Courses

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.