Courses

Academic Courses

Jazz
  • MUS O311 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory (1 cr.) P: Music Fundamentals Online or T109 Rudiments of Music I with grade of C or higher. Jazz nomenclature, chord/scale relationships, harmony, tune forms, basic keyboard application, and ear training.
  • MUS O316 Jazz Arranging 1 (2 cr.) P: O311 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory and O321 Jazz Improvisation 1 or permission of instructor. Scoring for jazz instruments in various ensembles. Study of arrangers and arrangements in various styles to assimilate their characteristics; applications of these styles to original arrangements.
  • MUS O317 Jazz Arranging 2 (2 cr.) P: O316 Jazz Arranging 1. More advanced arranging for various combinations of instruments in different styles.
  • MUS O318 Styles and Analysis of Jazz 1 (2 cr.) P: O311 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory and O321 Jazz Improvisation 1 or permission of instructor. Survey and analysis of jazz styles from ragtime and early jazz to swing and bebop. Repertoire, improvisation, instrumentation, role of instruments, major innovators and important groups. Includes transcription of jazz solos and their stylistic analysis.
  • MUS O319 Styles and Analysis of Jazz 2 (2 cr.) P: O318 Styles and Analysis of Jazz 1. Survey and analysis of jazz styles from the cool school and hard bop to modal and contemporary styles. Continuation of O318 areas of focus. Includes transcription of jazz solos and their analysis.
  • MUS O321 Jazz Improvisation 1 (2 cr.) P: Music Fundamentals Online or T109 Rudiments of Music I with grade of C or higher. C for jazz studies majors and minors: O311 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory. Introduction to jazz improvisation. Chord/scale relationships, generic melodic patterns, standard harmonic patterns, tune learning.
  • MUS O322 Jazz Improvisation 2 (3 cr.) P: O311 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory and O321 Jazz Improvisation 1 or permission of instructor. Theory and technique of Bebop. Theory and techniques of jazz improvisation with an emphasis on the vocabulary, style, and repertoire of the jazz common practice period (ca. 1940-1955).
  • MUS O323 Jazz Improvisation 3 (3 cr.) P: O322 Jazz Improvisation 2 or permission of instructor. Modern concepts since 1955. Theory and techniques of jazz improvisation with an emphasis on the vocabulary, style, and repertoire of jazz since 1958.
  • MUS O324 Jazz Improvisation 4 (3 cr.) P: O311 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory and O321 Jazz Improvisation 1 or permission of instructor. Tune learning. Various approaches to facilitate learning jazz tunes in blues, rhythm, and standards categories among others. Study of commonalities and differences among tunes.
  • MUS O325 Rhythm Section Literature and Performance Practice (2 cr.) Jazz, Latin, and Rock repertory studied in light of historical rhythm section performance as well as modern applications. Historical, cultural, and conceptual aspects in the development of important rhythm section styles from the United States, Latin America, Cuba, the Caribbean, and Africa. May be taken more than once, for a maximum of 8 credits.
  • MUS O330 American Popular Song Performance (2 cr.) P: O311 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory and O321 Jazz Improvisation 1. Exploration of the Great American Songbook through compositions by Gershwin, Ellington, Porter, Carmichael, Kern, Berlin and more contemporary composers such as Stevie Wonder to Billy Joel. Performance practices including working with a rhythm section, microphone technique, and development of vocal styles.
  • MUS O400 Jazz Performance (1 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Open to undergraduate jazz majors. Individual instruction in jazz performance.
  • MUS O450 Jazz Chamber Ensemble (1 cr.)
  • MUS O511 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory (1 cr.) Jazz nomenclature, chord/scale relationships, harmony, tune forms, basic keyboard application, and ear training.
  • MUS O512 Jazz Composition (3 cr.) Advanced study of problems of different styles of composition in the jazz idiom.
  • MUS O516 Jazz Arranging 1 (2 cr.) Scoring for jazz instruments in various ensembles.
  • MUS O517 Jazz Arranging 2 (2 cr.) Arranging for various combinations of instruments in different jazz styles.
  • MUS O521 Jazz Improvisation 1 (2 cr.) C for jazz studies majors and minors: O511 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory. Introduction to jazz improvisation. Chord/scale relationships, generic melodic patterns, standard harmonic patterns, tune learning.
  • MUS O522 Jazz Improvisation 2 (3 cr.) P: O511 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory and O521 Jazz Improvisation 1 or permission of instructor. Theory and technique of Bebop. Theory and techniques of jazz improvisation with an emphasis on the vocabulary, style, and repertoire of the jazz common practice period (ca. 1940-1955).
  • MUS O523 Jazz Improvisation 3 (3 cr.) P: O522 Jazz Improvisation 2 or permission of instructor. Modern concepts since 1955. Theory and techniques of jazz improvisation with an emphasis on the vocabulary, style, and repertoire of jazz since 1958.
  • MUS O524 Jazz Improvisation 4 (3 cr.) P: O511 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory and O521 Jazz Improvisation 1 or permission of instructor. Tune learning. Various approaches to facilitate learning jazz tunes in blues, rhythm, and standards categories among others. Study of commonalities and differences among tunes.
  • MUS O525 Rhythm Section Literature and Performance Practice (2 cr.) Jazz, Latin and Rock repertory studied in light of historical rhythm section performance as well as modern applications. Issues of performance, arranging, composition, instrumentation and output of various important jazz composers, arrangers, and performers. Open to jazz majors.
  • MUS O530 American Popular Song Performance (3 cr.) P: O511 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory and O521 Jazz Improvisation 1. Exploration of the Great American Songbook through compositions by Gershwin, Ellington, Porter, Carmichael, Kern, Berlin and more contemporary composers such as Stevie Wonder to Billy Joel. Performance practices including working with a rhythm section, microphone technique, and development of vocal styles.
  • MUS O550 Jazz Chamber Ensemble (0-1 cr.)
  • MUS O800 Jazz Performance (2 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Open to graduate jazz majors. Individual instruction in jazz performance.

Academic Bulletins

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Previous Bulletins

Students are ordinarily subject to the curricular requirements outlined in the Bulletin in effect at the start of their current degree. See below for links to previous Bulletins.