- Period of study: Seminars in the autumn and spring semester
- Final assessment: Assessment from the course instructor
- Prerequisites: Admission to the continuing education in rhythmical ensemble conducting
- Language of instruction: Norwegian/English
Course description
In the course the student will develop a basic understanding of the role of the conductor of large jazz ensembles and develop skills in planning and leading rehearsals and concerts. The students own professional experience will be relevant for the tuition in the course.
Learning objectives
Upon completion of the course, the student should
- demonstrate an adequate and appropriate conducting technique for large jazz ensembles
- be aware of the balance between composed and improvised music in a score
- be able to apply methods for creative work with scores in a rehearsal and concert setting
- demonstrates skills in jazz related aural training and rhythm
- have knowledge of instruments from the jazz genre and especially the rhythm section
- have skills in planning, implementing and evaluating their own work with large jazz ensembles
- demonstrate skills within composing, arranging and orchestrating
Overview
Course instruction will mainly be organised during the seminars and will be focused around the five subject areas listed below. The content described under each subject area gives examples of what you will focus on in the course.
CONDUCTING TECHNIQUE
- Techniques for conducting and giving cues related to improvisation such as "from the top", "loop", "last rep.", etc.
- Exploring which parts of the music to actively conduct, and which parts of the music the band plays better on their own.
STUDY OF SCORES
- Rehearsal of scores and other visual/auditive representations of music.
- Methods for working with scores with creative approaches in relation to interpretation.
- Understanding of improvisation as an important element in a composition and how this relates to validity of the writen parts of the score.
- Knowledge of different uses of comping in common styles in jazz.
- Orchestration
CONDUCTING AND REHEARSAL METHODOLOGY
- Conducting of different kinds of rhythmical ensembles.
- General understanding of how to work with improvised music/jazz.
APPLIED AURAL TRAINING
- Recognising chord progressions, cadences and scales typical for jazz music.
- Tuning of chords/intonation.
- Advanced rhythmical training and inner pulse.
KNOWLEDGE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
- «Comping instruments"
- Wind instruments
- Strings
- Computerbased programmes and «click tracks»
Structure
The study programme is structured as a part-time study over two semesters. Tuition will be organised as group sessions in four intensive project weeks and 10 individual sessions with a supervisor. The individual sessions can be facilitated online. Parts of the tuition in groups will be organised together with students on the continuing education in Jazz composition.
Course requirements
- Active participation in the project weeks is mandatory. This means that more than 20% non-attendance will normally cause the student to fail the course.
- In the beginning of the first semester the student must submit a reflection paper of a scope of 500-1000 words where they specify their experience and visions of being a leader of a big jazz ensemble.
- The student must give an oral presentation including a short video (maximum 2 minutes) of one of their own rehearsals and reflect upon specific issues/challenges relevant when working with big jazz ensembles
- The student must observe a minimum of two rehearsals with a big jazz ensemble and write a report of the observation with a scope of 1000-1500 words. The report must be submitted in NMH's digital learning platform. Due: 15 January
- Rehearsed material with a band must be of a scope of at least 60 minutes and 30 minutes of this material must be documented on video from rehearsals and concerts with a big band. Link to the recorded video material must be submitted in NMH's digital learning platform. Due: 15 may
Final assessment
All course requirements must be fulfilled and approved before the student is given a final assessment.
The student will be assesssed on the basis of the learning objectives of the course. The Final assessment is given as a pass/fail mark, which is determined by the course instructor based on each student's level of achievement throughout the course period.
New assessment
In the case of re-assessment, the same procedures apply.