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	Institute of Jazz Studies	Students	Curriculum

Master's Program in Jazz History and Research
 

Curriculum

All required courses are offered on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the fall and spring terms.  In addition, students may choose from electives that meet at other times.  All students are required to have Internet and email access or to use the campus computer facilities. The program's listserv discussion group is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jazzma. You may not join the list until enrolled in the program, but you may contact Dr. Porter to browse the archives to get an idea of what people have been discussing. 

The jazz history and research curriculum consists of a total of 36 credits in 12 courses in the following areas of study:
               Jazz historiography (6 credits)
               Jazz theory (6 credits)
               Research methods (3 credits)
               Stride piano (3 credits)
               Charlie Parker (3 credits)

Topics courses (9 to 15 credits); changing topics each term, for example: John Coltrane, Lester Young, Duke Ellington, or Jazz on Film.

Electives (3 to 6 credits); many choices available for electives are not offered by jazz faculty. Students may choose from courses with faculty in history, African-American studies, philosophy, or related topics; or they can take graduate music courses at nearby campuses.  Private lessons in theory or performance and participation in the Mosaic jazz ensemble are highly recommended (and may be required) in addition to the required 36 credits.  There is no extra fee for these courses, which generally offer 1 credit per term.

Total of 36 credits (full time load 9 credits per semester):

• 6 credits: Year-long jazz historiography sequence (Porter)
• 6 credits: Year-long jazz theory sequence (Martin).
• 3 credits: Transcription and Analysis
• 3 credits: Research Methods (Porter)
• 3 credits: Ethnomusicology
• 3 credits: Topics I (Porter); for ex., Coltrane, or Lester Young
• 3 credits: A course with faculty in history, African American studies, or philosophy, on related topics.    (sometimes replaced by Topics II.)
• 3 credits: Stride Piano (Martin)
• 3 credits: Charlie Parker (Martin)
• 3 credits: Thesis (can be compiled from research projects for other courses)

A typical course sequence might be as follows:

• Semester I: Historiography I (Porter); Transcription and Analysis; Research Methods (Porter); Jazz Theory (Martin); Mosaic; private lessons and/or jazz ensemble if appropriate.
• Semester II: Thesis I; Ethnomusicology; Historiography II (Porter); Topics II (Martin); private lessons and/or jazz ensemble if appropriate.
• Semester III: Topics I (Porter); Players' Workshop (Porter); Thesis II (Porter, Martin); private lessons and/or jazz ensemble if appropriate.
• Semester IV: Completing and revising the thesis. After all coursework and the thesis, a comprehensive exam is required.

Dr. Lewis Porter, Director M.A. Program in Jazz History and Research Department of Visual and Performing Arts Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 110 Warren Street Bradley Hall, Room 254 Newark, NJ 07102-1896   Telephone: (973) 353-5600, ext. 30 Fax: (973) 353-1392 Email:    lporter@andromeda.rutgers.edu

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Last update: February 25, 2005