Jazz Performance - Introduction to Commercial Jazz - Humber College

Our Program

Humber's Jazz Performance – Introduction to Commercial Jazz is a performance-based program designed to help you develop and further the skills and knowledge required for you to continue your postsecondary education in music. Students will have the opportunity to identify and improve upon areas of weakness and to further develop performance skills. All courses will provide a particular focus toward the commercial/jazz field.

Students will emerge from the program with a clearer understanding of the field and their own career potentials within the field, and as stronger candidates for entry into diploma/degree programs at Canadian colleges and universities.

This intensive, performance-based program provides a comprehensive and integrated curriculum designed for the talented player who wants to solidify their knowledge of the fundamentals of western music and/or further their current performance skills. Students will be challenged to develop and further their performance skills through the jazz-specific areas of improvisation, repertoire development, and small group ensemble performance.

Your Career

Although popular music and rock recordings continue to dominate the Canadian market, sales of jazz and blues labels are growing the fastest, soaring 45.4 per cent in a recent two-year period. As a student of Jazz Performance – Introduction to Commercial Jazz, you will have the opportunity to study with many of Canada's finest jazz musicians, thereby learning the craft directly from the pros. The program will help you develop the ability to accurately and confidently assess your skills in relation to existing vocational opportunities and future career directions.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status
Grade 12 English (ENG4C or ENG4U). If English is not your first language, refer to the English Language Proficiency Policy
Three Grade 11 or Grade 12C, U or M courses in addition to those listed above
Applicants who do not possess the required courses may complete admission testing to determine equivalencies. Invitation and booking of admission testing is done using the email address provided on the online application
Submission of an online audition

For audition and theory requirements, visit humbermusic.ca.

Note: For more information, refer to Selection Procedures.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

Fees / Scholarships

The 2013/2014 fee for two semesters is

domestic $4,250.08*
international $12,950.

*Note: Price will vary according to instrument profile.

Amounts listed are the total of tuition, lab and material fees, student service and auxiliary fees for the first two semesters of the 2013/2014 academic year. Fees are subject to change. For more information, refer to Fees and Financial Assistance.

Alternative Course of Study

Humber also offers the Bachelor of Music degree program 22061.

Students who apply to the degree program may be recommended for the Jazz Performance – Introduction to Commercial Jazz program. Students who complete the Jazz Performance – Introduction to Commercial Jazz program must then re-audition for the degree program. In order to audition for the Music degree program, students enrolled in the Jazz Performance – Introduction to Commercial Jazz program must successfully complete the program with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 70 per cent or more including a minimum grade of 65 per cent in COMM 200.

Curriculum (View the 2012/13 Curriculum)

Semester 1

Course Code	Course Name
GNED	General Education Elective General Education Elective Course Code: GNED The following courses represent the GNED General Education electives that you can choose from as part of your program's curriculum. Introduction to Liberal Arts and Sciences GNED 101 An Introduction to Arts and Sciences Anthropology ANTH 202 Physical Anthropology ANTH 205 Cultural Anthropology Arts ARTS 138 Understanding Movies: An Introduction to Film Studies ARTS 229 Musical Pioneers ARTS 241 Exploring Music and Film ARTS 246 Art and Artists - Money, Madness and Masterpieces Cultural Studies CULT 211 Conspiracy Theories and Critical Thinking CULT 214 AlterNative Pathways: Aboriginal People in Canada CULT 217 Encounter with Latin America CULT 228 Pop Culture: Shaping How We Live CULT 236 China: The Next Superpower CULT 239 Digital Culture CULT 242 Culture, Technology and Identity CULT 243 Crossing Borders: Migration and Culture CULT 244 Gender, Race and Ethnicity CULT 245 The Body: Beauty, Sex and Consumerism CULT 248 Women and Popular Culture Economics ECON 110 Real Life Economics ECON 204 People, Money and Markets ECON 206 The History of Money English ENGE 110 Literature: An Introduction ENGL 239 Dark Days Ahead ENGL 242 Pulp Fiction ENGL 246 Contemporary Fiction ENGL 247 Life Stories ENGL 248 Voices from the Underground Geography GEOG 210 The Nature of Ontario GEOG 212 Political Geography History HIST 110 Canada: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly HIST 203 Monsters of the 20th Century HIST 217 History of War HIST 218 The Making of the Modern World HIST 222 The Age of Europe: From the Enlightenment to 1989 Humanities HUMA 137 Art Matters: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art HUMA 226 The Arts and the 21st Century Imagination: Longing for Paradise HUMA 235 World Religions HUMA 241 Risky Business: Living in a Dangerous World HUMA 242 Vampires: In Film and Literature HUMA 244 Ordinary Heroes: Extraordinary Lives! HUMA 250 God, Science and Religion Languages SPAN 110 Introductory Spanish 1 Philosophy PHIL 100 Ideas: An Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 110 The Love of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 217 Ethical Issues PHIL 225 Philosophy of Love and Sex PHIL 227 Business Ethics PHIL 228 Success: Philosophical Perspectives PHIL 229 Violence, Order and Justice: An Introduction to Political Philosophy PHIL 230 Environmental Ethics Political Science POLS 110 Introduction to Politics POLS 204 Morality, Democracy and Politics POLS 219 Globalization POLS 223 War and Terrorism POLS 224 Justice, Equality and Rights POLS 225 Environmental Policy and Economics Psychology PSYC 110 Psychology - An Introduction PSYC 205 Applied Psychology and Leadership PSYC 207 Psychology of Sport PSYC 210 Psychology - Developmental PSYC 220 Psychology - Social PSYC 230 Psychology - Abnormal Science SCIE 110 The Science of Everything SCIE 208 Water: A Life or Death Issue SCIE 213 Astronomy: The Evolving Universe SCIE 216 Origins of Life SCIE 219 Dangerous Earth SCIE 221 The Environment SCIE 223 Astrobiology: Life in the Universe SCIE 224 Discovering Dinosaurs Sociology SOCE 100 Canadian Society and Culture SOCI 110 Sociology: Introduction SOCI 205 Social Entrepreneurship: Profit, People and the Planet SOCI 219 Sport and Society SOCI 232 Gender, Power and Society SOCI 233 Sociology of Cultural Difference SOCI 234 Society and Conflict SOCI 236 Issues in Crime SOCI 237 Sociology of Fashion SOCI 238 Sociology of Food SOCI 239 Citizenship, Immigration, and Democracy SOCI 240 Sociology of the Family SOCI 246 Sociology of Emotions SOCI 247 Leadership SOCI 249 Imagining the City SOCI 257 Canada Today SOCI 277 Sexual Diversity: Contemporary Social Issues
MFDN 100	Theory Fundamentals 1 Theory Fundamentals 1 Course Code: MFDN 100 This course covers the theoretical basics of Western music with a particular focus on the idiomatic elements and structures of jazz. The curriculum has been sequenced to support the performance demands of other courses while expanding the student?s general knowledge of music. Students will cover the Rudiments of Music and establish a solid theoretical foundation for beginning jazz improvisation, analysis and composition.
MFDN 101	Aural and Reading Fundamentals 1 Aural and Reading Fundamentals 1 Course Code: MFDN 101 This course is designed to build aural and reading skills in diatonic major tonality. Beginning with a scalar approach, drill and practise routines will develop a thorough knowledge and aural understanding of diatonic major tonality.
MFDN 102	Song Materials 1 Song Materials 1 Course Code: MFDN 102 This course will begin to introduce the student to the repertoire of song materials that forms the foundation of the jazz tradition. Students will learn 12 - 16 basic songs selected from standard blues and modal repertoire and will develop a systematic approach to learning repertoire that includes melodic, harmonic and rhythmic analysis.
MFDN 103	Elements of Improvisation 1 Elements of Improvisation 1 Course Code: MFDN 103 This course will develop a thorough understanding of improvisation at a basic level. Students will develop their technical expertise while exploring important elements of improvisation such as note choice, idiomatic content and creativity. Students will have the opportunity to apply skills in improvising over simple blues songs and repertoire containing II, V, I progressions.
MFDN 104	Keyboard Fundamentals 1 Keyboard Fundamentals 1 Course Code: MFDN 104 This course will introduce the non-keyboard major to the piano. Students will learn to identify notes, major key centers, intervals and chords on the piano keyboard and to harmonize simple melodies. Basic keyboard knowledge and facility will assist the student with aural and theoretical concepts covered in other courses. Keyboard majors will expand their knowledge of chords for practical use for coping in ensemble situations.
MFDN 105	Listening and Analysis 1 Listening and Analysis 1 Course Code: MFDN 105 This course will introduce various styles, the role of individual instruments within each style, originators of styles, forms, solo transcriptions, phrasing and guided listening. Students will learn how and which information to draw from a recording. The recordings selected will reflect the material being covered in Song Materials I and Elements of Improvisation I.
MFDN 106	Private Lesson 1 Private Lesson 1 Course Code: MFDN 106 This course is designed to introduce singers to proper vocal technique while expanding and exploring repertoire. Material covered will focus on the application of technical skills required for the basic interpretation of songs in the jazz and Latin styles, and during improvisation. Students will sing various instrumental heads and learn to maintain proper vowel production while developing their musicianship. Repertoire will include one classical aria.
WRIT 100	College Reading and Writing Skills College Reading and Writing Skills Course Code: WRIT 100 College Writing Skills emphasizes elements of the writing process. Although subject matter and format may change from one program to another, the skills necessary for effective writing remain the same, as do the professional standards that all Humber students are expected to attain. Students will practice the reading and writing skills that will be valuable in their college programs and build a strong base for professional business writing. Those students who plan to further their studies will develop the fundamental skills for writing acceptable academic English. To help students reach these goals, the course covers the following: analytical reading and critical thinking; essay organization and development; and the elements of clear writing, including grammar and punctuation skills. To complete WRIT 100 successfully, students must produce writing that meets or surpasses the minimum departmental standards as set out in the attached criterion sheet.

Semester 2

Course Code	Course Name
GNED 101	An Introduction to Arts and Science An Introduction to Arts and Science Course Code: GNED 101 The humanities course focuses on fundamental questions individuals ask of themselves as they proceed through life. Why are we the way we are? Do we have free will or are we prisoners of our past experience or our biological inheritance? What motivates societies to change? Why do societal changes so often divide people into opposing camps? Why do so many people find contemporary life at home, at work, and in the community unfulfilling? What constitutes good government? How should injustice be fought? Can nations successfully deal with global problems? What is science and how does it differ from other kinds of inquiry? Can scientists provide solutions to the problems we face? What is art and does it offer answers of its own? What is its relationship to beauty, to knowledge, and to ethics? Is objectivity about art (or anything) possible? These questions are organized into units that begin with issues concerning the nature of the individual and then extend outward to various social, cultural and physical contexts. The issues explored in this course are too complex to have any one right answer. Rather, individuals must search for answers that make sense of their experiences via various theoretical perspectives. The humanities course supports this endeavour through study of different thinkers presented in the readings and exploration of different points of view explored in class discussions.
MFDN 150	Theory Fundamentals 2 Theory Fundamentals 2 Course Code: MFDN 150 This course builds on the skills covered in Theory Fundamentals I and moves on to more advanced concepts. Students will expand the jazz concepts to include diatonic jazz standards.
MFDN 151	Aural and Reading Fundamentals 2 Aural and Reading Fundamentals 2 Course Code: MFDN 151 This course builds on the skills covered in Aural and Reading Fundamentals I, expanding the scalar awareness of diatonic major tonality to include vertical and horizontal harmonic structures. Students will lean to apply these skills to the learning and understanding of diatonic jazz standards.
MFDN 152	Song Materials 2 Song Materials 2 Course Code: MFDN 152 This course expands the concepts covered in Song Materials 1 to include more advanced jazz concepts such as extensions and II-V-I progressions. Students will learn 8-12 diatonic tunes including a variety of tonal centers, styles and tempi.
MFDN 153	Elements of Improvisation 2 Elements of Improvisation 2 Course Code: MFDN 153 This course builds on the skills covered in Elements of Improvisation I. Students will develop and expand skills required in soloing over modal structures and repertoire containing II, V I progressions.
MFDN 154	Keyboard Fundamentals 2 Keyboard Fundamentals 2 Course Code: MFDN 154 This course expands the material covered in Keyboard Fundamentals I to include basic jazz chord voicings, voice leading concepts and minor tonality.
MFDN 155	Ensemble Ensemble Course Code:
MFDN 156	Private Lessons 2 Private Lessons 2 Course Code: MFDN 156 All technical work from first semester will continue and develop, with a greater focus on repertoire and performance. Material covered will include the lyrical and stylistic development of songs within the jazz and Latin styles, paraphrasing of the second chorus, and improvisation. A classical aria may be assigned depending on the needs of the individual.

May 2013 Program Availability

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