The influence of jazz on music in the twentieth century and beyond has been so profound that it has gone from being a feared public scourge to “America's Classical Music.” Ever since its origins among African Americans in the 1910s, jazz has challenged distinctions between “art” and “popular,” at times even playing a key role in social protest. Today, it is an internationally respected art form that is revered by musicians as varied as hip-hop artists and classical composers. This course will cover the history of jazz through critically engaging with recorded performances, source readings and popular reception, and evidence of its broader influence in popular culture. Through leading a class discussion and completing a term paper, students in MUS 309 will learn to connect the technical language of jazz analysis to socio-cultural context.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 18

Prerequisites: MUS 122 or MUS 220, or permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have taken MUS 209.

Instructor: Staff

Distribution Requirements: ARS - Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video; HS - Historical Studies

Typical Periods Offered: Spring

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring

Notes: This course is also offered at the 200-level as MUS 209.