MUS 347: Jazz in America – Dr. Jeffrey Libman
Live Jazz Performance Reports – Assignment Description
You must attend two (2) LIVE jazz events and write corresponding reports. Each report is worth 120 points. These performances for the reports must occur while the course is in session.
These reports should adhere to all of the typical college-level writing parameters with which you are familiar. You should type your responses into a word processing program such as Microsoft Word. You will submit your Live Jazz Performance Reports in the Exam/Assignments tab on the course website under the Exam/Assignments tab. The online system can accept Microsoft Word or .pdf documents.
Each report should be of at least two pages (600 words). These reports should adhere to all of the typical college-level writing parameters with which you are familiar. I would expect that your jazz analytical skills will improve by your second performance report, at which point we will have studied more jazz artists and genres.
Use an appropriate header with your name, the course number and name (MUS 347 Jazz in America), the assignment (i.e.: Jazz Performance Report #2), and the date. Use double spacing and 12-point font.
In the introductory paragraph, be sure to mention:
1. Who performed (list the names and instruments of all the musicians). 2. The venue at which the performance was held, and perhaps a short description of the venue. 3. What date the performance occurred. 4. The pieces that were performed (if they were announced in some way).
In the body of the review, analyze at least three (3) of the pieces that were performed. For each piece, discuss any or all of the following:
1. What was the style of the piece? As best you can, identify the genre or genres (e.g., cool jazz, bebop, etc.). Use musical terminology you have studied during the semester where appropriate. 2. Identify the form of the piece as best you can, and describe the sections. 3. Describe the melody of the piece. Which instruments played it? What were your impressions of it? 4. Did the piece feature improvisation? Provide some detail here, for example, whether or not the soloists interacted with the ensemble or other musicians, how long the solos lasted (number of bars), whether you liked them, etc. 5. What was your impression of this piece overall? Did you have a favorite section?
In the concluding paragraph(s), discuss your overall impressions of the performance. What did you like or dislike, and why? Did you learn anything at this performance? What connections can
you draw from this performance to what you are studying in this course?
Tips:
1. Be on time to the performance. 2. Bring a notepad and a writing utensil to take down notes. 3. If the performers introduce their pieces, take note of what they say. If you can, talk to the performers afterward. Use their perspectives in your report. 4. If a performance is over an hour, for example a show with two one-hour sets, you only need to stay for one set for the purposes of the assignment. Feel free to stay for the whole show if you wish. 5. Write this report as soon as you can after seeing the performance so that it stays fresh in your mind. 6. If you reference a piece of music or song, put it in quotation marks, such as “Body and Soul.” An album gets italics, such as Kind of Blue.
Getting a passing grade on these reports will require you to actually attend two performances, and your report must be your own work. See the course syllabus for ASU’s policy on plagiarism/academic integrity. All reports will be vetted for plagiarism.
You will want to make efforts to determine the performances you attend are actually jazz shows. As we will discover in this course, there are some hazy boundaries as to what is and what isn’t jazz. If you have any questions about whether the show you are considering to review could be considered a jazz show, feel free to contact the instructor. The instructor reserves the right to lower the grade of a student’s report if that student attends a show that is clearly not jazz or is clearly not related to the course content and then attempts to pass it off as a jazz show. This assignment is not an excuse to go see your favorite band, unless that band happens to be a jazz band!
To turn in a Live Jazz Performance Report, navigate to the Exam/Assignments tab. There you will be able to upload your paper. The website can accept Microsoft Word and .pdf files. After the paper are graded, you will be able to see comments and the grade.
This is your opportunity to go see live jazz in the community. Have fun!
