CoursesAmerican Jazz in Diaspora with a South African Jazz Case Study (NEW)

American Jazz in Diaspora with a South African Jazz Case Study (NEW)

This seminar will focus on American jazz in diaspora: i.e., we typically think of the African diaspora as people from Africa coming to the US either through slavery or more recently, as immigrants, refugees, political exiles, for economic opportunity and even education. In this class we will think diaspora differently: we look at the ways in which 20th century US originating jazz traveled the globe with a message of freedom through the practice of improvisation and experimentation.

Instructor(s)
  • Carol Muller
Semester

Fall 2025

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The course will also cover strategies for teaching and facilitating discussions, as well as topics in the philosophy of teaching and pedagogy. Working from this material, Penn students will collaboratively develop the capacities to provide coaching and mentorship to the teams of high school students from schools in West Philadelphia and across the city. Undergraduates will travel to these schools as part of the course, and there may be one or two Saturday sessions when all high schools convene on Penn’s campus for practice scrimmages. This course will engage a number of Philadelphia School District schools and students in the ethics bowl, and it will provide Penn students with the opportunity to develop their teaching and communication skills, build collaborative relationships with community schools, and solidify their knowledge of ethical theory through coaching.

While this is a graduate seminar, curious undergraduates are welcome to join the class with instructor permission.

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