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Jazz Appreciation
Concert Report Guidelines Spring 2012
General Suggestions:
- Each student is required to attend and review
one pre-approved live jazz performance during the semester.
- An appropriate length for a college level
concert report would be 2-3 pages typed (with standard spacing and
font-1.5 space; 12 point font).
- Create a simple, clear, basic essay (theme). A
starting guideline would be to restate the questions below as topic
sentences for paragraphs that are supported with adequate development.
- One should begin with a clear thesis statement
that is easily supported with factual research (not only personal
opinion-which at an early stage of musical understanding may be
inaccurate).
- Please organize statements into a logical,
sequential flow.
- Consider using balanced statements for
comparison (Comparison to recorded performances studied in class are
excellent for this reference.)
- Support arguments with factual research and
concrete documentation where appropriate (The text is useful for these
references.)
- The instructor is looking for the student's
ability to communicate concepts and to include (at least) the required
minimum information.
- Covering the minimum requirements does not
constitute an "A".
- Original creative thought or perspective may
constitute an "A" if the ideas are well presented, organized, clear and
supported.
- Use standard written English (avoid slang and
conversational terms).
- Use proper punctuation and grammar.
- Describe the performance using past tense.
- Avoid first person references ("I") and
personal opinion (except in the conclusion).
General things to include:
- Where did the performance take place?
- Who performed? (List the personnel)
- What was the instrumentation?
- How was the music presented? (in a refined
concert setting or sloppily in a bar setting)
Pick one composition from the
concert:
- Describe the melody in detail (smooth and
flowing, jagged and disjointed, etc.).
- Describe the harmony in detail (textures,
complexities, etc.).
- Describe the rhythm in detail (steady, broken,
exciting, etc.).
- Do these elements compare to any of the
compositions discussed in class or in the text?
- Create a map of the composition (showing the
sequence of events).
- Describe one player's solo in detail (How was
his character revealed? How did it develop? Which musical elements were
used in that development?).
- Describe that soloists tone quality (for
example) as well as other storytelling devices.
- Did this player's solo style compare to the
solos of any of the musicians discussed in class or in the text?
In conclusion:
- What was most appealing to the listener in
regards to this composition and its performance as a whole? (First
person statements may be appropriate here.)
- Was there anything unappealing about this
composition and its performance as a whole? (if not, there is no need
to mention this)
- How did the music make the listener respond
intellectually, emotionally and physically?
- What is the significance of this
(spontaneously created art) music in relation to our current culture?
What connection or role does it have in society?