describe what the music sounded like
During the 8 weeks in which the course takes place you must
attend a full-length performance of jazz-oriented music, that includes at least
two musicians performing together – no solo performances. You
can find links for some jazz events in the Concert Listings folder below the
currents week’s module (in the Miscellaneous Items
Module).The purpose of the concert report is to utilize the tools we
develop throughout the course, to critically engage with a live musical
experience. It’s your responsibility to attend an appropriate performance in
which jazz music is the central event – musical theatre, church services, and
dance performances do not qualify. If you’re not sure about an event, ask me.
You do not have to attend a concert in the San Diego area – it can be anywhere
in the world. And it doesn't have to be in a concert hall – any venue is
appropriate, including colleges and universities, cultural centers, clubs,
cafes, alternative music venues – even public libraries or house concerts.After attending the concert, you must write a 1000-minimum word
essay, describing the experience. The easiest way to conceptually approach a
concert report is to imagine that you’re describing the event to someone who is
not at all familiar with the music or the performers. So, in addition to
recounting the concert setting - the venue, ambiance, the performers &
instrumentation, and the audience, you must also describe what the
music sounded like – this is the core of your report:You must describe in detail, five of the songs performed, with a
paragraph of around 150 words for each song. This can include describing the
general character of each song (melody, rhythm, tempo, texture, emotional
content, etc., in your own words as it seems appropriate), and most
importantly, how the song unfolds from beginning to end – this can include
notable moments or shifts in mood and character, and interesting musical
exchanges and dialogues between musicians.Aside from perhaps a few sentences telling me who the performers
are, I'm not interested in additional biographical information concerning the
musicians, or historical information pertaining to the songs performed. Your
concert report should be written entirely in your own words – there's no need
to quote from outside sources.It’s very important that you plan ahead, so that you can attend
a concert of your choice.When you are ready to submit your assignment, click on the blue
“Submit Assignment” button above, then copy & paste your work into the Text
Entry box (you cannot upload a file). Be sure to click
the "certify" box and the “Submit Assignment" button before
leaving the page.Please address the following points:• Date
and venue of the performance.• Names of performers (the name of the band and/or the names of
individual performers for small ensembles)• Ensemble type and/or instruments being played (list each
instrument for small ensembles of 6 musicians or less)• Briefly describe the ambiance and/or decor of the venue.• Briefly describe the audience.• Identify the style of jazz performed.• Identify
the titles of the pieces/songs that you discuss (including composer’s names
only if possible/relevant).• Describe in detail, five of the songs/pieces performed, with a
paragraph of around 150 words for each song. This is the most important part of
your concert report, and it should comprise at least 750 words. Be
specific as possible, utilizing vocabulary and musical terms from the course if
possible. Make observations on:• the general
character of each song - melody, rhythm, texture, and timbre (melody, rhythm,
tempo, texture, emotional content, etc., in your own words as it seems
appropriate).• how the song/piece
unfolds from beginning to end – this can include notable moments or shifts in
mood and character, and interesting musical exchanges and dialogues between
musicians.• In conclusion, sum up your experience. Did the music
communicate to you on a deeper emotional or psychological level? Why, or why
not? Was there a particular performer (or performers) who you really connected
with - why? Did the information you learned in class impact your experience?Your essay will be graded based on depth of analysis, the degree
to which you address all of the bullet points above, the use of detailed
descriptions, and on spelling and grammar. One of the course learning outcomes
is to become an “ active” listener, so your observations should reflect a developing
awareness of this skill. If you quote or paraphrase an author, website, or
other sources, you must cite your references using parenthetical citations
(author last name, page number) or footnotes.When you are ready to submit your work, click on the “Submit
Assignment” link above and copy & paste your submission into the textbox.
Then be sure to click the “certify” and “submit” buttons to finish.