Jazz Studies, Minor | University of Alabama

The Jazz Music Minor is designed to offer an opportunity for non-music major students with a strong musical background and ability in specifically the genre of jazz music to further develop their skills for personal growth and enrichment as well as the potential for professional pursuits in playing music. Through basic theoretical principles of music, Jazz Harmony and Theory, practical application of those concepts in Improvisation, Jazz Arranging concepts, and performance application in private applied lessons and ensembles or combos, students will build a groundwork for future pursuits of study or performance in the genre of Jazz Music.

Jazz Minor Courses		Hours
MUS 115	Theory I: Voice Leading	4
MUS 228	Jazz Piano Jazz Theory I	1
MUS 229	Jazz Piano And Theory II	1
MUS 230	Improvisation I	1
MUS 231	Improvisation II	1
MUS 310	Arranging	3
Four hours (four semesters) of MUA applied at appropriate level. ¹		4
Four hours (four semesters) of MUA Jazz Ensembles/Combos at appropriate level. ²		4
Select 3 hours of upper division MUS electives courses from the following:		3
MUS 312	Intermediate Arranging
MUS 331	Jazz Symposium
MUS 340	Intro Recording Techniq
MUS 401	Film Scoring I
MUS 461	History/Literature Jazz
Credit Hours Subtotal:		22

Students must earn at least four hours (1 credit for each semester) in a single instrument or voice.

Students must complete four semesters of combos or ensembles.

Grade Point Average

A 2.0 grade point average in the minor is required. Please see the Grades and Grade Points section of this catalog for an explanation on grade point average calculations.

Upper-level Residency

At least six hours of 300 or 400 level courses in the minor must be earned on this campus.

Course Pre-requisites

All pre-requisites for 200 and 300 level courses required for the Jazz Minor degree are successive starting with MUS 115.

Ancillary Courses

This minor does not require ancillary courses.

Additional Minor Requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all University, College, major and minor requirements. However, each student must meet with an adviser in the major department (the Director of Jazz studies) for academic planning and to be approved for registration each semester. College advisers are also available for additional assistance with minor, College, and University requirements. Current Music Majors may not use courses that already satisfy major requirements from their area to satisfy Jazz Minor requirements.

Single Instrument Applied Courses		Hours
Students must earn a minimum of four hours (1 credit for each of four semesters) in a single instrument or voice chosen from:
MUA 131	Piano (Non-Majors) ^{^}	1
MUA 138	Double Bass (Non-Majors) ^{^}	1
MUA 143	Saxophone (Non-Majors) ^{^}	1
MUA 144	Trumpet (Non-Majors) ^{^}	1
MUA 146	Trombone (Non-Majors) ^{^}	1
MUA 149	Percussion (Non-Majors) ^{^}	1
MUA 173	Jazz Bass (Majors) ^{^}	1

200, 300, or 400 level applied lessons may be substituted if at upper level as 100-400 levels for those courses are categorized by Freshman (100), Sophomore (200), Junior (300), Senior (400) designations.

Ensemble and Combo Courses		Hours
Students must earn a minimum of four hours (1 credit for each of four semesters) of ensembles to be chosen from the following courses:
MUA 159	Jazz Ensembles ^*	1
MUA 167	Jazz Combo ^*	1

MUA 259/359/459 or 267/367/467 may be substituted if at upper level as 100-400 levels for those groups are categorized by Freshman (100), Sophomore (200), Junior (300), Senior (400) designations.