MUJS 4120 Vocal Jazz Styles

MUJS 4120 Vocal Jazz Styles

MUJS 5490 Advanced Jazz Improvisation

Tues/Thurs 11:00-11:50 AM, MPN 319

Instructor: Justin Binek

Email:

Phone/Text: (215) 307-5251

Office: MPN 319

Prerequisites:

Two semesters Vocal Jazz Techniques
Passed Upper Division Exam
Pass ICE (undergrad); pass FIPE for Grad. Improv Students

Absences are limited to two for the semester. Any missed assignment must be made up within one week, by appointment. Each assignment/performance will be graded (posted on Blackboard) and is determined by the quality of preparation and the musicality of the assignments, in the case of performances. The final semester grade will be calculated as follows:

Attendance and class participation:15%
Assignment grades, averaged:60%
Mid-term and final exam:10%, 15%

Although this syllabus is a guide to the class plan through the semester, the final schedule and semester plan will be on Blackboard, not this syllabus, due to adjustments that will inevitably need to be made to accommodate individual pace and level. It is the student’s responsibility to consult Blackboard to verify assignment content and due date.

Course Content: Vocal Jazz Styles serves as the final class experience for the vocal jazz program, and is taken in the semester prior to the vocal jazz senior recital. The course focuses upon synthesizing the skills that have been collected throughout the curriculum and having an artistic and musically holistic view of using those skills. Advanced Jazz Improvisation (for graduate students) will require additional work and a higher level of performance on the same material as that of the Vocal Jazz Styles student assignments. Areas of focus include, but are not limited to:

Performance and improvisation in:
Swing tunes and blues
Up-tempo tunes, including syllabic and lyric improvisation
Ballads, featuring lyric improvisation
Piano skills
Creating programming for recitals, concerts, and gigs

Approximate course schedule (see Blackboard for updates):

Week 1

Tues 1/17First meeting, discuss purpose and goals

Thurs 1/19Discussion of blues and shape

Assignment: Play blues bass line at mm=60 with good time by Tuesday Play RH comping figures the same

Solo 3 choruses of blues on “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be”

Week 2

Tues 1/24Due: piano single-handed blues assignment and blues soloing

“Book” and organization methods

Programming for different venues and situations – what makes a good set

Assignment:Blues together with two hands

Thurs 1/26Due: piano blues, two hands

Programming part 2

Week 3

Tues 1/31Programming part 3

Assignment: Create a variety of 60-minute programs with notes

Different performance situations discussed

Thurs 2/2Due: mock concert programs

Shedding Changes – approaches

Change running – approaches

Assignment: Shed changes to “I Remember You” on voice and piano

Week 4

Tues 2/7Due: “I Remember You” two choruses, first accompanied, second a cappella

Motivic development

Assignment:Shed motives and piano to “I Remember you”

Two chorusesimprov: motives first, free second

Thurs 2/9Due: Motive assignment, play changes

Assignment:“I Remember You,” a cappella, two choruses

Week 5

Tues 2/14Due: “I Remember You” part 2

Record and listen, choose one attribute to focus on for improvement

Assignment:Prep for “I Remember You” final

Pick up-tempo tune to work on fast lyric presentation (mm=270+)

Tues 2/16Final grade on “I Remember You,” two a cappella choruses, all techniques

Approve up-tempo tune

Explore “I’m Old Fashioned” and “Whisper Not”

Assignment: Shed one of those two tunes, prep up-tempo tune/lyric

Week 6

Tues 2/21First presentation of up-tempo, discuss midterm

Assignment: Old Fashioned or Whisper at mm=160

2 choruses, first accompanied, second a cappella

Play changes at minimum mm=55, 2 feel bass

Choose swing tune for midterm to be approved

Thurs 2/23Play changes at minimum mm=55, workout new tune

Approval of swing tune for midterm

Assignment: changes tune continued, continue fast lyric

Week 7

Tues 2/28Due: Changes tune at mm=160, 2 choruses (1 accomp, 1 a cappella)

Rhythmic tools for up-tempo tunes

Thurs 3/2Second grade on up-tempo lyric, changes tune at mm=230

Week 8

Tues 3/7Due: Changes tune at mm-230, 1 accomp, 1 a cappella

Work out faster tempos

Thurs 3/9Discuss current artist reports and due date

Master class on changes tunes at up-tempo pace

SPRING BREAK

Week 9

Tues 3/21Changes tune at 230, 2 choruses

Thurs 3/23MIDTERM: Play and swing tune with simple arrangement

Assignment: “Wave” – shed piano/voice

Week 10

Tues 3/28Due: “Wave” on piano, discussion of bossaimprov

Thurs 3/30Due: “Wave” on voice

Work “Armando’s Rhumba” and “Desafinado”

Week 11

Tues 4/4Due: “Armando” or “Desafinado” on piano

Thurs 4/6Due: “Armando” or “Desafinado” on voice

ASSIGNMENT: “Meaty: ballad of student’s voice

Week 12

Tues 4/11Ballads – listen and discuss

Ballad piano skills

Thurs 4/13Current artist reports

Week 13

Tues 4/18Ballad with lyric interpretation and melodic improvisation

Discuss final assignment

Up-tempo tune to sing and blow, 3x through with intro and outro

Self-accompany on ballad

Accompany other person on medium swing, twice through with in/out

Thurs 4/20Open topic day

Week 14

Tues 4/25GIPE master class

Thurs 4/27Open topic day

Week 15

Tues, 5/2GIPE prep, Q&A, retical

Tues 5/4GIPE mock juries

FINAL: Performance open to the public, to be scheduled

Office of Disability Accommodation

The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.

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Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (Graduates) \

A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive financial aid. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in addition to successfully completing a required number of credit hours based on total registered hours per term. Students cannot exceed maximum timeframes established based on the published length of the graduate program. If a student does not maintain the required standards, the student may lose their financial aid eligibility.