COURSE SYLLABUS

MUEN 1125 – Jazz Band

Dr. Thomas Singletary

tsingletary@nctc.edu

Dr. Singletary’s office hours

ONLINE OFFICE HOURS:

Mondays & Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., online.

Or, anytime BY APPOINTMENT: e-mail tsingletary@nctc.edu to arrange a meeting.

Online help sessions will be scheduled throughout the semester—see the announcements in Canvas for specifics.

GRADING CRITERIA

Class Goal:   To rehearse and perform excellent jazz literature with musical

                                    understanding and artistic intent.

Attendance Policy:    Students’ grades and scholarships are based largely on prompt attendance at rehearsals and performances.  Each member of the ensemble is musically dependent on the others, and tardiness to rehearsals will result in a lowered grade and a rescinded scholarship.  Miss no more than 2 scheduled classes for any reason—both absences are excused, but there are no other excused absences, including sickness, family emergency, verified NCTC events, performances off campus, etc. For each absence above 2 the final grade for the course will be lowered a letter grade (e.g. with a 3rd absence an “A” becomes a “B”). Significantly late arrivals or early departures (more than five minutes) will count as an absence. If you are physically present but disengaged with the class (e.g., using your phone, reading, doing homework for another class, or sleeping), you may be considered absent.  An unexcused absence from a performance may result in failure of the course and/or removal from the ensemble.

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.

Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College.

From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 5, 2021.

Grading:                      Based on attendance and preparation. Lack of reasonable class preparation can be grounds for the lowering of one-half letter grade per occurrence.  It is a requirement to notify (by e-mail) the Director (Dr. Singletary) well in advance of any anticipated absence, AND be responsible for all music (and a Director pre-approved substitute) to be present even if you are not!  Please respect the quality of the experience for your colleagues by taking care of these matters in a professional way.

Concert Dress:            Option 1:

For evenings: Black tuxedo, white shirt, black bow tie, black dress shoes, and black socks.  For daytime concerts: Black suit, white shirt, tie, black dress shoes, and black socks.

“Pit black”: Black suit pants, black button-down shirt, black socks, black shoes.

Option 2:

Floor-length black skirt, black pants (no denim), or black dress meeting all specifications. Long-sleeved black blouse. Black/dark pantyhose, black dress shoes, simple jewelry. No décolletage, bare shoulders, necklines, or midriffs. Open-toed shoes or sandals are acceptable with dark stockings or pantyhose.

PERFORMANCES:

TBA (plans are not possible due to Covid-19 outbreak)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-4321.  Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct.” 

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

1. Grade of ZERO
2. Dropped from Class

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

JAZZ BAND

SPRING 2021

Dr. Thomas Singletary, Conductor

WHEN?

• Thursdays, 12:30—1:50.

WHERE?

All Thursday rehearsals will take place on stage at the First State Bank Performing Arts Auditorium in Gainesville. 

HOW?

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has affected music-making everywhere. However, musicians around the nation have received excellent guidelines regarding how to safely proceed with live music rehearsal. A national research study, sponsored by the College Band Directors National Association and many other professional music organizations, is available for you to read by clicking the link above.  Here are some main ideas from that research:

• The virus spreads through small liquid droplets suspended in the air—also known as aerosol.  The reason we wear masks is to catch the aerosol as it exits the nose/mouth to prevent spreading the virus. 
• Loud talking, singing, and playing wind instruments produces more aerosol than speaking quietly. Therefore, it is necessary to “mask” the wind instruments, in addition to our faces, while we play.
• Based on the potential spread of aerosol, guidelines are given to distance musicians from one another. Six feet is the general rule (more for trombones).
• There are several important factors to create the safest possible rehearsal conditions:
  • A supply of fresh air is important. The NCTC band hall is inadequate, but some other rooms in the building have better ventilation using outside air.
  • A limit of 30 minutes per rehearsal is recommended unless guidelines are met regarding ventilation with outside air and an adequate combination of cubic volume and number of musicians. (See the link to the Excel spreadsheet). I believe we can meet the criteria to have a 30-minute rehearsals in our various rehearsal rooms; we will be mindful of time limits, ventilation, etc.
• Personal hygiene is important, and these are changes from what we used to consider “normal.” For example, opening water keys on to the floor is no longer acceptable; containers or absorbent “puppy pads” must be used to collect moisture.
• Research results FAQ page: https://www.nfhs.org/articles/aerosol-study-faq-s-blog/

NCTC action steps based on these guidelines:

• We are limiting live rehearsals to once per week.
• We are carefully investigating, measuring, and altering the stage area for rehearsal. The band hall will be off limits.
• We will increase the amount of outside air circulation through the HVAC system and we will open the exterior doors.
• You should come to rehearsal wearing a face mask that will cover your embouchure while you play (see picture). Flute players will put the head joint between their mouth and mask and use a “flute sock” attached to the foot.
• I will provide instrument masks at no charge. If you’d like to make your own, click here to see the link to an instructional YouTube video. 80-denier nylon fabric must be doubled (this is a fancy way of saying TWO pairs of pantyhose.
• We are planning to perform concerts during the semester.  They will be live internet broadcasts with no in-person audience.
• The NCTC Jazz Ensemble will meet under similar circumstances (stage, masks, time restrictions, some virtual instruction).

WHY?

Because we need music in our lives!

On a personal note:

I have always been a “germ freak” (some of you may have noticed the bottles of hand sanitizer on my desk pre-pandemic). My hyper-awareness of the environment prepared me well for social distancing rules, wearing a mask in the grocery store, and accepting the necessity to teach online as needed. I am a firm believer in preventing the spread of COVID-19 through all means necessary, and I don’t believe places like public school classrooms full of children are safe places to be. I am worried about the potentially dangerous school environment surrounding my youngest son who will begin 8^th grade this year; we are constantly reevaluating the options for him.

That being said, I believe the rehearsal plan for NCTC Wind Ensemble I’ve outlined above is a good approach. Social distancing, face covers, instrument masking, appropriate preparation of the rehearsal area, time limits, and an overall awareness of the issue makes it so. I am grateful to teach at an institution that allows teachers to make wise decisions regarding their classroom environment. I am grateful for the research that gives us a strategy. I am grateful to have access to a facility that is conducive to our needs regarding time management, fresh air flow, spacing and scheduling. Mostly, I am grateful for my students who seek a musical experience and believe in me and my goals for our program.