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Jazz Performance Core Curriculum
In studying Jazz Performance, you'll acquire significant technical and musicianship skills, developing your own jazz voice. You’ll engage in music theory, musicianship, improvisation, and critical analysis of a wide variety of music; you'll have access to state-of-the-art music facilities; and you'll work with a diverse community of faculty, students, and industry professionals. You’ll gain real-world experience as you complete a combination of studio classes and private lessons that help you become a versatile musician.
Required Courses: Jazz Performance Majors
The Academy Orchestra and Academy Wind Symphony perform major pieces of the symphonic repertoire, full staged ballets, concerti, new music and classic as well, and performs with choir and other ensembles. The Orchestra presents numerous concerts each year and frequently collaborates with renowned guest artists and conductors. Woodwind, brass and percussion students are placed into either Orchestra or Wind Symphony based on preliminary auditions.
In this course, students explore the skills and concepts fundamental to live sound reinforcement, audio recording, and audio editing. This is a hands-on course. Theory and application are introduced simultaneously, and projects reflect the interests and disciplines unique to each participant. This is a cross-curricular course available to all students.
Jazz Orchestra and Combo students will study and perform repertoire from across the spectrum of Jazz with a focus on listening, playing in balance, sight reading, improvisation, and swing. Both ensembles will have opportunities for on and off-campus performances with guest artists from around the world. Jazz Orchestra and Combo rosters will be on a performance rotation to allow students broader experiences. Audition is required for placement.
Jazz History is a non-chronological thematic examination of 20th century Jazz musicians through commercial recordings, liner notes, press coverage, interviews, and oral histories. Attention is given to contextualizing Jazz within the broader scope of Black American Music and the recording industry at large.
Jazz History is a chronological study of jazz beginning with its origins in African and African-American folk music music, through the most recent trends. Emphasis is placed on learning the subtle differences between the various eras and styles associated with jazz (New Orleans, Swing, Bebop, etc.). There is a considerable amount of time devoted to listening and discussing recordings by important jazz stylists. Additionally the students gain an awareness of the cultural events throughout the 20th century that affected jazz and the musicians who performed it.
Jazz Improvisation is divided into two sections, beginning and advanced. In this class, students learns to apply the theory of improvisation to the instrument in order to successfully improvise over a variety of song forms. The application of scales, chords, scale and melodic patterns to the chosen music, and transcribing solos from recordings form the basis by which the student learns to improvise.
Jazz Improvisation explores the role of form, rhythm, and harmony in various styles of improvised music. The curriculum will be created cooperatively by the teacher and students over the course of the semester.
Jazz Improvisation is divided into two sections, beginning and advanced. In this class, students learns to apply the theory of improvisation to the instrument in order to successfully improvise over a variety of song forms. The application of scales, chords, scale and melodic patterns to the chosen music, and transcribing solos from recordings form the basis by which the student learns to improvise.
Jazz Improvisation is divided into two sections, beginning and advanced. In this class, students learns to apply the theory of improvisation to the instrument in order to successfully improvise over a variety of song forms. The application of scales, chords, scale and melodic patterns to the chosen music, and transcribing solos from recordings form the basis by which the student learns to improvise.
Jazz Orchestra and Combo students will study and perform repertoire from across the spectrum of Jazz with a focus on listening, playing in balance, sight reading, improvisation, and swing. Both ensembles will have opportunities for on and off-campus performances with guest artists from around the world. Jazz Orchestra and Combo rosters will be on a performance rotation to allow students broader experiences. Audition is required for placement.
The Private Lesson is individualized and tailored to the level, background, and needs of each student. It stresses a solid foundation in technical skills and covers a wide range of literature. Private study includes studio classes which provide students an opportunity to perform for their peers in an informal setting.
This course is an extension of private lessons. It addresses many of the same concepts, but in a group setting. It is designed to be flexible to meet the varying levels and needs of students.
Sample Jazz Curriculum for a 4-Year Student
Semesters I and II
Required Courses
Private Lesson / Studio / MUS0XX / MUS099
Music Theory / Musicianship / MUS101A
Orchestra or Wind Symphony / MUS051
Elective Courses
Jazz Improvisation I / MUS307-308
Jazz Ensemble / MUS060
Jazz Combo / MUS059
Choir / MUS055
Sample Academic Courses
Algebra I; Biology; English I; French I
Semesters III and IV
Required Courses
Private Lesson / Studio / MUS0XX / MUS099
Jazz Ensemble / MUS060
Orchestra or Wind Symphony / MUS051
Jazz Improvisation I / MUS305-308
Elective Courses
Jazz History / MUS209-210
Jazz Combo / MUS059
Choir / MUS055
Sample Academic Courses
Geometry; World History; English II; French II
Semesters V and VI
Required Courses
Private Lesson / Studio / MUS0XX / MUS099
Jazz Ensemble or Combo / MUS059-062
Orchestra or Wind Symphony / MUS051
Jazz Improvisation I or II / MUS305-308
Music Theory / Musicianship / MUS101-502
Jazz History / MUS209-210
Elective Courses
Audio Recording and Production / MUS108
Music Archaeology / MUS107
Songwriting Foundations I / II / MUS106
Choir / MUS055
Sample Academic Courses
Algebra II; U.S. History; English III; Chemistry
Semesters VII and VIII
Required Courses
Private Lesson / Studio / MUS0XX / MUS099
Jazz Ensemble or Combo / MUS059 / MUS060
Jazz Improvisation I or II / MUS305-308
Introduction to Audio Recording and Production / PROD091-092
Orchestra or Wind Symphony / MUS051
Elective Courses
Music Business / MUS109
Music Archaeology / MUS107
Popular Music Ensemble / MUS313
Songwriting Theory / MUS219
Choir / MUS055
Group Vocal Class / MUS115
Sample Academic Courses
Precalculus; Ecology; English IV