Jazz Studies
It’s not hard to find your groove in UIUC’s jazz program. Near the top of the charts in Downbeat’s 1960s rankings, the U of I Jazz Band has since performed in Russia and Scandinavia, the Newport Jazz Festival, and many other U.S. cities and conventions. Jazz greats Louis Bellson, Pete Christlieb, Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, and Joe Williams have been guest headliners for us, and we’ve sent out our graduates, including Cecil Bridgewater, Ron Dewar, Joe Farrell, Jim McNeeley, and Kim Richmond. We have big bands and small combos just waiting for you to join. Headed by "Chip" McNeill, the faculty was augmented five years ago with the hiring of pianist John "Chip" Stephens and drummer/ethnomusicologist Dana Hall, and in Fall 2005, the fabulous jazz trombonist/composer/arranger Jim Pugh joined the faculty! Most recently, Tito Carrillo, jazz trumpeter from Chicago joined the staff, as did jazz bassist Larry Gray - and things just keep getting better and better, cooler and cooler!!! Together with saxophonist Ron Bridgewater, jazz musicologist Gabriel Solis, vocalist Barrington Coleman, percussionist Ricardo Flores, and pianist Joan Hickey, they offer numerous courses and ensembles for music majors and non-majors as well. They’ll help acquaint you with traditional and edgy jazz literature. You can use MIDI instruments as resources for your own compositions and work in a specially designed multimedia jazz practice room. The program takes proficient instrumentalists and makes them better, geared to promote your stylistic and technical competence as a performer and creator.

Numerous jazz courses are available, and descriptions for these may be found in the online Timetable Courses Catalog:

• MUS160 Jazz Piano Improvisation I
• MUS161 Jazz Piano Improvisation II
• MUS162 Intro to Jazz Saxophone
• MUS163 Jazz Keyboard Studies I
• MUS164 Jazz Keyboard Studies II
• MUS165 Applied Jazz Instruction
• MUS166 Class Jazz Improvisation I
• MUS167 Class Jazz Improvisation II
• MUS220 Jazz Rhythm Section Seminar I
• MUS221 Jazz Rhythm Section Seminar II
• MUS223 Jazz Keyboard Studies III
• MUS224 Jazz Keyboard Studies IV
• MUS266 Jazz Ensembles (Big Bands and Combos)
• MUS360 Jazz Improvisation Theory and Practice I
• MUS361 Jazz Improvisation Theory and Practice II
• MUS362 Jazz Arranging I
• MUS363 Jazz Arranging II
• MUS364 Jazz Composition I
• MUS365 Jazz Composition II
• MUS368 Jazz Improvisation Styles I
• MUS369 Jazz Improvisation Styles II
• MUS435 Jazz Pedagogy I
• MUS436 Jazz Pedagogy II
• MUS444 Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal Techniques
• MUS456 Advanced Jazz Improvisation
• MUS460 Jazz Improvisation: Theory and Practice III
• MUS461 Jazz Improvisation: Theory and Practice IV
• MUS466 Applied Jazz Instruction
• MUS548 Advanced Jazz Harmony I
• MUS549 Advanced Jazz Harmony II
• MUS566 Graduate Applied Jazz Instruction
• Plus Jazz Forum, Jazz listening courses, and Jazz history courses

Undergraduate Jazz Performance Curriculum

The following sequence of courses for the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance Studies is a suggested means by which a student can graduate in eight semesters. Deficiencies or excessive general education requirements might prolong jazz studies beyond the normal eight semesters. Students interested in pursuing an undergraduate jazz major should indicate curriculum code 10KR5045BMUS on their application for the 2010-2011.

First Year – Fall
Courses	Hours
Applied Music1	2
Secondary Applied Instrument or Jazz Keyboard I2	2
MUS 101-Music Theory and Practice I	2
MUS 107-Aural Skills I	2
MUS 110--Introduction to Art Music: Int'l Perspectives	2
MUS 266-Jazz Ensembles3	1
Composition I, or SPCM 111	4
General Education Courses or Electives5	2
Total	17

First Year – Spring
Courses	Hours
Applied Music1	2
Secondary Applied Instrument or Jazz Keyboard II2	2
MUS 102-Music Theory and Practice II	2
MUS 108-Aural Skills II	2
MUS 266-Jazz Ensembles3	1
Advanced Composition (Gen Ed)	3
General Education Courses or Electives5	2
Total	17

Second Year – Fall
Courses	Hours
Applied Music1	2
Secondary Applied Instrument or Jazz Keyboard III2	2
MUS 201-Music Theory and Practice III	2
MUS 207-Aural Skills III	2
MUS 313-History of Music I	3
MUS 360-Jazz Improvisation Theory and Practice I	2
MUS 266-Jazz Ensembles3	1
Electives5	2
Total	16

Second Year – Spring
Courses	Hours
Applied Music1	2
Secondary Applied Instrument or Jazz Keyboard IV2	2
MUS 202-Music Theory and Practice IV	2
MUS 208-Aural Skills IV	1
MUS 314-History of Music II	3
MUS 361-Jazz Improvisation Theory and Practice II	2
MUS 266-Jazz Ensembles3	1
Electives5	3
Total	16

Third Year – Fall
Courses	Hours
Applied Music1	2
MUS 362-Jazz Arranging I	3
MUS 364-Jazz Composition I	2
Advanced Music History or Theory4	3
MUS 266-Jazz Ensembles3	1
Electives	5
Total	16

Third Year – Spring
Courses	Hours
Applied Music1	2
MUS 363-Jazz Arranging II	3
MUS 365-Jazz Composition II	2
Advanced Music History or Theory4	3
MUS 266 - Jazz Ensembles3	1
MUS 242-Conducting	2
Electives	3
Total	16

Fourth Year – Fall
Courses	Hours
Applied Music1	2
MUS 368-Jazz Improvisation Styles I	2
MUS 435-Jazz Pedagogy I	2
Advanced Music History or Theory4	3
MUS 266 - Jazz Ensembles3	1
Electives	6
Total	16

Fourth Year – Spring
Courses	Hours
Applied Music1	2
MUS 369-Jazz Improvisation Styles II	2
MUS 436-Jazz Pedagogy II	2
Advanced Music History or Theory4	3
MUS 266 - Jazz Ensembles	1
Electives	6
Total	16