Academic Programs Catalog

College of Music

Graduate Study

Jazz Studies - Master of Music

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Music, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies, an applicant must present a live performance audition before a committee of faculty in the jazz studies area, including the director of the jazz studies program and take the Jazz Musicianship Proficiency Examination. For an applicant who has a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University, the live performance audition may be waived at the discretion of the faculty in the jazz studies area. With the approval of the faculty in the jazz studies area, an applicant may be considered for admission to the program on the basis of a high-quality audio recording of a recent jazz performance. An applicant who submits an audio recording may be admitted only on provisional status pending the presentation of a live performance audition before the faculty in the jazz studies area and taking the Jazz Musicianship Proficiency Examination. The live performance and the proficiency examination must be completed before the end of the first semester of enrollment in the program and must meet the requirements of the jazz studies area.

To be admitted to the Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies on regular status, an applicant must have:

  1. a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies, music performance, or music education from a recognized educational institution.
  2. presented a live performance audition that demonstrates technical and improvisational skill equivalent to the level of Music 304 Advanced Jazz Musicianship IV.
  3. demonstrated proficiency in the knowledge of jazz theory and jazz piano proficiency by passing the Jazz Musicianship Proficiency Examination with a grade of 3.5 or better.

Requirements for the Master of Music in Jazz Studies

The program is available only under Plan B (without thesis). A total of 35 credits is required for the degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. The student must meet the requirements specified below:

1. All of the following courses (27 credits):
MUS 400 Jazz Arranging and Composition I 2
MUS 401 Jazz Arranging and Composition II 2
MUS 438 Jazz Pedagogy I 2
MUS 439 Jazz Pedagogy II 2
MUS 800 Advanced Jazz Arranging and Composition 2
MUS 801 Advanced Jazz Improvisation I 2
MUS 802 Advanced Jazz Improvisation II 2
MUS 810 Graduate Jazz History 3
MUS 885 Advanced Jazz Styles and Analysis I 2
MUS 886 Advanced Jazz Styles and Analysis II 2
MUS 896 Master's Recital Performance 4
MUS 964 Seminar in College Music Teaching 2
2. Complete 4 credits in one of the following courses:
MUS 850J Jazz Piano 4
MUS 852J Jazz Strings 4
MUS 853J Jazz Woodwinds 4
MUS 854J Jazz Brass 4
MUS 855J Jazz Percussion 4
3. Complete 1 credit in a music course at the 400-level or above.
4. Participate in two music activities during each of four semesters of enrollment in the program. The activities must be approved by the student’s academic advisor and must be jazz band, jazz octet, or jazz combo.
5. Complete one of the following courses (3 credits):
MUS 861 Seminar in Psychology of Music Education 3
MUS 862 Seminar in Music Curriculum and Methodology 3
MUS 863 Seminar in the Sociology of Music Education 3
6. Perform a recital under the guidance of the student’s applied music instructor and approved by a committee from the jazz area. A recording of the recital must be submitted to the office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and will be retained by the College as part of the permanent degree record.
7. Complete the final oral certifying examination administered by a committee consisting of the student’s applied music instructor and at least two other faculty members from the jazz area.
Academic Standards
A grade of 3.0 or higher is required for Music 896.