played in the evolution of not only jazz and blues, but also in American
show business as a whole.
• Critique and evaluate music based on its artistic expression.
• Recognize, compare and contrast specific performers and composers.
• Discuss and evaluate the impact of African influences on American music.
• Distinguish the significant periods and styles in the history of Blues, Jazz and Rock.
• Identify the various multi-cultural influences American music.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Weekly format online course through http://eperalta.org/spring2009

TEXT
JAZZ STYLES by Mark C Gridley, and a 3-CD/Cassette anthology containing most of the musical
examples discussed in the text. The text can be purchased without the CD’s, in which case an iTunes
account is recommended in order to purchase downloads of the music examples.

Textbook can be purchased at:

Berkeley City College Bookstore, Fifth Floor
2050 Center Street
Berkeley, Ca 94704
(510) 981-1012
Music 15B
Jazz, Blues and Popular Music in the American Culture
Clinton Day Instructor
Email: cday@there.net
3 Units; Section B2, Code 22580

GRADING / EVALUATION
Grading is based on your participation in the forums, completion of assignments, one written music
critique, three quizzes, a mid-term examination and the final examination.
You are required to post one or two new, substantive discussion topics EACH week in the weekly
forums, as well as reply to one or two forum posts, as indicated by the weekly assignment. The interactive
discussions of the course topics are crucial to the learning environment.
Final grade will simply be a percentage of total points earned.

Tentative points possible in the class:

18 weeks X 2 forum posts, 5 points each 180

18 weekly smaller assignments, 10 points each 180
First Quiz: Chapters 1-5 30
Mid-Term Exam: Chapters 6-9 60
Second Quiz: Chapters 10-12 30
Third Quiz: Chapters 13-15 30
Critique of a Musical Performance 60
Final Examination: Chapters 16-18 60
630

A 88-100%
B 78-87.9%
C 68-77.9%
D 58-67.9%
F 0-57.9%

A 30 point Extra Credit assignment is available. Request via email

GUIDELINES FOR WRITTEN CRITIQUE

Assignment: Write a review on a live music performance; preferably on a style that will be studied in this
course; i.e., jazz and blues. If possible, try to talk to artists and discuss their viewpoints about their work.
Length: 2 typed pages. No more than two pages, please!
General Tips: 1. Strive for insightful and thoughtful evaluations. You need not use any essay format
unless you prefer it.
2. Write about the artist’s inspirations or motives for doing their music.
3. Explain why you felt their music represented a certain style or classification.
4. Analyze the music in detail giving an overview of the technical aspects as well as the aesthetic
values of the work.

Writing Style: Use terms from the text book in your descriptions. Use clear and grammatically correct
English. Use proper spelling, and punctuation. Write well-organized paragraphs, and clear logical, well-
directed arguments.

You will be graded on your ideas and how well you present them.
Music 15B
Jazz, Blues and Popular Music in the American Culture
Clinton Day Instructor
Email: cday@there.net
3 Units; Section B2, Code 22580

Spring 2009 Tentative Schedule:

Week 1: Jan 14 – 20
Introduction-- Overview of course and requirements, online conventions
Jan 19: Martin Luther King Day Holiday
Week 2: Jan 21 – 27
Ch. 1: Introduction, Ch. 2: What is Jazz? Ch. 3: Appreciating Jazz Improvisation
Week 3: Jan 28 – Feb 03
Ch. 4: Origins of Jazz
Jan 30: Last day to drop with refund
Jan 31: Last day to add classes
Week 4: Feb 4 – 10
Ch. 5: Early Jazz: Combo Jazz Prior to the Mid-1930’s
Feb 7: Last Day to Drop Without “W”
Week 5: Feb 11 – 17
First Quiz: Chapters 1-5
Ch. 6: Swing: The Early 1930’s to the Late 1940’s
Feb 13: Lincoln’s Day Holiday
Feb 16: Washington’s Day Holiday
Week 6: Feb 18 – 24
Ch. 7: Duke Ellington
Week 7: Feb 25 – Mar 3
Ch. 8: The Count Basie Bands
Week 8: Mar 4 – 10
Ch. 9: Bop: The Early 1940’s to the Early 1950’s
Mar 6: Last Day to File Petition AA or AS Degree/Certificate
Week 9: Mar 11 – 17
Mid-Term Exam: Chapters 6-9
Ch. 10: Cool Jazz
Week 10: Mar 18 – 24
Ch. 11: Hard Bop
Week 11: Mar 25 – 31
Ch. 12: Miles Davis, His Groups and Sidemen
Week 12: Apr 1 – 7
Second Quiz-Chapters 10-12
Week 13: Apr 8 – 14
Apr 12 – 18: Spring Recess
Ch. 13: John Coltrane
Week 14: Apr 15 – 21
Ch. 14: 1960’ and 1970’s Avante-Garde and “Free” Jazz
Week 15: Apr 22 – 28
Ch. 15: Bill Evans. Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Keith Jarrett
Apr 25: The Last Day to Withdraw with a “W”
Week 16: Apr 29 - May 5
Third Quiz-Chapters 13-15
Ch. 16: Jazz Rock Fusion
Week 17: May 6 – 12
Ch. 17: 1980 to the Present
Music 15B
Jazz, Blues and Popular Music in the American Culture
Clinton Day Instructor
Email: cday@there.net
3 Units; Section B2, Code 22580

Week 18: May 13 – 19

Ch. 18: Other Voices
Written assignment due Tuesday, May 19th!
May 19: Malcolm X Day Holiday
Week 19: May 20 – 26
Final Examination –Chapters 16-18
May 25: Memorial Day Holiday
Week 20: May 27 – 29
Finish and submit final examination, end of Fall Semester