MUS 2640 - Jazz Composition

The fundamental aspects of composition in the jazz idiom, including harmonic progression, melodic design and rhythmic formulation. Intensive study will be made of well-known standard tunes as well as classic jazz compositions. All periods will be studied so that the student will have a well-grounded familiarity with basic compositional idioms, including the blues, standard AABA song forms, modal forms and more complicated sectional forms. All compositions created in class will be performed by class members or by the appropriate ensemble outside of class.

Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisites: MUS 1605 (or instructor consent), MUS 2600 (may be taken concurrently); with a grade of “C” or better in all prerequisites.

Credits: 2 hours