Students who earn the Jazz Studies young artist's diploma will:

1. Be able to play and improvise over 100 tunes by memory
2. Be able to improvise over rhythm changes in all 12 keys
3. Be able to improvise over blues changes in all 12 keys
4. Be proficient sightreaders, both of written music and chord changes
5. Listen to jazz for at least 5 hours per week
6. Perform at least monthly
7. Participate in school jazz ensembles and perform at jazz festivals
8. Do a final recording project to help them promote their playing to colleges and businesses
9. Learn to play, note for note, improvised solos of the masters.
10. Practice 10 hours per week.

Performance Class

This class is essentially one hour each day of supervised practice. Instructors will give students specific tasks to complete each day and follow up on their progress. In this intensive, focused practiced setting students will learn how much more they can accomplish when they practice efficiently. Jazz Repertoire, Rhythm and Blues changes, sight reading, and artist transcription will be covered in this setting. Textbooks: The Jazz Piano Book - Mark Levine (for pianists) The Jazz Theory Book - Mark Levine (for non- pianists).

Core Musicianship

This class will be divided into 3 sections:

1. Ear Training
2. Jazz Theory
3. Jazz History

Emphasis in each of these areas will be placed on practical application as it applies to enhancing the student's abilities as a performer.

Sight-Reading Ensembles

Students will be assigned to a small ensemble that will sight read daily for at least 15 minutes.

Listening Lab

Students will be required to listen to at least 5 hours per week of jazz. Once per week students will get together with an instructor to share their favorite track from that week with the rest of the class and discuss what they are hearing.

Weekly Gig

ArtsWest will work to establish a weekly jazz night at a local venue. Students will be expected to perform in this setting at least monthly, and will be encouraged to perform weekly. In this setting, students will also have the opportunity to perform with faculty members, professionals from the Boise area, and special guests from out of town.

Ensembles:

The following Jazz ensembles will be offered at ArtsWest:

Jazz Combos

Small groups (7 or less) - may include instrumentalists and one vocalist. Combos meet once per week. Participation in a combo each semester will be required for all students seeking an Artist's Diploma. However, all music students who are interested are invited to audition.

Jazz Band

Instrumental big band of 15 to 20 students. Vocalists from the vocal jazz program will be invited to perform with the band regularly. Jazz Band will meet 3 times per week. Students will also be expected to rehearse in sectionals weekly. Participation in Jazz Band is required of all instrumentalists seeking the Young Artist's Diploma. However, all music students who are interested are invited to audition.

Jazz Choir

Elite vocal jazz ensemble of 5 to 12 vocalists and a rhythm section. Jazz Choir will meet 3 times per week. Students will also be expected to rehearse in sectionals weekly. Participation in Jazz Choir is required of all vocalists seeking the Young Artist's Diploma.All ArtsWest Jazz ensembles will perform at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival (Moscow, ID), the Gene Harris Jazz Festival, and the BYU - I Jazz Festival (Rexburg, ID)

Senior Recording Project

Students will record a full album to help them promote their playing to colleges, businesses, and festivals.

Additional Jazz Studies Classes

Survey of Jazz

Designed both for jazz aficionados' and neophytes, this class will help students increase enthusiasm for Jazz. Students will spend time listening to jazz recordings, watching film footage of great musician's performances, reading about the lives and personal histories of musicians, discussing the music in class, etc. The class will also take field trips to live Jazz events, learn to swing dance, and participate in group activities with the history department.

Beginning Jazz Piano

This class is designed for non-pianists or classical pianists who are interested in learning the basics of jazz piano.