Jazz Studies Minor

The jazz studies minor is for non-music majors only and offers an array of jazz-related courses and is designed for students wanting to develop fundamental skills in jazz performance and style. In addition to studying and applying jazz improvisation performance practices, students will become familiar with the cultural and contextual background of jazz and its relationship to other music genres.

Objectives:

1) Expose students to a wide range of jazz styles through collaborative performance

2) Familiarize students with the cultural context of jazz, including stylistic origins and historical developments

3) Develop students' abilities in improvisation and overall musicianship through studies in jazz theory, composition, and individual performance study

Student Program Learning Outcomes:

1) Students will be able to perform a wide range of jazz repertoire in small and large ensembles

2) Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the cultural context of jazz through written and oral mediums

3) Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to improvise in a stylistically informed manner