CMUSC 2500 History of Jazz
The course takes a methodical look at the roots of Jazz and its many transformations throughout the twentieth century. The course will take a two-pronged approach to understanding and appreciating Jazz and its fascinating history and development. First, through readings from the textbook about Jazz music and musicians, the students will gain an understanding of the social climate that gave birth this original American art form; and second, through guided in-class listening as well as live concerts outside of class, the students will begin to perceive and appreciate the Jazz 'sound' and be able to distinguish between the many different styles of Jazz that exist today.