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Undergraduate Catalog 2021-2022

Music B.M. – Jazz Studies Emphasis

College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact: Dana B. Landry, M.M., Director of Jazz Studies

Location: Frasier Hall 108

Telephone: 970.351.2993

Fax: 970.351.1923

Website: www.arts.unco.edu/music

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

The Bachelor of Music is a professional degree in music. It supports the development of skills, concepts, and sensitivity essential to a professional musician. It also prepares students for advanced study in music.

Program Admission Requirements:

  • Students planning to major in music are required to submit an application for admission to the School of Music. An audition is required for all applicants to music degree programs; for some graduate programs, an interview may be conducted in lieu of an audition. Current School of Music admission guidelines and audition requirements are available at: http://arts.unco.edu/music/apply/.
  • Students meeting the general admission requirements of the University may be accepted as undeclared majors. However, students may only be designated as music majors upon successful completion of the School of Music application and audition process.

Program Requirements:

  • In all MUS courses, a student must receive C- or better to fulfill degree requirements.
  • Any student receiving lower than a C- in a MUS prefix class for the second time in the same class will be placed on probation. If the student receives lower than a C- a third time in the same class, the student will be removed from the major.
  • Students are required to take MUS 100 8 times, based on degree. This is not tied to lessons.
  • After students have fulfilled the requirements for applied lessons in their degree, additional applied lessons will be at the discretion of the studio teacher and Director.
  • All students in applied lessons must enroll in a major ensemble. Students that do not have a major ensemble required for the duration of the degree program should follow their degree requirements.
  • Any student receiving a grade below a C- in applied lessons will be placed on probation. A second semester of a grade below a C- in applied lessons will result, upon consent from the area, in removal from the major.
  • The junior recital must demonstrate performance skills in jazz. The senior recital must demonstrate performance and compositional skills in jazz and may not be performed until the successful completion of three semesters of MUS 436.
  • A minimum of 30 non-MUS prefix credits must be taken for the degree. 

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 74 required major credits. 

Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study. 

Written Communication — 6 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list. 

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies, and International Studies — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

MUS 143: Musical Styles and Context (3) is recommended to partially fulfill Arts & Humanities requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

AFS 100: Introduction to Africana Studies (3) or AFS 101: Development of Black Identity (3) are recommended to fulfill the U.S. Multicultural Studies and History requirements.

ANT 245: Introduction to Ethnomusicology (3) is recommended to fulfill the Social & Behavioral Sciences and International Studies requirements.

Select any course (3) from Arts & Humanities and another course (3) from any area listed below to fulfill the LAC Curriculum minimum of 15 credits.

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list. 

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 74 credits

Take all of the following:

MUS 100Recitals, Concerts and Productions

0

MUS 113Music Theory I

3

MUS 114Aural Skills and Sight Singing I

1

MUS 115Music Theory II

3

MUS 116Aural Skills and Sight Singing II

1

MUS 143Musical Styles and ContextLAA1

3

MUS 160Class Piano I

1

MUS 161Class Piano II

1

MUS 213Music Theory III

3

MUS 214Aural Skills and Sight Singing III

1

MUS 215Music Theory IV

3

MUS 216Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV

1

MUS 218Jazz Theory

2

MUS 223Jazz Improvisation I

2

MUS 236Individual Instruction in Jazz

2

MUS 262Class Jazz Piano

1

MUS 327Analysis of Jazz Styles

2

MUS 328Jazz Improvisation II

2

MUS 344History of Jazz

2

MUS 346Arranging

2

MUS 347Advanced Arranging

2

MUS 436Individual Instruction in Jazz

2

MUS 441The Standard Jazz Repertoire

1

MUS 443Topics in Jazz History

2

MUS 460Survey of the Music Business

2

MUS 236: Take 8 credits 

MUS 436: Take 8 credits

MUS 143: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities

Jazz Ensembles — Choose appropriate option below:

Instrumentalists (12 credits)

MUS 221Small Jazz Ensembles

1

MUS 225Jazz Ensemble

1

MUS 421Small Jazz Ensembles

1

MUS 425Jazz Ensemble

1

MUS 221, MUS 225, MUS 421, and MUS 425: Take 2 times each. 

Ensembles other than MUS 221/MUS 421 and MUS 225/MUS 425: Take 4 times totaling 4 credits. 

Vocalists (12 credits)

MUS 224Vocal Jazz Ensembles

1

MUS 424Vocal Jazz Ensembles

1

MUS 224 and MUS 424: Take 8 credits total.

Ensembles other than MUS 224/MUS 424: Take 4 times totaling 4 credits.

Additional Required Credits (If applicable):

Vocalists (2 credits)

MUS 410Vocal Pedagogy

2

Pianists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers (1 credit)

MUS 342Jazz Rhythm Section Workshop

1

Remaining Major (3-5 credits)

Take 3-5 credits of MUS-prefix courses.

3. University-Wide Credits — 15 credits*

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 15 credits.

*Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.