Assessment Task Notification

Part A - In this assessment task you are to create your own jazz composition, the description is in the
table below. There are options below, choose what option you wish to start at.

Part B - Write a 500-word rationale on what inspires your piece including artists and other pieces.
(Reference your inspiration).

Every student will participate in a feedback discussion during class after the due date. You are
required to submit the assessment task notification with your assessment task.

Subject: Music Course: Music 1

Topic: Jazz Marks: 25
Course weighting: Course component: Core composition
Part A - 10%
Part B - 5%
Due date: Wednesday 25th of July Faculty: creative arts
Outcomes to be assessed: A student:

H3: Improvises and composes music using the range of concepts for familiar sound sources reflecting
the cultural and historical contexts studied.
H5: Critically evaluates and discusses performances and compositions.
H7: Understands the capabilities of performing media, incorporates technologies into composition and
performance as appropriate to the topics studied.
H8: identifies, recognizes, experiments with, and discusses the use of technology in music.

Option 1 – Maximum grade: A

Assessment Task Description:

 You must compose a piece for a small Jazz ensemble. You must have 4 – 6 layers of sound and
you may choose to add additional layers as an extension.
 You must have a walking bass line played by either a double bass or bass guitar, a section for
improvisation and a call and response.
 Your piece must be a minimum of 38 bars and the chords roman numerals must be clearly
displayed underneath each bar following a 12-bar blues chord progression. You may choose the
key signature.
 Your melody should be appropriate to the chords, use a blues scale and be creative.
 You should use jazz rhythms and rhythmic devices e.g. jazz quavers, shuffle rhythms, swing
rhythms, syncopation
 You should be able to describe your composition process ad analyse it according to the
concepts of music.

Option 2 – Maximum grade: B

Assessment Task Description:

 You must compose a short piece for a jazz ensemble. You must have 2 – 3 layers of sound, you
may choose to add additional layers.
 You must have a walking bass line played by either a double bass or bass guitar, you may
choose to implement other stylistic characteristics as an extension.
 Your piece must be a minimum of 20 bars and the roman numerals must be clearly displayed
underneath each bar following at 12 bar blues chord progression. Use either 3/4- or 4/4-time
signature. You may choose the key signature.
  Create a melody that fits with the chords. Be creative.
 Implement aspects of the concepts of music within your piece.
 You can use sections from other jazz pieces to create a foundation to your piece, however you
must state the piece and artist used in the Part B component, and you must implement your
own creative aspects. You are not to copy someone else’s song completely.
Expectations:

You are expected to:

- Make a serious attempt at this task
- Do your best work
- Use clear written communication including correct spelling and appropriate language structure.
Students who do not meet the basic requirements will be required to redo their work as a learning
experience and original marks will stand.

Scaffold – Maximum grade: D

Follow these steps to begin your assessment.

1. Create a title
2. Determine a time signature, and key signature that you will use throughout your piece.
3. Select the instruments you will use in the piece (use instruments that you would identify
with jazz music. We have covered this over the course of this unit)
4. Create a chord progression (I, I, I, I, IV, IV, I, I, V7, IV, I, I)
5. Add your melody (be creative)

Criteria Mark
Composition is score for a small ensemble with appropriate instruments chosen /2
for the genre of music.
Walking bass line is incorporated correctly. /2
Composition reaches appropriate standard in bars of music according to the
option chosen (38 bars, option 1 and 24 bars for option 2), the composition /3
follows a 12-bar blues chord progression, outlined with roman numerals.
Melody is based on a blues scale and is appropriately arranged with the chord /4
progression. Creating interest in the composition.
Jazz rhythms, rhythmic devices and other stylistic characteristics are evident and /4
utilised within the composition.
Appropriate markings have been used correctly on the score, e.g. name, /3
composer, tempo, dynamics, and expressive techniques.
Composition sounds complete and is stylistically appropriate. /1
Description of the piece refers to the concepts of music, outlines stylistic /6
characteristics and explains the reasoning behind the creativity.
Comments:

Teachers Signature: _________________________ Total Mark: /25