- During the 8 weeks in which the course takes placeyou must attend a full-length concert of jazz-oriented music, that includes at least two musicians performing together (no solo performances). You can find links for concert listings in the Online Resources / Concert Listings folder (on the Course Menu).
The purpose of the concert review is to utilize the tools we develop throughout the course to critically engage with a live musical experience. It is your responsibility to attend an appropriate concert in which music is the main event (musical theatre, church services, and dance performances do not qualify) – if you’re not sure, send me an email at the Email Dr. Walton link on the Course Menu.
After attending the concert you must write a 1000-minimum word essay contextualizing the concert within the matrix of concepts, personalities, and music examined in our course. In general, think of this essay as a “critical analysis” in which you need to explain the points you are asserting. The easiest way to conceptually approach a concert review is to imagine that you’re describing the event to someone who is not at all familiar with the music. So, in addition to recounting the context for the concert – the venue, ambiance, and audience, you must also describe what the music sounded like – the instrumentation, musical style, performer interaction, and how each piece develops and changes over time.
Please address the following points:
.
Concert Review Rubric
The Concert Review is worth a total of 140 points, with a possibility of earning a maximum of 15 extra credit points. The following rubric will be used to assess your work on the Concert Review. If you have a question about your score, please reference this rubric. After doing so, contact me directly if you still have a question about your score.
Criteria | 140 points total – Outstanding | 120 points total – Good | 100 points total – Satisfactory | 80 points total – Unsatisfactory | |
Quantity of comments | all bullet points are addressed, 5 pieces/movements are discussed, 1000 words minimum | most bullet points are addressed, 5 pieces/movements are discussed, 950 words minimum | most bullet points are addressed, only 4 pieces/movements are discussed, 900 words minimum | Not enough bullet points are addressed, only 3 pieces are discussed, 800 words or less | |
Quality of comments | Informed observations, illustrating a detailed approach to listening, with use of specific examples | Informed observations,but insufficient descriptions of how the music develops over time | Satisfactory observations,but no significant descriptions of how the music develops over time | Little effort in making clear observations on sonic events | |
Quality of writing | Engaging writing, including correct grammar and spelling | Good writing with few errors in grammar or spelling | Good writing with some errors in grammar or spelling | Little effort in writing evident with errors in grammar and spelling | |
Extra Credit Criteria | 5 – 10 points | 10 – 15 points | |||
Quality and quantity of observations | exemplary observations, 1000-1300 words | Exemplary, highly detailed observations, more than 1300 words | |||
Extra Credit Essays – click here to submit your essay
Extra Credit Essays must be submitted by 8pm Friday 12/16
You may submit up to two extra credit assignments. A maximum of 50 points (5% of your semester total) will be added to your overall course grade for each of the 2 extra credit assignments. You cannot submit two movie reviews or two additional concert reviews.
When you are ready to submit your assignment(s), click on the link above and copy & paste your submission into the textbox. Make sure to click the “save” and “submit” buttons to finish. If you plan to complete two extra credit assignments, please submit both of them at the same time – there will be two textboxes available (one for each assignment). When citing or paraphrasing sources, make sure to include a bibliographical citation (either in a footnote or in a parenthetical citation) and include a bibliography at the end of your essay.
Option 1: Additional Concert Review
The extra credit concert review should adhere to all of the required concert review guidelines EXCEPT: there’s a 750 word minimum, and you only need to discuss four of the pieces/movements performed.
Option 2: Movie Review
View one of the movies listed below, or any other fictionalized film about the life of a jazz muscian (not a live concert, documentary, or satire). Write a 750 word minimum essay contextualizing the movie within the matrix of concepts, personalities, and music examined in this course. In general, think of this essay as a “critical analysis” in which you need to explain the points you are asserting. Please address the following points:
• Give a brief (1 paragraph) biographical sketch of the principal character/musician.
• Socially and musically, how is the principal character/musician portrayed?
• What historical phase of the development of jazz does the principal character belong to?
• How does the life and music of the principal character reflect the issues we’ve examined in relation to that historical phase?
• Describe the narrative of the film. How does the story unfold?
Possible movies:
• Young Man with a Horn – (1949) (about Bix Beiderbeck)
• The Glen Miller Story (1953)
• The Benny Goodman Story (1955)
• The Five Pennies (1959) (about Red Nichols)
• Lady Sings the Blues (1972) (about Billie Holliday)
• Round Midnight (1986) (about Dexter Gordon)
• Bird (1988) (about Charlie Parker)
• The Mambo Kings (1992) (about the Castillo brothers)
• Sweet and Lowdown (1999) (about Emmet Ray)
• For Love or Country (2001) (about Arturo Sandoval)
• Ray (2004) (about Ray Charles)
• De-lovely (2004) (about Cole Porter)
• El Cantate (2007) (about Hector Lavoe)
• Bolden! (about Buddy Bolden)
- Others? Email Dr. Walton with questions about other possible movies.
Extra Credit Rubric
Each of the two Extra Credit essays are worth a total of 50 points each, with a possibility of earning a maximum of 10 extra credit points. The following rubric will be used to assess your work on the Extra Credit essays. If you have a question about your scores, please reference this rubric. After doing so, contact me directly if you still have a question about your score.
Criteria | 50 points total – Outstanding | 43 points total – Good | 36 points total – Satisfactory | 25 points total – Unsatisfactory | |
Quantity of comments | all bullet points are addressed, 750 words minimum | most bullet points are addressed, 700 words minimum | most bullet points are addressed, 650 words minimum | Not enough bullet points are addressed, 600 words or less | |
Quality of comments | Informed observations, with excellent use of specific examples | Informed observations, with good use of specific examples | Satisfactory observations, with limiteduse of specific examples | Little effort, with insufficient analysis/examples | |
Quality of writing | Engaging writing, including correct grammar and spelling | Good writing with few errors in grammar or spelling | Good writing with some errors in grammar or spelling | Little effort in writing evident with errors in grammar and spelling | |
Extra Credit Criteria | 5 points | 10 points | |||
Quality and quantity of observations | exemplary observations, more than 800 words | Exemplary, highly detailed observations, more than 900 words |
. TODAY AND GET AN AMAZING DISCOUNT
The post Describe the performers and instruments (list each instrument for small ensembles) • Describe the ambiance and/or decor of the venue. • Describe the audience. appeared first on Term Paper Tutors.