Jazz Arranging II
580:128g
Spring 2004
Chris Merz

(Note: dates are given for reference only)

Class meeting time and location: MW 12 PM, RSL 56 Contact information and office hours: 273-3077, merz@uni.edu, M 11AM, T-Th 9 AM or by appointment.

Required texts:
1) Wright, Inside the Score
2) Washut, Jazz Arranging: a Compendium of Materials
3) Dobbins, Composing and Arranging: a Linear Approach

Materials:
Score and part paper to be provided by student, or generated by computer.

Course objectives:

  1. Arrangement or composition for big band (5-4-4-4), including full score (concert pitch) and (transposed) parts; minimum of 100 measures in length.
  2. Original composition (lead sheet form) using Finale or other notation software.

Grading policy: (Note-Graduate credit requires 2 completed arrangements)

  1. quality and craft of the arrangement(s)-75% (includes accuracy and legibility of parts)
  2. miscellaneous writing assignments, homework, and quizzes-20%
  3. original composition-5%

Timely submission of all work will factor into final grade. Failure to submit big band score and parts will result in a severe grading penalty for this project.

Topics covered:

  1. basic jazz composition and tune analysis (1/12--1/21)
  2. reharmonization (1/26-2/4)
  3. jazz counterpoint (2/9-2/11)
  4. applications of 5-part density and soli writing (2/16-2/25)
  5. writing for 8 brass (3/1-3/3)
  6. combining brass and saxes in tutti writing (3/9-3/29)
  7. form and development (3/31-4/12)
  8. analysis of big band writing (ongoing)

Schedule of due dates:
January 26 Original composition due (lead sheet in computer notation) Selection of project tune due. Submit lead sheet, key, style, tempo, and analysis (harmonic and melodic). Be able to play it on piano
February 9 Reharmonization assignment due
February 16Contrapuntal sketch due (project tune)-minimum of 16 bars (with suggested orchestration) March 1 Formal graph and 3-line sketch due
March 22Soli (5-part density) excerpt due (project tune)-minimum of 8 bars
April 12Tutti ("shout") excerpt due (project tune)-minimum of 8 bars
April 14 Layout of form on score paper due (including al lead lines, intro, ending)
April 19Full (concert) scores due (minimum 100 bars)--individual consultations
April 26/28No class-record charts in Jazz Band I and II
May 3Individual conferences 1:00-3:00 PM (sign for a time)

ODS
The Americans with disabilities act of 1990 (ADA) provides protection from illegal discrimination for qualified individuals with disabilities. Students requesting instructional accommodations due to disabilities must arrange for such accommodations through the Office of disability Services. The ODS is located at 213 Student Services Center. The telephone number is 273-2676.