Music: Jazz Studies (BMus)
https://musicanddance.uoregon.edu/jazz-studies
The University of Oregon is home to a renowned program in Jazz Studies, known for an innovative and rigorous curriculum that prepares students adapt to the ever-evolving musical world in which we live. We believe that an in-depth study of improvisation, composition, and arranging facilitates the development of a versatile skill set that allows our graduates to embrace opportunities in a professional landscape that is always changing.
Program's Admission Requirements
Please visit the program's website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- General Studies - Competencies: Think, speak, and write clearly and effectively.
- General Studies - Competencies: A familiarity with fields of study beyond music such as those in the arts and humanities, the natural and physical sciences, and the social sciences.
- General Studies - Competencies: A functional awareness of the differences and commonalities regarding work in artistic, scientific, and humanistic domains.
- General Studies - Competencies: Awareness that multiple disciplinary perspectives and techniques are available to consider all issues and responsibilities including, but not limited to history, culture, moral and ethical issues, and decision-making.
- General Studies - Competencies: The ability to identify possibilities and locate information in other fields that have bearing on musical questions and endeavors.
- Common Body of Musical Knowledge and Skills - Performance: Technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression in at least one major performance area at a level appropriate for the particular music degree.
- Common Body of Musical Knowledge and Skills - Performance: An overview understanding of the repertory in their major performance area and the ability to perform from a cross-section of that repertory.
- Common Body of Musical Knowledge and Skills - Performance: The ability to read at sight with fluency demonstrating both general musicianship and, in the major performance area, a level of skill relevant to professional standards appropriate for the particular music degree.
- Common Body of Musical Knowledge and Skills - Performance: Knowledge and skills sufficient to work as a leader and in collaboration on matters of musical interpretation. Rehearsal and conducting skills are required as appropriate to the particular music degree.
- Common Body of Musical Knowledge and Skills - Performance: Keyboard competency.
- Common Body of Musical Knowledge and Skills - Performance: Growth in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competence and knowledge of repertory through regular ensemble experiences. Ensembles should be varied both in size and nature.
- Musicianship Skills and Analysis: An understanding of the common elements and organizational patterns of music and their interaction, the ability to employ this understanding in aural, verbal, and visual analyses, and the ability to take aural dictation.
- Musicianship Skills and Analysis: Sufficient understanding of and capability with musical forms, processes, and structures to use this knowledge and skill in compositional, performance, analytical, scholarly, and pedagogical applications according to the requisites of their specializations.
- Musicianship Skills and Analysis: The ability to place music in historical, cultural, and stylistic contexts.
- Composition/Improvisation: Students must acquire a rudimentary capacity to create original or derivative music: written, electronic, or improvisatory forms and methods. These may include but are not limited to the creation of original compositions or improvisations, variations or improvisations on existing materials, experimentation with various sound sources, the imitation of musical styles, and manipulating the common elements in non-traditional ways. A basic understanding of how to work freely and cogently with musical materials in various composition-based activities, particularly those most associated with the major field shall be demonstrated.
- History and Repertory: Students must acquire basic knowledge of music history and repertories through the present time, including study and experience of musical language and achievement in addition to that of the primary culture encompassing the area of specialization.
- Synthesis: While synthesis is a lifetime process, by the end of undergraduate study students must be able to work on musical problems by combining, as appropriate to the issue, their capabilities in performance; aural, verbal, and visual analysis; composition/improvisation; and history and repertory.
Music: Jazz Studies Major Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Music Core Requirements | ||
MUS 131–133 | Music Theory I-III | 6 |
MUS 231 | Music Theory IV | 2 |
MUS 134–136 | Aural Skills I-III | 6 |
MUS 137–139 | Keyboard Skills I-III | 3 |
Two courses from the follwoing list 1 | 8 | |
History of Music 800 to 1600 | ||
Survey of Music History 1600 to 1800 | ||
Survey of Music History 1800 to Present | ||
US Popular Music 1800 to 1930 | ||
US Popular Music 1930 to 1965 | ||
US Popular Music 1965 to 2000 | ||
One course from the following | 4 | |
Music in World Cultures | ||
Music of the Americas | ||
Regional Ethnomusicology: [Topic] | ||
Survey of African Music | ||
Introduction to Ethnomusicology | ||
Musical Instruments of the World | ||
Popular Musics in the African Diaspora | ||
Performance Studies (Studio Instruction, Jazz, 9 terms) 2 | 18 | |
Performance Studies (Studio Instruction, Classical, 5 terms) 2, 3 | 10 | |
MUJ 395 | Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] (twelve terms) | 12-24 |
Large Jazz Ensemble (Six Terms) | 6-12 | |
Jazz Laboratory Band III (Jazz Laboratory Band III) | ||
Jazz Laboratory Band II | ||
Oregon Jazz Ensemble | ||
Classical ensemble—select three terms from the following: | 3-6 | |
Chamber Ensemble: [Topic] 4 | ||
Band: [Topic] | ||
Orchestra: [Topic] | ||
Chorus: [Topic] | ||
MUJ 180–182 | Jazz Performance Laboratory | 6 |
MUJ 270 | Jazz Theory | 2 |
MUJ 271–272 | Functional Jazz Piano I-II | 4 |
MUJ 273–274 | Jazz Improvisation I-II | 4 |
MUJ 350 | History of Jazz, 1900–1950 | 4 |
or MUJ 351 | History of Jazz, 1940 to Present | |
MUJ 480 | Jazz Arranging I | 3 |
MUJ 477 | Advanced Jazz Repertoire I | 3 |
MUJ 478 | Advanced Jazz Repertoire II | 3 |
MUJ 483 | Advanced Jazz Arranging I | 3 |
MUJ 484 | Advanced Jazz Arranging II | 3 |
MUJ 481 | Jazz Arranging II | 3 |
MUJ 275 | Jazz Composition 1 | 2 |
MUJ 276 | Jazz Composition II | 2 |
MUJ 440 | Jazz Pedagogy Practicum | 3 |
Electives | ||
Select courses totaling at least 18 credits from: | 18 | |
Courses in the music of other cultures | ||
Courses in music technology | ||
Courses in audio recording | ||
Other music courses 5 | ||
Senior Recital | ||
Total Credits | 141-162 |
1 | At least 4 credits must be from MUS 267-269. |
2 | Including nine terms of jazz performance studies (at MUP 165 or MUP 365) and five terms of classical performance studies at MUP 165 or MUP 365. Classical and jazz performance studios may be taken concurrently. |
3 | For students whose primary instrument is guitar: Three additional terms of MUP 165 or MUP 365 Jazz Performance Studies may be taken in place of Classical Performance Studies. Three terms of Guitar Ensemble or three additional terms of large jazz ensemble may be taken in place of Classical Ensembles. |
4 | Chamber Ensemble: [Topic] (MUS 394) with Chamber Ensemble topic only |
5 | For details, consult jazz studies advisor. |
Other Requirements
Continuation in the jazz studies program requires successful completion of sophomore and junior proficiency examinations.
Four-Year Degree Plan
The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
MUS 131 | Music Theory I | 2 | |
MUS 134 | Aural Skills I | 2 | |
MUS 137 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 | |
MUJ 180 | Jazz Performance Laboratory | 2 | |
MUJ 395 | Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUS 358 | Music in World Cultures | 4 | |
Credits | 17 | ||
Winter | |||
MUS 132 | Music Theory II | 2 | |
MUS 135 | Aural Skills II | 2 | |
MUS 138 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 | |
MUJ 181 | Jazz Performance Laboratory | 2 | |
MUJ 395 | Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | 1 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
WR 121Z | Composition I | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
MUS 133 | Music Theory III | 2 | |
MUS 136 | Aural Skills III | 2 | |
MUS 139 | Keyboard Skills III | 1 | |
MUJ 182 | Jazz Performance Laboratory | 2 | |
MUJ 395 | Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | 1 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
WR 122Z | Composition II | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 49 |
Second Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
MUS 231 | Music Theory IV | 2 | |
MUS 267 | History of Music 800 to 1600 | 4 | |
MUJ 270 | Jazz Theory | 2 | |
MUS 395 | Band: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUJ 391 | Jazz Laboratory Band II | 1 | |
Credits | 15 | ||
Winter | |||
MUS 232 | Music Theory V | 2 | |
MUS 268 | Survey of Music History 1600 to 1800 | 4 | |
MUJ 271 | Functional Jazz Piano I | 2 | |
MUJ 273 | Jazz Improvisation I | 2 | |
MUJ 391 | Jazz Laboratory Band II | 1 | |
MUS 395 | Band: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
Credits | 17 | ||
Spring | |||
MUS 233 | Music Theory VI | 2 | |
MUS 269 | Survey of Music History 1800 to Present | 4 | |
MUJ 272 | Functional Jazz Piano II | 2 | |
MUJ 274 | Jazz Improvisation II | 2 | |
MUJ 391 | Jazz Laboratory Band II | 1 | |
MUS 395 | Band: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUP 165 | Music Performance Studies: [Topic] | 2 | |
Sophomore performance barrier exam | |||
Credits | 17 | ||
Total Credits | 49 |
Third Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
MUJ 474 | Jazz Repertoire I | 3 | |
MUJ 480 | Jazz Arranging I | 3 | |
MUJ 395 | Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUJ 391 | Jazz Laboratory Band II | 1 | |
MUP 365 | Music Performance Studies | 2 | |
Science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 15 | ||
Winter | |||
MUJ 475 | Jazz Repertoire II | 3 | |
MUJ 481 | Jazz Arranging II | 3 | |
MUJ 351 | History of Jazz, 1940 to Present | 4 | |
MUJ 395 | Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUJ 391 | Jazz Laboratory Band II | 1 | |
MUP 365 | Music Performance Studies | 2 | |
Credits | 15 | ||
Spring | |||
MUJ 476 | Jazz Repertoire III | 3 | |
MUJ 482 | Jazz Arranging III | 3 | |
MUJ 395 | Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUJ 391 | Jazz Laboratory Band II | 1 | |
MUP 365 | Music Performance Studies | 2 | |
Social science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Junior performance barrier exam | |||
Credits | 15 | ||
Total Credits | 45 |
Fourth Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
MUJ 477 or MUJ 483 |
Advanced Jazz Repertoire I or Advanced Jazz Arranging I |
3 | |
MUJ 395 | Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUJ 392 | Oregon Jazz Ensemble | 1 | |
MUS 394 | Chamber Ensemble: [Topic] | 1 | |
Arts and letters group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 15 | ||
Winter | |||
MUJ 478 or MUJ 484 |
Advanced Jazz Repertoire II or Advanced Jazz Arranging II |
3 | |
MUJ 395 | Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUJ 392 | Oregon Jazz Ensemble | 2 | |
MUS 394 | Chamber Ensemble: [Topic] | 1 | |
Social science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
MUJ 479 or MUJ 485 |
Advanced Jazz Repertoire III or Advanced Jazz Arranging III |
3 | |
MUJ 395 | Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | 2 | |
MUJ 392 | Oregon Jazz Ensemble | 2 | |
MUS 394 | Chamber Ensemble: [Topic] | 1 | |
Arts and letters group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Social science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Senior recital | |||
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 47 |