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Below are the courses offered by the Jazz Studies departments. Visit the for more information.

EMUS 1427/3427/5427 (1)–Jazz Ensemble
Please contact the music department for more information.

EMUS 1437/3437/5437 (1)–Jazz Combo
Please contact the music department for more information.

EMUS 3642 (3)–History of Jazz
Studies the distinctly American art form of jazz music from its origins to the present, including the various traditions, practices, historical events, and people most important to its evolution. For nonmusic majors. Offered fall and spring.

PMUS 1515 (2)–Jazz Piano Class
Offers small group instruction in the concepts and skills required to learn jazz piano. Students not only learn basic techniques required to play jazz but also become familiar with the theory, grammar, and lexicon of the jazz language. Prereq., PMUS 1205 or instructor consent. Offered spring only.

MUSC 3061 (2)–Jazz Improvisation 1
Develops skills in jazz improvisation through practical application of chord/scale relationship, transcription, repertoire and analysis. Open to all instruments. Prereq., MUSC 3081. Offered fall only.

MUSC 3071 (2)–Jazz Improvisation 2
Continues and expands upon the material presented in Jazz Improvisation 1. Deals in depth with the contemporary trends in modern jazz such as modality, free jazz and the works of modern jazz legends including John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock. Prereq., MUSC 3061. Offered fall only.

MUSC 3081 (3)–Jazz Theory + Aural Foundations 1
Presents the grammar and syntax of jazz. Helps to gain a greater understanding of the inner workings and application of chord progressions as they relate to the jazz idiom including major key harmony, secondary dominants, modal interchange and modulation. Students will demonstrate their understanding of these components through written assignments, singing, aural recognition, transcription and keyboard demonstration.

MUSC 3091 (3)–Jazz Theory + Aural Foundations 2
Presents the grammar and syntax of jazz. Helps to gain a greater understanding of the inner workings and application of chord progressions as they relate to the jazz idiom including major key harmony, secondary dominants, modal interchange and modulation. Students will demonstrate their understanding of these components through written assignments, singing, aural recognition, transcription and keyboard demonstration.

MUSC 3253 (2)–Jazz Techniques for the Music Educator
Prepares the music educator for successful experiences teaching jazz at the secondary level. Students gain insights into performance and rehearsal techniques for the instrumental jazz ensemble. Explores approaches for teaching jazz theory, improvisation, and selecting literature for young students. Own instrument required for certain classes. Prereqs., MUSC 1111 and 2103. Offered spring only.

MUSC 3642 (3)–History of Jazz 1
Utilizing musical examples and analysis, this course studies the distinctly American art form of jazz music from its origins up to the 1950’s, including the various traditions, practices, historical events and people most important to its evolution. Offered fall only.

MUSC 3652 (3)–History of Jazz 2
Utilizing musical examples and analysis, this course studies the distinctly American art form of jazz music from the 1950’s to the present, including the various traditions, practices, historical events and people most important to its evolution. Offered spring only.

MUSC 4031 (2)–Jazz Arranging 1
Study of notation, score layout, transpositions, basic harmonic and melodic analysis, basic chord voicings, and composition for a small jazz ensemble. Prereqs., MUSC 2111 & 2131. Recommended prereq, MUSC 3081. Offered fall only.

MUSC 4091 (2)–Jazz Arranging 2
Continuation and expansion of studies in MUSC 4031. Methods of arranging for larger groups will be explored. Survey of major composers and arrangers of the idiom. Prereq., MUSC 4031. Recommended prereq., MUSC 3081. Offered spring only.

MUSC 4161 (2)–Advanced Jazz Composition + Analysis
Provides in depth listening, score study, and analysis, exploring major composers in jazz and their innovations in composition. "Foundational" topics concerning melody, form, and orchestration are studied to provide a framework for further analysis. Influences of western art music, American folk and popular music considered. Final projects to be performed and recorded by a CU jazz ensemble.

MUSC 4171 (2)–Advanced Jazz Improvisation + Analysis
Surveys important jazz improvisers and their historical context. Students engage in multiple methods of transcription and analysis. Listening plays a central role throughout the course and class discussions will foster the ability to engage in critical analysis of performances. The final project is an in-depth transcription of analysis of an improvisation.

MUSC 5091 (3)–Contemporary Jazz Theory
Studies contemporary jazz improvisation and compositional techniques, including formal jazz structures (blues, song form), harmonic practices, rhythmic devices, and melodic analysis. Prereq., MUSC 3081 or instructor consent. Offered spring only.

MUSC 5642 (3)–Jazz History + Literature
Studies musical trends and cultural forces influencing jazz, with analysis of scales, improvisational styles, melodic and motivic variations, transcriptions, and orchestrations from significant periods in its history. Prereq., MUSC 3642 or instructor consent. Offered spring only.

MUSC 5246 (3)–Jazz Improvisation + Analysis
A study of improvisation through melodic and harmonic analysis of jazz compositions, transcriptions, and the study of historic jazz solos as played by jazz masters. Prereq., MUSC 3071 or instructor consent. Offered fall only.

MUSC 5256 (3)–Jazz Studies Administration + Pedagogy
Studies the organization and administration of collegiate jazz programs. Topics include curriculum, program philosophy, teaching techniques, funding, teacher training, and evaluation. Prereq. MUSC 3253 or equivalent. Offered fall only.

MUSC 5356 (3)–Jazz Studies Practicum
Studies strategies for developing and implementing academic programs in jazz studies. Includes demonstration teaching by class members. Prereq., MUSC 5256. 

MUSC 7046 (3)–Seminar in Jazz Literature
Provides advanced study in jazz literatrue and styles. Students present results of reasearch on individually chosen topics or aspectws of a topic central to the class. Requires class presentations and a major paper or project. Prereq., Masters degree, MUSC 5091, MUSC Spring only. Offered every other year.

TMUS 6956 (2)–Master’s Thesis (Paper)
Please contact the music department for more information.

TMUS 6957 (2)–Master’s Thesis (Recital)
Please contact the music department for more information.