Participation in Classes
Jazz courses and individual studio lesson are open to music majors, non-music majors, and continuing education students, but often have prerequisites and/or corequisites that must be met (see individual course descriptions). Class size limits may restrict enrollment with preference given to jazz studies majors, followed by music majors, full-time students, and continuing education students.
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Undergraduate Jazz Core Curriculum
Jazz Performance Labs (JPL) I, II, & III
Jazz Theory
Jazz Improvisation I & II
Jazz Composition I & II
Functional Jazz Piano I & II
Jazz Studio Instruction:
. Jazz Saxophone
. Jazz Trumpet
. Jazz Trombone
. Jazz Guitar
. Jazz Piano
. Jazz Bass
. Jazz Drum Set
Jazz Reading & Conference
Upper Division and Graduate Level Courses in Jazz
History of Jazz 1900 – 1950
History of Jazz 1940 to Present
Jazz Arranging I, II
Advanced Jazz Repertoire I, II, III
Advanced Jazz Arranging I, II
Jazz Pedagogy and Practicum
Jazz Program Planning and Development
Survey of Jazz Composition/Arranging
Jazz Studio Instruction:
. Jazz Saxophone
. Jazz Trumpet
. Jazz Trombone
. Jazz Guitar
. Jazz Piano
. Jazz Bass
. Jazz Drum Set
. Jazz Composition
Jazz Reading & Conference
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Undergraduate Jazz Core Curriculum
Jazz Studio Instruction
MUP numbers may be found by instrument and by level of study.
1:30 – 2:20 R | Mandatory Master Class Meeting
(Instructors: Tyler Abbott, Avery Scanlon, Ken Mastrogiovanni, Paul Krueger, Keith Brown, Steve Owen, Idit Shner)
Individual lessons in jazz performance practice are available to students who have been admitted by audition into the jazz studies program or by instructor consent. 18 credits of jazz studio instruction are required of undergraduate jazz studies majors. Undergraduate jazz majors should register for MUP 365 unless given permission to do otherwise by their studio instructor.
Jazz Performance Labs (JPL) I, II, & III
MUJ 180, 181, 182
11:00 – 11:50 TR
Steve Owen, instructor
Note: MUJ 180 is the first class in a course sequences that begins each Fall term.
The Jazz Performance Lab is a three-term course sequence in jazz performance practice. A primer for advanced work in jazz improvisation, composition, and arranging, the JPL combines performance on each student’s instrument with theory, ear-training, piano, and improvisation methods. This course is required for freshman majoring in jazz studies and highly recommended for other students who wish to “get their feet wet” and learn the basics of improvisation.
Jazz Theory
MUJ 270
11:00 – 11:50 M, W
Keith Brown, instructor
Note: Offered Fall term only. A prerequisite for both Jazz Improvisation I & II and Functional Jazz Piano I & II.
An examination of harmony in jazz, this course includes study of chord symbols, chord voicing practices, chord progressions, analysis, reharmonization practices, scale/chord relationships, and bass line construction as applied to common jazz composition, arranging, and improvisation practice.
Functional Jazz Piano I & II
MUJ 271, 272
9:00 – 9:50 T, Th
Julian Borkowski, instructor
Note: This course sequence begins in Winter term.
For both jazz pianists and non-pianists, the goal of this class is to become familiar with a variety of common voicing techniques through practical application, including (but not limited to): 1) left-hand bass w/ 3rd or 6th/7th voicings (with and without melody), 2) 2-note critical tone voicings (with roots and rootless) (with and without melody), 3) 3-note left hand voicings, 4) 4-part drop 2 block voicings, 5) triads/7th chords superimposed over 2-note critical tone voicings
Jazz Composition I & II
MUJ 275, 276
11:00 – 11:50 M, W
Keith Brown, instructor
Note: This course sequence begins in Winter term.
Examination and application of contemporary compositional techniques utilized in jazz and commercial music idioms through the study and composition of simple song forms. Each course examines contrasting harmonic styles while covering rhythmic repetition and variation, harmonic extension and variation, developmental techniques as applied to single motives, harmonic rhythm, idiomatic/effective writing via common commercial notation practice and more. Techniques learned in these classes are essential to the development of more advanced skills in arranging and composing demanded by the field as a music educator and/or freelance musician.
Jazz Improvisation I & II
MUJ 273, 274
9:00 – 9:50 M, W, F
Joe Manis, instructor
Note: This course sequence begins in Winter term.
A study of improvisational methods through task-oriented performance of selected jazz repertoire. The goal of this class is to introduce concepts and practice methods used by jazz artists to gain improvisation skills and to apply them to your own practice and performance over selected jazz repertoire.
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Upper Division and Graduate Level Courses in Jazz
Jazz Studio Instruction
MUP numbers may be found by instrument and by level of study.
1:30 – 2:30 R | Mandatory Master Class Meeting
Individual lessons in jazz performance practice and improvisation are available to students who have been admitted by audition into the jazz studies program or by instructor consent. Lessons in jazz composition are available to students in jazz studies by instructor consent, and do not replace requirements for lessons in jazz performance/improvisation.
History of Jazz 1900 – 1950
MUJ 350
10:00 – 11:50 TR | Winter Term only
Sean Peterson, instructor
History, biography, multiculturalism, and racism in early jazz and swing through modern jazz. Includes Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis.
History of Jazz 1940 to Present
MUJ 351
4:00 – 5:50 MW | Spring Term only
Sean Peterson, instructor
History, biography, multiculturalism, and racism in modern jazz and free jazz to the present. Includes Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Ornette Coleman.
Jazz Arranging I, II
MUJ 480/580, 481/581
11:00 – 11:50 M, W
Torrey Newhart, instructor
Note: Open only to students who have passed the Sophomore Performance Barrier Exam in jazz or (in special circumstances) by instructor’s consent. This course sequence begins each Fall term.
The course studies basic arranging and composition skills used in the jazz idiom through task-oriented assignments for large and small jazz ensembles. Included are discussions of reharmonization, instrumentation/orchestration, one to five part density, and various voicing techniques as well as common formal constructs. All assignments and pieces are performed and recorded for student feedback and analysis.
Advanced Jazz Repertoire I, II, III
MUJ 477/577, 478/578, 479/579
10:00 – 10:50 MW
Keith Brown, instructor
Note: Open only to students who have passed the Junior Performance Barrier Exam in jazz or (in special circumstances) by instructor’s consent. This course sequence begins each Fall term.
This class, for advanced improvisers, examines advanced and contemporary methods for improvisation through transcription, analysis, and study/performance of repertoire. Students will be come familiar with major style periods in jazz and the improvisational techniques employed by artists of each era. Students are asked to perform representative repertoire employing characteristic vocabulary and techniques.
Advanced Jazz Arranging I, II, III
MUJ 483/583, 484/584, 485/585
11:00 – 11:50 M, W
Paul Krueger, instructor
Note: Open only to students who have completed Jazz Arranging I-II course sequence or (in special circumstances) by instructor’s consent. This course sequence begins each Fall term.
Students continue to develop arranging/composition craft through works written for large and small jazz ensembles. Major jazz composers writing styles are examined for significant characteristics. Topics include: tailoring pieces to instrumentalists of beginning through advanced skill levels, motivic and formal development in extended pieces, and honing a personal writing process that maximizes your artistic efforts.
Jazz Pedagogy and Practicum
MUJ 440/540
9:00 – 9:50 MWF | Fall term only
Paul Krueger, instructor
The goal of this class is to become familiar with methods and resources available for teaching jazz at both the secondary and collegiate level. Topics include teaching jazz history, theory, composition/arranging and improvisation; and working with small and large ensembles (with emphasis on rhythm sections).
Jazz Program Planning and Development
MUJ 661
10:00 – 10:50 TR | Winter term only
Paul Krueger , instructor
Note: Offered Winter term only.
In this class students become familiar with information and resources needed to successfully design and maintain a jazz program. Topics will include: Program Justification, Finding Your Program’s Niche, Setting and Meeting Program Goals, Curriculum Design and Implementation, Jazz Program Needs, Creating Budgets, Typical Sources of Revenue, Creating a Curriculum Vitae and Personal Promotional Materials
Survey of Jazz Composition
MUJ 660
TBA
Note: Offered Spring term, odd years only.
History and analysis of jazz composition and arranging from 1900 to the present. Examines the evolution of jazz composition and arranging through the study of major artists and style periods.
Jazz Reading and Conference
MUJ 405/605
TBA
Individualized study on topics beyond courses offered. By arrangement with individual faculty.