HS JAZZ

Preface

The New Hope-Solebury Music Department maintains a concurrent-enrollment policy for all wind and percussion students participating in the jazz program. All wind students must also be enrolled in one of New Hope-Solebury’s curricular concert bands, and all bassists must be enrolled in one of New Hope-Solebury’s curricular orchestras. Because of the collaborative educational structure this creates, the New Hope-Solebury jazz curriculum functions as an extension of the band and orchestra curricula.

Jazz Ensemble 1 (Jazz 1) – Open to all Freshman , sophomore, junior, and senior jazz students by audition. Jazz 1 rehearses as a large ensemble five days per week, rehearses in student-led sectionals once per week, and meets in jazz combos once per week.

Philosophy of Program

As New Hope-Solebury High School students and teachers, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to study and perform jazz music in a curricular setting. The very presence of a curricular jazz program within the New Hope-Solebury music department acknowledges the value we place on the study of this significant musical art form. The historical, cultural and civic values of jazz as an original American art form are by now well understood by many. The objectives of the New Hope-Solebury High School jazz program are largely derived from a praxial[1] philosophy of music education*, meaning that we endeavor to immerse ourselves in the music, engage with it authentically, and develop all dimensions of musicianship through study and performance, with high value placed on the act of doing. In many instances, performance (not limited to formal performances) will be our destination, our opportunity for reflection, and our mode of assessment. Additionally, we challenge ourselves to keep sight of the historical and cultural value of jazz music and strive to include a study of the people and events who shape the music as we pursue our very high performance standards. We acknowledge that there is a “jazz canon” and our repertoire selections will be made with that in mind. We also acknowledge that innovation and evolution are at the core of the jazz story, so our repertoire selections will also strive to interact with contemporary musical forces. Students engaged in a four-year study of jazz at New Hope-Solebury will develop into technically-able, literate, and creative jazz musicians, who will carry a respect for the music into their adult lives. They will be challenged to leave their comfort zone, trust one another, lead, listen, and empathize.

Learning Objectives

1. Students will develop the tonal and technical skills needed to perform and improvise at a level appropriate for their individual development.

2. Students will demonstrate large and small ensemble skills by studying the performance practices of many jazz styles, with a focus on swing, bebop, and hard-bop.

3. Students will develop aural skills and learn music theory within the context of jazz improvisation and the large ensemble repertoire.

4. Students will study and perform a wide variety of historically significant repertoire in multiple styles.

5. Students will develop critical jazz listening habits and evaluate the merits of various jazz performances.

6. Students will understand the social and historical context that shaped jazz music and its most notable personalities.

7. Students will demonstrate musical citizenship within the ensemble, the school, the greater community, and throughout life.

8. Students will develop their own individual jazz style and taste while learning self-assessment skills.

9. Students will be exposed to performance and non-performance opportunities beyond the classroom

[1] * the term praxial comes from David Elliot’s Praxial Music Education: Reflections and Dialogues. New York: Oxford University Press (2005).

Syllabus/Grading Policy