Courses offered by the Jazz Studies Department are listed below. Please check the Schedule of Classes for course offerings each semester and consult individual course entries in this schedule for information on course prerequisites and corequisites.
Click here for jazz piano proficiency requirements for pianists and for non-pianists.
MUS
E470
-
Pedagogy of Jazz
For Jazz majors and minors only. Techniques and methods of teaching jazz studies, including the training of jazz bands. Intended for students who have successfully completed the upper-division examination.
MUS
E570
-
Pedagogy of Jazz
Techniques and methods of teaching jazz studies.
MUS
F325
-
Rhythm Section Methods
Survey of basic rhythm section techniques in jazz styles such as swing, shuffle, rock, funk, bossa nova, samba, Afro-Cuban, and ballads. The course will focus on developing basic skills on each of the rhythm section instruments (piano, guitar, bass, and drums) and understanding the role of each instrument in the rhythm section.
MUS
I408
-
Jazz Senior Recital
MUS
M390
-
History of Jazz 1: Origins to 1959
The history of jazz from origins to 1959 explored through selected recordings and readings. The course will focus on selected artists and styles discussed in the context of American history.
MUS
M391
-
History of Jazz 2: 1959 to the Present
The history of jazz from 1959 to the present explored through selected recordings, readings, and a research paper. The course will focus on selected artists and styles discussed in the context of American history.
MUS
M395
-
Contemporary Jazz and Soul Music
A survey of contemporary jazz and soul (rhythm and blues) music and musicians in the United States.
MUS
M584
-
Research in the History and Analysis of Jazz
Individual research in the analysis, history, music theory, or literature of jazz schools, styles, performers, and instrumental idioms. For advanced students.
MUS
M591
-
Jazz History 1: Origins through 1949
Historical and musical analysis of the core repertoire, seminal performers and composers, musical characteristics, and important recordings of all major jazz styles, origins to 1949.
MUS
M592
-
Jazz History 2: 1950-1969
Historical and musical analysis of the core repertoire, seminal performers and composers, musical characteristics, and important recordings of all major jazz styles, 1950-1969.
MUS
M593
-
Jazz History 3: 1970-present
Historical and musical analysis of the core repertoire, seminal performers and composers, musical characteristics, and important recordings of all major jazz styles since 1970.
MUS
M594
-
Big Band Jazz
The study of classic big band literature (Ellington, Basie, Kenton, Herman, etc.).
MUS
O101
-
Fundamentals of Jazz Theory
Jazz nomenclature, chord/scale relationships, basic chord progressions, and voice leading. Examples from both jazz and classical repertoire will be given to show connections between the two idioms.
MUS
O213
-
Jazz Listening and Ear Training
Introduction to basic skills required of the jazz musician, including listening, ear training, and transcription of jazz solos and their stylistic analysis.
MUS
O214
-
Jazz Harmony
Introduction to harmonic and analytical skills required of the jazz musician, including standard harmony, voicings, voice leading, harmonizing melodies, how keyboardists activate harmony, form, and line analysis (neighbor tones, enclosures, approach notes).
MUS
O215
-
Fundamentals of Jazz Composition
Introduces techniques of melody writing, line writing, motivic development, counterpoint, harmonic texture, lead sheet layout, instrument ranges and transpositions, and basic orchestration.
MUS
O316
-
Jazz Arranging 1
Fundamentals of jazz arranging for small ensemble including orchestration, instrument ranges and transposition, form and structure, nomenclature, and part/score layout.
MUS
O317
-
Jazz Arranging 2
Techniques for large ensemble arranging including traditional and contemporary orchestration, section writing, and woodwind double writing.
MUS
O318
-
Styles and Analysis of Jazz 1
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
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
Introduction to jazz improvisation. Chord/scale relationships, generic melodic patterns, standard harmonic patterns, basic bebop vocabulary, and tune learning.
MUS
O322
-
Jazz Improvisation 2
Theory and techniques of jazz improvisation, including bebop and hard-bop harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic devices. Practice and study techniques and aural skills in the bebop and hard-bop styles.
MUS
O323
-
Jazz Improvisation 3
Advanced jazz rhythmic and harmonic techniques applied to improvisation and compositions for improvisation: contemporary jazz rhythmic practices such as note grouping, odd meters, and metric modulation applied to standard tunes. Harmonic substitution, superimposition, and slash chords. Various post-bebop approaches to improvisation.
MUS
O324
-
Jazz Improvisation 4
Modern concepts since 1955. Theory and techniques of jazz improvisation with an emphasis on the vocabulary, style, and repertoire of jazz since 1958.
MUS
O450
-
Jazz Chamber Ensemble
MUS
O460
-
Undergraduate Jazz Capstone and Portfolio
In this course students will create a capstone project and an online portfolio that documents their creative work in a way that can be readily shared with others. The capstone project will be a self-directed project, with guidance from a faculty mentor, related to the student’s professional goals.
MUS
O501
-
Fundamentals of Jazz Theory
Jazz nomenclature, chord/scale relationships, basic chord progressions, and voice leading. Examples from both jazz and classical repertoire will be given to show connections between the two idioms.
MUS
O512
-
Jazz Composition
Study of advanced techniques and analytical skills in relation to modern jazz composition with an emphasis on motivic development, expanded forms, and non-functional harmony.
MUS
O516
-
Jazz Arranging 1
Fundamentals of jazz arranging for small ensemble including orchestration, instrument ranges and transposition, form and structure, nomenclature, and part/score layout. Fundamentals of jazz arranging for small ensemble including orchestration, instrument ranges and transposition, form and structure, nomenclature, and part/score layout.
MUS
O517
-
Jazz Arranging 2
Techniques for large ensemble arranging including traditional and contemporary orchestration, section writing, and woodwind double writing.Techniques for large ensemble arranging including traditional and contemporary orchestration, section writing, and woodwind double writing.
MUS
O521
-
Jazz Improvisation 1
Introduction to jazz improvisation. Chord/scale relationships, generic melodic patterns, standard harmonic patterns, basic bebop vocabulary, and tune learning.
MUS
O522
-
Jazz Improvisation 2
Theory and techniques of jazz improvisation, including bebop and hard-bop harmonic, melodic and rhythmic devices. Practice and study techniques and aural skills in the bebop and hard-bop styles.
MUS
O523
-
Jazz Improvisation 3
Advanced jazz rhythmic and harmonic techniques applied to improvisation and compositions for improvisation; contemporary jazz rhythmic practices such as note grouping, odd meters, and metric modulation applied to standard tunes. Harmonic substitution, superimposition, and slash chords. Various post-bebop approaches to improvisation.
MUS
O524
-
Jazz Improvisation 4
Modern concepts since 1955. Theory and techniques of jazz improvisation with an emphasis on the vocabulary, style, and repertoire of jazz since 1958.
MUS
O550
-
Jazz Chamber Ensemble
MUS
O460
-
Undergraduate Jazz Capstone and Portfolio
In this course students will create a capstone project and an online portfolio that documents their creative work in a way that can be readily shared with others. The capstone project will be a self-directed project, with guidance from a faculty mentor, related to the student’s professional goals.
MUS
O590
-
Jazz Recital Prepartion
Recital preparation for jazz studies master’s students working with a faculty coach.
MUS
P201
-
Jazz Piano Class 1
Development of basic jazz keyboard skills and techniques for the non-piano jazz major, non-jazz piano major, and non-music major. Basic voicings for common harmonic formulae used in jazz, chord/scale relationships, and simple rhythmic comping patterns.
MUS
P202
-
Jazz Piano Class 2
More advanced voicings; substitutions; comping patterns.
MUS
P720
-
Jazz Piano Review
Jazz keyboard skills and techniques. Meets the keyboard proficiency requirement with a grade of B or higher for graduate non-pianist Jazz Studies majors. Voicings for common harmonic formulae including the II/V7/I chord progression and the blues, simple modal voicings, rhythmic comping patterns, and simple comping patterns for Latin jazz styles.