Jazz Ensemble I

Catalog description

This course is the premier jazz ensemble at BYU-Idaho. It is auditioned but open to all BYU-Idaho students (music majors and non-music majors). The ensemble provides an opportunity for students to practice and cultivate jazz with other students at a similar skill level providing challenge, learning, and growth. The course includes a full educational curriculum, and the band performs regularly, tours, and attends festivals when possible. Jazz Ensemble 1 has many purposes, some of which can be grouped into three areas: educational, artistic, and spiritual. Participation helps to raise student levels of musicianship to professional competence and cultivates discipline, intellectualism, communication, and creativity. Sound Alliance provides an opportunity to learn skills necessary for future employment (professional performance, public school teaching, etc.) and a place to apply knowledge gained in other classes. Jazz is one of America's only truly original art forms and Sound Alliance provides an opportunity for BYU-Idaho students to cultivate the art and to demonstrate its merits. The ensemble often represents BYU-Idaho and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through on and off campus performances of music that is "virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy." The Spirit can be felt when practicing a worthy art in a wholesome environment for righteous purposes. Auditing may be allowed with instructor approval.