Music B.M. – Jazz Studies Concentration

Program Overview

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: 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:

Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
Required Major Credits
University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

The Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies offers students comprehensive jazz courses including jazz theory and aural skills, jazz improvisation, jazz arranging, and jazz history, and jazz ensemble experiences to prepare them to realize their individual creative vision and attain skills necessary for successful professional musicians.

Program Admission Requirements:

Students planning to pursue the BM in Jazz Studies must audition for admission to the program. Current audition requirements are available at: arts.unco.edu/music/apply/

Program Requirements:

In all MUS courses, students 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.
After students have fulfilled the requirements for lessons in their degree, additional lessons will be at the discretion of the studio teacher and school Director.
All students in applied lessons must enroll in a major ensemble, unless advised otherwise by jazz studies program faculty. Major ensembles for BM-Jazz Studies concentration are: MUS 220, MUS 224, MUS 225, MUS 420, MUS 424, and MUS 425.
Any student receiving a grade below a C- in lessons will be placed on probation. A second semester of a grade below a C- in 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 completed to satisfy degree requirements.

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 [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 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 is recommended to partially fulfill Arts & Humanities requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

AFS 100 or AFS 101 are recommended to fulfill the U.S. Multicultural Studies and History requirements.

ANT 245 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

Jazz Courses — 24 credits

Take all of the following:

MUS 181	Jazz and Latin Theory I	3
MUS 182	Jazz and Latin Aural Skills I	1
MUS 183	Jazz and Latin Theory II	3
MUS 184	Jazz and Latin Aural Skills II	1
MUS 223	Jazz Improvisation I	2
MUS 262	Class Jazz Piano	1
MUS 327	Analysis of Jazz Styles	2
MUS 328	Jazz Improvisation II	2
MUS 344	History of Jazz	2
MUS 346	Arranging	2
MUS 347	Advanced Arranging	2
MUS 441	Standard Latin and Jazz Repertoire	1
MUS 443	Topics in Jazz History	2

Supporting Music Courses — 15 credits

Take all of the following courses, including the 8 credits of classical and aural skills courses.

MUS 100 - take 8 semesters

MUS 100	Recitals, Concerts and Productions	0
MUS 143	Musical Styles and ContextLAA1	3
MUS 160	Class Piano I	1
MUS 161	Class Piano II	1
MUS 251	Survey of the Music Business	2

Classical Theory and Aural Skills — 8 credits

Take the following courses:

MUS 213	Music Theory III	3
MUS 214	Aural Skills and Sight Singing III	1
MUS 216	Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV	1

Remaining Classical Theory Options

and choose one course (3 credits) from the following:

MUS 215	Music Theory IV	3
MUS 301	18th Century Counterpoint	3
MUS 302	Form and Analysis	3

Lessons — 16 credits

MUS 236	Individual Instruction in Jazz	2
MUS 436	Continuing Individual Instruction in Jazz	2

Take 8 credits of MUS 236 and 8 credits of MUS 436.

Ensembles — 12 credits

Choose appropriate option below:

Instrumentalists:

MUS 221	Small Jazz Ensembles	1
MUS 421	Small Jazz Ensembles	1
MUS 225	Jazz Ensemble	1
MUS 425	Jazz Ensemble	1
MUS 224	Vocal Jazz Ensembles	1
MUS 424	Vocal Jazz Ensembles	1
MUS 419	Latin Music Ensemble	1
MUS 220	Jazz Guitar Ensemble	1
MUS 420	Jazz Guitar Ensemble	1
MUS 229	UNC Contemporary Music Ensemble	1
MUS 429	UNC Contemporary Music Ensemble	1
MUS 267	University Symphony Orchestra	1
MUS 467	University Symphony Orchestra	1
MUS 290	Symphonic Band	1
MUS 490	Symphonic Band	1
MUS 291	Wind Ensemble	1
MUS 491	Wind Ensemble	1

Take a minimum of 2 credits each of MUS 221 and MUS 421.

Take a minimum of 2 credits each of MUS 225 and MUS 425*

*Guitarists may substitute MUS 220 or MUS 420 for MUS 225 or MUS 425.

Take 4 credits of other listed ensembles.

Vocalists:

MUS 224	Vocal Jazz Ensembles	1
MUS 424	Vocal Jazz Ensembles	1
MUS 419	Latin Music Ensemble	1
MUS 266	Chamber Choir	1
MUS 466	Chamber Choir	1
MUS 280	Mixed Concert Choir	1
MUS 480	Mixed Concert Choir	1
MUS 225	Jazz Ensemble	1
MUS 425	Jazz Ensemble	1

Take 4 credits of MUS 224 and 4 credits of MUS 424.

Take 4 credits of other listed ensembles.

MUS 225 or MUS 425 must be under the variable title: Funk/Soul Band.

Additional Studies — 1-3 credits

Vocalists — 3 credits

MUS 217	Vocal Jazz Master Class	1
MUS 410	Vocal Pedagogy	2

Instrumentalists — 1 credit

MUS 342

Jazz Rhythm Section Workshop

Remaining Major — 4-6 credits

Take 4-6 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.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.

Year 1 – 28 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100	Recitals, Concerts and Productions	0
MUS 181	Jazz and Latin Theory I	3
MUS 182	Jazz and Latin Aural Skills I	1
MUS 160	Class Piano I	1
MUS 236	Individual Instruction in Jazz	2
MUS 251	Survey of the Music Business	2
	Jazz Ensemble Course	1

	Ensemble Course	1
	or
	Major Musical Organization	1

	Liberal Arts Curriculum	3
Total Credit Hours:		14

Jazz Ensemble: MUS 221/MUS 225 (Instrumentalists) or MUS 224 (Vocalists)

Spring Semester

MUS 100	Recitals, Concerts and Productions	0
MUS 143	Musical Styles and ContextLAA1	3
MUS 161	Class Piano II	1
MUS 183	Jazz and Latin Theory II	3
MUS 184	Jazz and Latin Aural Skills II	1
MUS 236	Individual Instruction in Jazz	2
	Jazz Ensemble Course	1

	Ensemble Course	1
	or
	Major Musical Organization	1

	University-Wide Elective	2
Total Credit Hours:		14

Jazz Ensemble: MUS 221/MUS 225 (Instrumentalists) or MUS 224 (Vocalists)

Year 2 – 31 credits

Fall Semester

AFS 100	Introduction to Africana StudiesLAH1LAMS	3
MUS 100	Recitals, Concerts and Productions	0
MUS 213	Music Theory III	3
MUS 214	Aural Skills and Sight Singing III	1
MUS 236	Individual Instruction in Jazz	2
MUS 262	Class Jazz Piano	1
	Jazz Ensemble Course	1

	Ensemble Course	1
	or
	Major Musical Organization	1

	Major Elective	2
	Instrumentalists take the following:
MUS 223	Jazz Improvisation I	2
	Vocalists take the following:
	University-Wide Elective	2
Total Credit Hours:		16

Jazz Ensemble: Take MUS 221/MUS 225 (Instrumentalists) or MUS 224 (Vocalists)

Spring Semester

ANT 245	Introduction to EthnomusicologyLAB3LAIS	3
MUS 100	Recitals, Concerts and Productions	0
MUS 215	Music Theory IV	3
MUS 216	Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV	1
MUS 236	Individual Instruction in Jazz	2
	Jazz Ensemble Course	1

	Ensemble Course	1
	or
	Major Musical Organization	1

	Major Elective	2
	Instrumentalists take the following:
MUS 328	Jazz Improvisation II	2
	Vocalists take the following:
MUS 327	Analysis of Jazz Styles	2
Total Credit Hours:		15

Jazz Ensemble: Take MUS 221/MUS 225 (Instrumentalists) or MUS 224 (Vocalists)

Year 3 – 31 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100	Recitals, Concerts and Productions	0
MUS 344	History of Jazz	2
MUS 436	Continuing Individual Instruction in Jazz	2
	Jazz Ensemble Course	1
	Liberal Arts Curriculum	3
	Liberal Arts Curriculum	3
	University-Wide Elective	2
	Instrumentalists take the following:
MUS 346	Arranging	2
	Vocalists take the following:
MUS 223	Jazz Improvisation I	2
Total Credit Hours:		15

Jazz Ensemble: Take MUS 421 or MUS 425

Spring Semester

MUS 100	Recitals, Concerts and Productions	0
MUS 436	Continuing Individual Instruction in Jazz	2
MUS 443	Topics in Jazz History	2
	Jazz Ensemble Course	1
	Liberal Arts Curriculum	3
	Liberal Arts Curriculum	4
	Instrumentalists take the following:
MUS 327	Analysis of Jazz Styles	2
MUS 347	Advanced Arranging	2
	Vocalists take the following:
MUS 328	Jazz Improvisation II	2
Total Credit Hours:		16

Jazz Ensemble: Take MUS 421 or MUS 425

Year 4 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

MUS 100	Recitals, Concerts and Productions	0
MUS 436	Continuing Individual Instruction in Jazz	2
MUS 441	Standard Latin and Jazz Repertoire	1
	Jazz Ensemble Course	1
	Liberal Arts Curriculum	3
	University-Wide Elective	2
	University-Wide Elective	3
	Instrumentalists take the following:

MUS 342	Jazz Rhythm Section Workshop	1
	or

	Vocalists take the following:
MUS 346	Arranging	2
	Major Elective	1
Total Credit Hours:		16

Jazz Ensemble: Take MUS 421/MUS 425 (Instrumentalists/Vocalists)

Pianists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers: Take MUS 342; Woodwind and brass: Take MUS elective

Spring Semester

MUS 100	Recitals, Concerts and Productions	0
MUS 436	Continuing Individual Instruction in Jazz	2
	Jazz Ensemble Course	1
	Liberal Arts Curriculum	3
	University-Wide Elective	3
	University-Wide Elective	3
	Instrumentalists take the following:
	University-Wide Elective	2
	Vocalists take the following:
MUS 347	Advanced Arranging	2
Total Credit Hours:		14

Jazz Ensemble: Take MUS 421 or MUS 425

Advising Notes –

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete your bachelor’s degree in 4 years. You will meet with the School of Music Retention Coordinator and your faculty advisor every semester to track your progress.