Course Requirements
A minimum of 48 quarter hours of graduate credit is required for the Master of Music degree. This total is divided between the basic studies required of all master’s degree students, and courses in the specialization. Prior to the conclusion of each degree program, graduate students must pass a written comprehensive examination, administered by each department/program.
Jazz Studies Core (16 credits)
Specializations
Students must choose one of the following specializations:
Performance Specialization
Composition Specialization
Advanced Jazz Composition Sequence
Applied Jazz Lessons (6 credits)
Electives (4 credits)
Ensemble Participation (6 credits)
Terminal Requirements
Two terminal requirements are required of all students:
- A written comprehensive examination, in which the students must demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of their major field of study. The comprehensive examination may be taken at any time after 32 quarter hours of graduate credit have been earned.
- Performance track, the presentation of a public recital; composition track, the completion of a final writing project.
While preparation of the terminal requirement in the major may take place within some course or activity for which a student is registered for credit, additional academic credit is not granted for the project itself.
Residency Requirements
All courses for the master’s degree must be taken at DePaul University. Graduate credit for courses completed at other institutions may not be applied toward the degree.
A full-time graduate student must be registered for a minimum of six quarter hours in any term. All requirements for the degree must be completed within six calendar years from the time a student is first enrolled. For students removing deficiencies, this period will begin when all deficiencies are removed and admission to the master’s degree program has been granted.
JZZ 406
JAZZ STYLE AND ANALYSIS
Students will demonstrate a theoretical and aural understanding of the process of jazz improvisation, including song forms and structures, chord/scale relationships, and chord notation and phrasing. Select recordings of solo jazz improvisations will be analyzed, transcribed, and performed, supplemented by historical biographies of the recording artists.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 405
JAZZ HISTORY
Graduate level study of jazz history and the styles which contributed to the evolution of jazz. Topics include bebop period, swing era, the cool school, and hard bop periods. Significant recordings, musicians, and musical styles will be examined.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 420
HISTORY OF THE ORATORIO
An analytical and historical study of oratorio literature from 1600 to the present.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 435
18th & 19th WIND HISTORY AND LITERATURE
A historical connection exists between wind music of the ancient and medieval periods, and the music of today. This course will trace that historical line, focusing on the 18th & 19th Centuries. The development of repertoire as well as the functions and uses of wind music will be explored. It is the intention of this class to address the needs of people who will perform, conduct, or teach "classical" wind music as part of a career. Emphasis will be placed on original music suitable for professional concert performance.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 436
20th CENTURY WIND HISTORY AND LITERATURE
The role of this course is to inform students of the development of wind music through the exploration of ensemble size and instrumentation, civic or artistic purpose, influential composers and conductors, and specific repertoire.
MUS 475
MEDIEVAL MUSIC
Historical survey of music from the Middle Ages: sacred and secular music as artistic, theoretical, and intellectual expression of the Middle Ages; history of musical styles to 1420; performance pratice issues
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 478
RENAISSANCE MUSIC
Historical survey of music from the Renaissance. Musical style, compositional procedures, and performance practice are studied, within the social, political and economic environment in which the composers worked.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 479
BAROQUE MUSIC
Historical survey of Baroque music and performance practice. Representative examples of both vocal and instrumental music are studied, mostly using the analytical techniques of the period, with the aim of becoming familiar with the most significant manners of composition of Baroque composers.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 481
HISTORY OF OPERA
The course surveys the history of opera in western culture from its beginnings in the 17th century through the 20th century. The class materials cover stylistic trends and genres as demonstrated through seminal works. Each class period will contain a relevant analytical study.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 482
WORLD MUSIC CULTURES
This graduate course will provide a global musical perspective and widen the lens through which students experience music. Through lectures, listening, guest performances, and engaging discussion students will gain rich insights into new worlds of music.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 484
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Traces the development of musical style during the Classical Era through the analytical study of examples in the principal musical forms such as sonata form. Reception and performance practice then and now will be addressed.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 485
ROMANTIC MUSIC
Survey of nineteenth century music through a close analysis of representative Romantic works. The course will cover the expansion of both harmonic language and form leading to their eventual breakdown and reinterpretation.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 486
MUSIC SINCE WORLD WAR II
This course surveys Western art music and related theoretical and technical issues from near the end of World War II to the present focusing on the development of new musical languages, new instruments and new methods of analysis.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 487
20TH CENTURY MUSIC BEFORE WWII
This course surveys Western art music and related theoretical and technical issues from near the end of the 19th century to World War II, focusing on the new musical languages and aesthetics developed from 1890 until 1940.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.MUS 400
MUSIC RESEARCH
Introduction to music research types and techniques; bibliography and bibliographical sources; the development of writing skills; analysis of research examples.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.
APB 470
TRUMPET
(2 or 4 credits) Open only to music students. Students may not enroll in applied lessons in excess of 4 quarter hours per quarter. All graduate music students may enroll in up to 24 quarter hours of applied study during their graduate career. No student may exceed the 24 quarter hour limit.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.APK 450
PIANO
(2 or 4 credits) Open only to music students. Students may not enroll in applied lessons in excess of 4 quarter hours per quarter. All graduate music students may enroll in up to 24 quarter hours of applied study during their graduate career. No student may exceed the 24 quarter hour limit.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.APP 400
PERCUSSION
(2 or 4 credits) Open only to music students. Students may not enroll in applied lessons in excess of 4 quarter hours per quarter. All graduate music students may enroll in up to 24 quarter hours of applied study during their graduate career. No student may exceed the 24 quarter hour limit.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.APS 427
GUITAR
(2 or 4 credits) Open only to music students. Students may not enroll in applied lessons in excess of 4 quarter hours per quarter. All graduate music students may enroll in up to 24 quarter hours of applied study during their graduate career. No student may exceed the 24 quarter hour limit.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.APS 460
STRING BASS
(2 or 4 credits) Open only to music students. Students may not enroll in applied lessons in excess of 4 quarter hours per quarter. All graduate music students may enroll in up to 24 quarter hours of applied study during their graduate career. No student may exceed the 24 quarter hour limit.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.APW 455
SAXOPHONE
(2 or 4 credits) Open only to music students. Students may not enroll in applied lessons in excess of 4 quarter hours per quarter. All graduate music students may enroll in up to 24 quarter hours of applied study during their graduate career. No student may exceed the 24 quarter hour limit.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 413
JAZZ GUITAR
Advanced individual instruction in jazz guitar at the graduate level. Graduate music students are limited to 4 credits of applied lessons in any given quarter, and may not exceed a total of 24 credits of applied lessons over their entire course of study.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 414
JAZZ PERCUSSION
Advanced individual instruction in jazz percussion at the graduate level. Graduate music students are limited to 4 credits of applied lessons in any given quarter, and may not exceed a total of 24 credits of applied lessons over their entire course of study.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 415
JAZZ PIANO
Advanced individual instruction in jazz piano at the graduate level. Graduate music students are limited to 4 credits of applied lessons in any given quarter, and may not exceed a total of 24 credits of applied lessons over their entire course of study.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 416
JAZZ SAXOPHONE
Advanced individual instruction in jazz saxophone at the graduate level. Graduate music students are limited to 4 credits of applied lessons in any given quarter, and may not exceed a total of 24 credits of applied lessons over their entire course of study.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 417
JAZZ STRING BASS
Advanced individual instruction in jazz string bass at the graduate level. Graduate music students are limited to 4 credits of applied lessons in any given quarter, and may not exceed a total of 24 credits of applied lessons over their entire course of study.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 418
JAZZ TROMBONE
Advanced individual instruction in jazz trombone at the graduate level. Graduate music students are limited to 4 credits of applied lessons in any given quarter, and may not exceed a total of 24 credits of applied lessons over their entire course of study.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 419
JAZZ TRUMPET
Advanced individual instruction in jazz trumpet at the graduate level. Graduate music students are limited to 4 credits of applied lessons in any given quarter, and may not exceed a total of 24 credits of applied lessons over their entire course of study.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 411
JAZZ PEDAGOGY
A study of the methods of teaching jazz improvisation arranging, composition, conducting and rhythm section techniques.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 425
JAZZ RHYTHM SECTION TECHNIQUES
This course will provide students with information and performance techniques associated with instruments typically orchestrated to form a jazz rhythm, section in jazz chamber or large ensemble settings. Specific topics will include individual instrument roles, performance styles and tempos, and classic rhythm, section analysis.
JZZ 400
JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Study, rehearsal, and performance of jazz literature with focus on music for large jazz ensembles; emphases on current performance styles, and new arrangements and compositions. Placement audition required.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 401
JAZZ CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Study, rehearsal and performance of literature for jazz chamber groups. Placement audition required.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.APM 405
GRADUATE RECITAL
A full 60 minute, public recital performance of solo and/or chamber repertoire to be completed during the graduate residence. This recital is required as partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Music in Performance and for the post-Masters Certificate in Performance. Students must be registered for applied lessons during the quarter the recital is presented.
Prerequisites:
APM 405 is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 402
ADVANCED JAZZ COMPOSITION I
Composition of works for jazz chamber groups and big bands, but with special emphasis on the leadsheet (melody and chords).
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 404
ADVANCED JAZZ COMPOSITION II
Advanced topics in jazz composition. Composing for jazz chamber groups and big bands, but with special emphasis on the leadsheet (melody and chords).
Prerequisites:
JZZ 402 is a prerequisite for this class.APB 465
TROMBONE
(2 or 4 credits) Open only to music students. Students may not enroll in applied lessons in excess of 4 quarter hours per quarter. All graduate music students may enroll in up to 24 quarter hours of applied study during their graduate career. No student may exceed the 24 quarter hour limit.
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 403
ADVANCED JAZZ ARRANGING AND ORCHESTRATION
Discovery, analysis, and implementation of advanced arranging, orchestrational, and compositional techniques for the large jazz ensemble (big band).
Prerequisites:
Status as a Graduate Music student is a prerequisite for this class.JZZ 412
APPLIED JAZZ IMPROVISATION
Applied instruction in jazz style and improvisation.