Jazz Studies, B.M.

Coordinator: Dr. Charles Dotas
Phone: (540) 568-6180

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

General Education courses 38-41 Credit Hours ¹
Core music program courses 30 Credit Hours
Major concentration courses and electives 60 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

Total: 128-131 Credit Hours

Major Requirements

Courses

Additional requirements: Admission to the Jazz Studies program by successful completion of Level 4 in applied music study (primary instrument) and jazz performance audition, no sooner than end of second year as approved music major.

MUS 146. Jazz Theory and Ear Training 2.00
MUS 305. Jazz Keyboard Skills 1.00
MUAP 300. Applied Music Lesson 1.00 - 3.00 (Jazz Study, Level 5-8) ²
MUS 345. Small Ensemble Jazz Arranging 3.00
MUS 346. Large Ensemble Jazz Arranging 3.00
MUS 356. History of Jazz in Amer 3.00
MUS 395. Junior or Senior Half Recital 0.00 ³
MUS 440. Jazz Improv Lab II 2.00 ⁴
MUS 495. Senior Grad Recital 1.00
MUED 473. Jazz Ensemble Procedures and Techniques 2.00
MUAP 355. Jazz Chamber Ensemble 1.00 (in addition to major ensemble requirement) ⁵
Applied music study (primary instrument), Level 1-4 8 Credit Hours ⁶
Ensembles (one each semester) 8 Credit Hours ⁷
Approved jazz electives 5 Credit Hours ⁸

Footnotes

² Applied Jazz Study (3 credit hours) taken after acceptance into the Jazz Studies program. Applied Jazz Study (2 credit hours) recommended for students interested in preparing for the Jazz Studies audition. Student must be enrolled in Applied Jazz Study during the semesters in which the Half Recital and Graduation Recital are presented.
³ Presented at the end of the junior year, jazz repertoire.
⁴ MUS 440  is a corequisite with Applied Jazz Study and can be repeated each semester.
⁵ Students accepted into the Jazz Studies program must enroll in MUAP 355  each semester until graduation.
⁶ To be taken during the first and second years. Students accepted into Jazz Studies program may continue applied music study (in addition to applied jazz study) with consent of primary applied instructor.
⁷ Prior to acceptance into Jazz Studies program, ensemble placement determined by primary instrument applied faculty and Ensemble Committee. Students accepted into the Jazz Studies program must enroll in MUAP 347. Jazz Ensemble  (or MUAP 348. Jazz Band  with jazz studies coordinator permission) each semester until graduation. Students in the Jazz Studies program are encouraged to continue participation in additional School of Music ensembles.
⁸ Approved electives include: MUS 446. Jazz Composition , MUS 480. Advanced Seminar in Musicological Topics  and MUS 485. Advanced Jazz Topics Seminar .