Jazz History, Appreciation, and Significance

In this course, we trace the evolution of jazz from its origins to the present day, exploring how its defining characteristics have transformed over time. Through guided listening and analysis, we learn to identify and appreciate major jazz styles chronologically, while developing critical listening skills and a deeper understanding of America’s indigenous–and now global–art form. This course is structured around the study of key figures, defining musical characteristics, and historical context across the major stylistic periods: early jazz, swing, bebop, cool, hard bop, modal, free jazz, post-bop, fusion, smooth jazz, and the diverse directions of jazz today.