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Unit of study_
JAZZ1021: Jazz History 1
2026 unit information
Jazz History 1 introduces the origins and early development of jazz, tracing its roots in African American musical traditions, blues, ragtime, brass bands, spirituals, minstrelsy, popular song, and New Orleans cultural life. The unit follows the emergence of early jazz styles through the 1920s, including collective improvisation, solo virtuosity, recording, dance culture, and the growth of jazz as a national and international music. It then examines the swing era, big band practices, key artists, and social contexts leading up to the late 1930s and the advent of bebop.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Jazz |
| Credit points | 3 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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Students enrolling in this unit are expected to have strong overall music skills including notation, reading, aural skills, music research and analysis and jazz performance (excluding non-jazz students) |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Demonstrate knowledge of the historical and cultural contexts that shaped the origins and early development of jazz.
- LO2. Identify, describe and evaluate significant stylistic features of blues, ragtime, early jazz, stride, swing, and big band music.
- LO3. Apply appropriate music terms and concepts when discussing rhythm, form, instrumentation, improvisation, timbre, and ensemble practice.
- LO4. Engage in respectful and responsible inquiry about early jazz practices, artists, recordings, and histories, including the use of academic citation practices.
- LO5. Effectively create critical and historically informed ideas about jazz in speech and writing.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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Important enrolment information
Additional advice
Non-Jazz degree students will be considered for a place in the class based on enrolment numbers prior to the commencement of the semester.
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