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

While MUSC 14: Beginning Western Theory and Musicianship is the recommended starting place for students with only some prior music theory experience, students may test out of MUSC 14 by placing directly into MUSC 30A: Theory, Literature and Musicianship via the Music 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 either winter or spring quarter. See the Music Department website for exam details. If a student places into MUSC 30A via the exam, they are not required to take MUSC 14.

MUSC 11BIntroduction to Jazz

5

MUSC 14Beginning Western Theory and Musicianship

5

MUSC 30ATheory, Literature, and Musicianship I

5

The following course should be taken concurrently with the MUSC 30 sequence:

MUSC 31Ear Training

2

Lower-division theory and improvisation

Take one of the following courses:
MUSC 74Beginning Spontaneous Composition and Improvisation

5

MUSC 20CBeginning Jazz Theory

5

Or

In place of MUSC 74 or MUSC 20C, 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

Upper-division theory and improvisation

Take one of the following courses.

MUSC 150JIntermediate Spontaneous Composition and Improvisation

5

MUSC 150KIntermediate Jazz Theory

5

Upper-division elective requirements

Take two of the following courses. MUSC 203H may be repeated for credit if taken with a different instructor.

Students may not double count MUSC 150J (formerly MUSC 174) or MUSC 150K (formerly MUSC 175) for their upper-division theory/improv AND elective requirements. However, students who chose MUSC 150J for their upper-division theory/improv requirement can take MUSC 150K as one of their electives, and vice versa.

DANM 250IInterdisciplinary Arts Production Lab

5

MUSC 101CWestern Music History (1910-present)

5

MUSC 105AMusic of the United States

5

MUSC 105CFolk and Traditional Music in California

5

MUSC 105H
/DANM 205H
Hip Hop Music and Culture in the 20th Century

5

MUSC 105IImprovisation and Collaborative Practices in the 20th Century

5

MUSC 105VMexican Music and Conviviality

5

MUSC 121AJazz Analysis

5

MUSC 150DTheory of Southeast Asia

5

MUSC 150IHindustani Music Theory

5

MUSC 150JIntermediate Spontaneous Composition and Improvisation

5

MUSC 150KIntermediate Jazz Theory

5

MUSC 150P20th-Century Popular Song

5

MUSC 150SFocus on Spontaneous Composition

5

MUSC 203BPerformance Practice in the Renaissance

5

MUSC 203FPerformance Practice in the 20th Century

5

MUSC 203HArea Studies in Performance Practice

5

Jazz 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). Both MUSC 3 and MUSC 164 can be repeated for credit.

If a student elected to take two quarters of MUSC 3 instead of MUSC 74 or MUSC 20C, they are only required to do one additional quarter of a jazz ensemble, plus the three quarters of elective ensembles.

MUSC 3Large Jazz Ensemble

2

MUSC 164Jazz Combos

2

Elective Ensembles

In addition to the three quarters of a jazz-focused ensemble, students pursuing this minor must take three elective ensembles. Students may repeat any of the below ensembles for credit, except MUSC 5A, MUSC 8A, and MUSC 74.

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 74Beginning Spontaneous Composition and Improvisation

5

MUSC 77Raga Jazz: Application of Indian Music to Western Instruments

5

MUSC 102University Orchestra

2

MUSC 103University Concert Choir

2

MUSC 129Live Electroacoustic Music Ensemble

2

MUSC 158South African Music Ensemble

2

MUSC 163Early Music Band

2

MUSC 164Jazz Combos

2

MUSC 165Chamber Music Workshop

2

MUSC 166Chamber Singers

2

MUSC 168Experimental Music Ensemble

2

Planner

The table below is for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.

Two-Year Jazz Minor Plan

Fall Winter Spring
1st MUSC 11B MUSC 14*
MUSC 74 or 75 MUSC 174 or 175
MUSC 3 or 164
MUSC 3 or 164
MUSC 3 or 164
2nd MUSC 30A/MUSC 31 MUSC 105C^ MUSC 121A^
Elective ensemble
Elective ensemble
Elective ensemble

* May be satisfied by placing directly into MUSC 30A via the Theory Placement Exam

^Satisfies upper-division elective requirement; can be replaced with other courses from this list (see above).

General Education (GE) Codes

MUSC 11B satisfies the ER GE code.

Most, but not all, ensembles satisfy the PR-C or PR-E code GE requirement. Students should check to confirm which courses from the ensembles course list satisfy GE codes.