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Sonoma State Universtiy
Contemprorary Jazz Ensemble
(Syllabus)
General Considerations:
- Each student must be officially
registered and enrolled in the ensemble in order to
attend rehearsals and performances legitimately.
- Each student who passes an ensemble
audition, as well as meeting the enrollment requirement,
is entitled to printed musical parts (for which they are
completely and solely responsible for and required to
bring to each rehearsal), weekly rehearsals, and at least
2 performances per semester.
- Ensemble participation involves:
demonstrated verbal and musical participation, musical
assignment preparation (as verbally outlined by the
instructor)-to possibly include: study and application of
chord progressions, analytical listening to recording
models, solo or accompaniment transcription, memorization
of melodies, chords, scales, and forms.
Grading Considerations:
- A- exceptional work beyond what is
required; work of considerable quantity and quality;
complete memorization and assimilation of parts; beyond
technical considerations; dwelling in the artistic realm;
excellent and earnest attitude toward instructor and
fellow students; perfect attendance;
- B- work completed as required with a
gracious and supportive attitude; required material is
completed with good quality; perhaps not perfect mastery
or memorization but shows excellent efforts; puts in more
than last minute time on assigned tasks; near perfect
attendance; perhaps late once or twice;
- C- work completed, but not within the
time frame specified by the instructor; has the necessary
abilities, but does not demonstrate full potential; last
minute efforts are the norm; some attitude difficulties
or conflicts; unprepared once or twice; possibly late to
several rehearsals or missing one rehearsal completely;
lost or missing parts at one rehearsal;
- D- tries but is barely able to
accomplish minimum requirements; attendance and attitude
difficulties exist; missing parts more than once; lost
parts more than once; late more often than on time;
missing more than one rehearsal; repeatedly unprepared;
late to a public performance, holding up the ensemble's
progress as whole, disruptive;
- F- almost no work is accomplished;
excessive attendance and attitude problems exist; missing
a public performance completely; this grade jeopardizes
the student’s ability to repeat the ensemble in
future semesters.
Additional considerations:
- Students are expected to bring their
individual musical parts, a pencil, music paper, and a
properly functioning musical instrument to each
rehearsal.
- If you can not make a rehearsal, you
are expected to call the instructor 24 hours in advance
of the rehearsal time in order to facilitate schedule
adjustments for the entire ensemble. If you absolutely
cannot make a rehearsal for a legitimate reason, please
make attempts to provide a qualified substitute for
yourself. Please check with the instructor to make sure
the substitute meets the required qualifications
(appropriate to the music being studied) prior to class.
Please provide that substitute with copies of your parts
and recordings in advance (so they may study prior to
rehearsal).
- Despite these allowances for special
cases, you are expected to attend all rehearsals and
performances on time and prepared.
- If you do not call 24 hours in advance
and miss a rehearsal, your grade may be lowered by one
full letter.
- Missing 2 or more rehearsals during
the semester may result in your being dropped from the
class and/or replaced by another musician/student.
- Calling to let the instructor know you
can't make it on the day of the rehearsal is polite but
does not change the 24 hour cancellation necessity, or
the need for the substitute and substitute preparation,
so rehearsal can continue without you.
- Take responsibility for rehearsal
time. It should be a test of your daily work on the music
not a personal practice session.
General Facility Information:
- No food or drinks in the classroom.
- No smoking in hallways (or classroom).