Jazz Spontaneous Composition and Improvisation Minor

Course Requirements

The Jazz, Spontaneous Composition and Improvisation minor focuses on the study of the history, theory, and performance of jazz and other improvised musics. In addition, students may be introduced to musical styles that have had profound influences on the uniquely American art form of jazz: folk and popular musics of Africa, Europe, South Asia and the United States and Western classical music. The Jazz, Spontaneous Composition and Improvisation minor is limited to students who have sufficient performance proficiency to pass auditions for entry into the jazz ensembles.

Lower-Division Courses

MUSC 13 is designed for students with barely any or no music theory experience. MUSC 14 and MUSC 15 are meant for students with some music theory experience—you only need to take one of MUSC 14 or MUSC 15, not both.

Students may test out of MUSC 13,  MUSC 14, and MUSC 15 by placing directly into MUSC 30A via the Theory Placement Exam.

The Theory Placement Exam is offered twice per year—in fall quarter, the Tuesday before classes start; and in the beginning of spring quarter. See the Music Department website for exam details.

MUSC 11BIntroduction to Jazz

5

MUSC 13Beginning Theory & Musicianship I

5

MUSC 14Beginning Theory & Musicianship II

5

MUSC 15Preparatory Musicianship

5

MUSC 30ATheory, Literature, and Musicianship

5

Take one of the following options

Take one of the following courses:
MUSC 74Spontaneous Composition/Improvisation I

5

MUSC 75Jazz Theory I

5

Or

In place of MUSC 74 or MUSC 75, students may elect to take two quarters of the following course (which may be repeated for credit):

MUSC 3Large Jazz Ensemble

2

Upper-Division Courses

Take one of the following courses:

MUSC 174Intermediate Spontaneous Composition and Improvisation

5

MUSC 175Jazz Theory II

5

Take two of the following courses:

MUSC 105AMusic of the United States

5

MUSC 105CFolk and Traditional Music in California

5

MUSC 105IImprovisation and Collaborative Practices in the 20th Century

5

MUSC 203HArea Studies in Performance Practice

5

MUSC 111BSeminar in Jazz Analysis

5

MUSC 150ISpecial Topics in Music Theory: Hindustani Music

5

MUSC 150SFocus on Spontaneous Composition

5

MUSC 203BPerformance Practice in the Renaissance

5

MUSC 203HArea Studies in Performance Practice

5

MUSC 203H may be repeated for credit if taken with a different instructor.

Ensembles

Students in the Jazz, Spontaneous Composition and Improvisation minor are required to take six quarters of ensembles, at least three quarters of which must be jazz-focused ensembles (MUSC 3 or MUSC 164). The other three quarters can be any ensemble.

If a student elected to take two quarters of MUSC 3 instead of MUSC 74 or MUSC 75, they are only required to do one additional quarter of a jazz ensemble, plus the three quarters of elective ensembles.

MUSC 1CUniversity Concert Choir

2

MUSC 2University Orchestra

2

MUSC 3Large Jazz Ensemble

2

MUSC 5AWest Javanese Gamelan Ensemble: Beginning

2

MUSC 5BWest Javanese Gamelan Ensemble: Intermediate

2

MUSC 5CWest Javanese Gamelan Ensemble: Advanced

2

MUSC 8ABeginning Balinese Gamelan

2

MUSC 8BAdvanced Balinese Gamelan

2

MUSC 9Wind Ensemble

2

MUSC 10Central Asian Ensemble

2

MUSC 12Mariachi Ensemble

2

MUSC 12BMexican Folklorico Music and Dance

2

MUSC 53ABeginning Ghanaian Ensemble

2

MUSC 54North Indian Music Workshop

2

MUSC 55Rhythms of North India

2

MUSC 55AIntermediate Rhythms of North India

2

MUSC 74Spontaneous Composition/Improvisation I

5

MUSC 75Jazz Theory I

5

MUSC 80ZLaptop Music

5

MUSC 102University Orchestra

2

MUSC 103University Concert Choir

2

MUSC 158South African Music Ensemble

2

MUSC 163Early Music Ensemble

2

MUSC 164Jazz Ensembles

2

MUSC 166Chamber Singers

2

MUSC 168Experimental Music Ensemble

2