Jazz, Composition (BMusic)
Total Hours Required: 120
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| Performance Instrument 212J | 2 | |
| MUS 228C | Jazz Harmony in Practice I | 2 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Musicianship | ||
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| MUS 348 | Studio Arranging I | 3 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Performance Instrument 212J | 2 | |
| MUS 201N | Beginning Music Performance: Second-Semester Class Piano (requires approval) | 2 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Musicianship | ||
| MUS 223 | Jazz Improvisation I | 2 |
| MUS 228D | Jazz Harmony in Practice II | 2 |
| MUS 312C | Music and Culture | 3 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Performance Instrument 212J | 2 | |
| Hours chosen from: | 2 | |
| Ear Training and Sight-Singing | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Structure of Tonal Music | ||
| MUS 349 | Studio Arranging II | 3 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Performance Instrument 212J | 2 | |
| Hours chosen from: | 2 | |
| Ear Training and Sight-Singing | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Structure of Tonal Music | ||
| MUS 214C | Beginning Composition | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Mathematics (020) | 3 | |
| MUS 303M | Introduction to Music in World Cultures | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Performance Instrument 362J | 3 | |
| MUS 348 | Studio Arranging I | 3 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| MUS 246 | Jazz Piano Techniques I | 2 |
| Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) | 3 | |
| MUS 337 | Music and Film Sound | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| MUS 420J | Junior Jazz Recital | 4 |
| MUS 228P | Jazz Composition | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| E 316M | American Literature | 3 |
| Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| MUS 319D | Foundations of Digital Sound and Music | 3 |
| MUS 228P | Jazz Composition | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| GOV 310L | American and Texas Government | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| MUS 247 | Jazz Piano Techniques II | 2 |
| Hours chosen from: Courses either within or outside the Butler School of Music | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| MUS 228P | Jazz Composition | 2 |
| MUS 343J | History of Jazz | 3 |
| Composition Recital | 0 | |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| GOV 312L | Issues and Policies in American Government | 3 |
| Natural Science and Technology, Part II (093) | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration: Composition | ||
| MUS 214C | Beginning Composition | 2 |
| Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
| Jazz Composition (taken three times) | ||
| Hours chosen from a single sequence below: (requires approval) | 8 | |
| Sequence 1 | ||
Performance Instrument 212 (taken twice) | ||
Performance Instrument 212J (taken twice) | ||
| Sequence 2 | ||
Performance Instrument 212J (taken four times) | ||
| MUS 420J | Junior Jazz Recital | 4 |
| Performance Instrument 362J | 3 | |
| Hours chosen from: | 2 | |
| Jazz Improvisation II (piano) | ||
| Beginning Music Performance: Second-Semester Class Piano (instrument other than piano) | ||
| Subtotal | 25 | |
| Major (see details below) | 55 | |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 55 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 40 | |
| Foreign Language - Fine Arts (Note: this requirement may already be fulfilled by high school coursework) | ||
| Subtotal | 40 | |
| College Requirements - Fine Arts | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Major-Jazz (BMusic)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major | ||
| Music Literature and Music Theory | ||
| MUS 605 | Musicianship | 6 |
| MUS 411 | Ear Training and Sight-Singing | 4 |
| MUS 612 | Structure of Tonal Music | 6 |
| MUS 223 | Jazz Improvisation I | 2 |
| MUS 228C | Jazz Harmony in Practice I | 2 |
| MUS 228D | Jazz Harmony in Practice II | 2 |
| MUS 348 | Studio Arranging I | 3 |
| MUS 349 | Studio Arranging II | 3 |
| MUS 343J | History of Jazz | 3 |
| MUS 319D | Foundations of Digital Sound and Music | 3 |
| Choose a sequence below: | 4 | |
| Sequence 1: Instruments other than piano | ||
| Jazz Piano Techniques I | ||
| Jazz Piano Techniques II | ||
| Sequence 2: Piano | ||
Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | ||
| Music Literature | ||
| MUS 312C | Music and Culture | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Music in World Cultures | ||
| Introduction to Popular Music in World Cultures | ||
| Topics in Music of World Cultures | ||
| Music of African Americans (Topic 1) | ||
| History of Music I | ||
| History of Music II | ||
| History of Music III | ||
| Topics in The Music of the Americas | ||
| Music and Film Sound | ||
| Topics in Ethnomusicology Areas | ||
Approved hours | ||
| Hours chosen from: Ensemble | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 55 | |
Additional Requirements and Policy
Each student must also complete a recital of compositions and/or arrangements. This recital is given in the senior year and must be approved by the jazz faculty.
Additional Requirements and Policy
This program is offered in the following instruments: double bass, drum set, guitar, piano, saxophone, trombone, and trumpet.