The request to establish an Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz

Date: May 19, 2011
To: College of Arts + Architecture
From: Clarence Greene, Faculty Governance Assistant
Approved On: May 4, 2011
Implementation Date: 2011

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Summary

The Department of Music proposes to add an Undergraduate Certificate program in Jazz. This certificate program will be available to instrumentalists in any of our three degree tracks (B.A. in Music, B.M. in Music Education, and B.M. in Music Performance) who wish to supplement their required instruction in classical music with elective training in jazz.

Requirements

The Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz will consist of 20 credits of coursework that combines training in performance and theory:

  • MUPF 1111. Jazz Ensemble (1 credit) (4 semesters)
  • MUPF 1111L. Jazz Ensemble Sectionals (0 credits) (4 semesters)
  • MUPF 1170. Jazz Combo (1 credit) (2 semesters)
  • MUPF 22xx. Applied Music: Jazz (1 credit) (4 semesters)
  • MUSC 2235. Jazz Improvisation I (2 credits)
  • MUSC 2236. Jazz Improvisation II (2 credits)
  • MUSC 4138. Jazz Pedagogy and Materials or MUSC 4234. Jazz Arranging (3 credits)
  • MUSC 4298. Jazz History (3 credits)

Only grades of “B” or better in the above classes will meet the requirements.

Catalog Copy

Proposed Catalog Copy for the Certificate

The Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz is designed for instrumentalists who wish to enhance their undergraduate study with intensive training in jazz. The curriculum consists of 20 credits of jazz studies that combine instruction in performance and theory, including lessons, ensembles, improvisation, history, and a course in either arranging or pedagogy.

Students may begin working towards the Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz at any point in their curriculum, but must complete the following requirements before being formally admitted into the Certificate program:

  1. A Sophomore Review (see the Department of Music Student Handbook for details).
  2. Both semesters of Jazz Improvisation (MUSC 2235 and MUSC 2236) with grades of B or better.
  3. A juried audition.

All jazz courses completed prior to formal admission into the Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz program (including lessons, ensembles, and improvisation classes) will subsequently be applied towards the Certificate. All courses must be passed with a gradeof B or better to earn an Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz.

Catalog Copy for Existing Courses

MUPF 1111. Jazz Ensemble. (1) Prerequisite: audition. Corequisite: MUPF 1111L. An ensemble specializing in performance and study of music composed for standard “big band” instrumentation. Performs music styles from the Swing era to present day. May be repeated for credit. Three contact hours. (Fall, Spring)

MUPF 1111L. Jazz Ensemble Sectional Rehearsals. (0) Corequisite: MUPF 1111. Sectional rehearsalsfor MUPF 1111. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)

MUPF 1170. Jazz Combo. (1) Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. A small performingensemble that focuses on jazz repertoire and improvisation. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)

MUSC 2235. Jazz Improvisation I. (2) Prerequisites:MUSC 1230, MUSC 1231 and/or permission of instructor. An introduction to jazz theory and its execution through instrumental improvisation. Detailed study of harmony, chord/scale relationships, musical forms, and the integration of this knowledge into performance. Open to instrumentalists only. Three contact hours. (Fall)

MUSC 2236. Jazz Improvisation II. (2) Prerequisites: MUSC 2235 and permission of instructor. A continuation of MUSC 2235, with greater emphasis on performance and integration of advanced harmonic/melodic devices and concepts, solo transcriptions, basic piano voicings, and composition memorization. Open to instrumentalists only. Three contact hours. (Spring)

MUSC 4138. Jazz Pedagogy and Materials. (3) Prerequisite: MUSC 2400. The teaching and conducting of public school instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles, including rehearsal techniques, concert presentation, the history and theory of jazz, sources for appropriate teaching materials and improvisation techniques. Field work required. Three contact hours. (Fall)

On demand)

Proposed Catalog Copy for New Courses

MUPF 2241-2259. Applied Music: Jazz. Courses consist of private instruction in jazz, a half-hour lesson per week or an hour lesson every two weeks, leading to a formal jury at the end of the semester. May be repeated for credit. Students must enroll in an approved principal ensemble (see the Department of Music Student Handbook for details) concurrently.

MUPF 2241. Applied Music: Jazz Trumpet. (1) Prerequisite: acceptance into the Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz program or permission of instructor. Corequisite: an approved principal ensemble. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)

MUPF 2243. Applied Music: Jazz Trombone. (1) Prerequisite: acceptance into the Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz program or permission of instructor. Corequisite: an approved principal ensemble. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)

MUPF 2245. Applied Music: Jazz Guitar. (1) Prerequisite: acceptance into the Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz program or permission of instructor. Corequisite: an approved principal ensemble. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)

MUPF 2248. Applied Music: Jazz Piano. (1) Prerequisite: acceptance into the Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz program or permission of instructor. Corequisite: an approved principal ensemble. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)

MUPF 2252. Applied Music: Jazz Bass. (1) Prerequisite: acceptance into the Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz program or permission of instructor. Corequisite: an approved principal ensemble. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)

MUPF 2256. Applied Music: Jazz Saxophone. (1) Prerequisite: acceptance into the Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz program or permission of instructor. Corequisite: an approved principal ensemble. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)

MUPF 2259. Applied Music: Jazz Percussion. (1) Prerequisite: acceptance into the Undergraduate Certificate in Jazz program or permission of instructor. Corequisite: an approved principal ensemble. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)

MUSC 4234. Jazz Arranging & Composition (3) Prerequisites: MUSC 2235 and MUSC 2400. The study of arranging and orchestration techniques in the jazz style. Detailed analysis of historically important music scores for jazz combo and jazz ensemble. Instrument ranges, scoring techniques, and advanced harmonic substitutions will be addressed. Combo and large ensemble writing projects will be assigned. (Spring)

MUSC 4298. Jazz History (3) Prerequisite: MUSC 2400. The study of significant musicians and literature in the history of jazz. Detailed analyses of influential scores and recordings will constitute a significant part of the course. Written projects such as research and listening reaction papers will be assigned. (Fall)