Dept Code: MSJ

The vocal curriculum in Studio Music and Jazz is designed for interested and qualified vocalists who desire to continue to develop to the highest degree their backgrounds and skills in the performance of studio music (recording), jazz, and contemporary pop music. Admission to this major pre-supposes music training in jazz.

Advanced Writing and Communication Skills

Courses

All students are required to successfully complete 3 Advanced Writing and Communication Skills (AWC) courses. Student degree requirements will include courses that meet the desired communication outcomes in evaluated and revised writing, speaking, stage presence, and audience engagement.

All Studio Jazz Vocal students will successfully complete:

1. MCY 141 Musical Trends and Traditions, which will include substantial evaluated and revised writing components.

2. MSJ VO3 Private Lesson Senior Recital, which will include evaluated communication skills in attracting an audience, engaging an audience during performance, and preparing program notes or similar media as appropriate to the medium/venue.

3. MSJ 213 Analysis & Evolution of Jazz Styles II, which will include discipline specific communication skills.

Assessment

There will be at least 2 specific assessments in each Advanced Communications Skills course for communications or writing equivalent to 4000 words, evaluated and revised.

Curriculum Requirements

General Education Requirements
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 106First-Year Writing II3
or ENG 106 Writing About Literature and Culture
Quantitative Skills:
MTH 101Algebra for College Students3
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts & Humanities Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
People & Society Cognate9
STEM Cognate9
Additional Requirements
UMX 100The University of Miami Experience0
Advanced Writing and Communication Skills (3 Course) See details below
Experiential Music Curriculum Core Courses MSJV 1
MSJ 3Jazz Forum (8 semesters)1
MSJ VO1 (Level 1)Voice Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 1-4, 2 credit hours)8
MSJ VO3 (Level 3)Voice Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 5-6, 2 credit hours)4
MSJ 140
MSJ 107
Experiential Musicianship I
and Skills Lab I
4
MSJ 141
MSJ 108
Experiential Musicianship II
and Skills Lab II
4
MSJ 240
MSJ 207
Experiential Musicianship III
and Skills Lab III
4
MSJ 241
MSJ 208
Experiential Musicianship IV
and Skills Lab IV
4
MCY 140Experiencing Music3
MSJ 103Jazz Piano I1
MSJ 104Jazz Piano II1
MCY 141European Musical Traditions (AWC)3
MSJ 342Technology Skills3
MMI 310Music Business and Entrepreneurship for Musicians3
MSJ XXXLarge Ensembles (semesters 1-6, 1 credit hour)6
Courses in the MSJV Major
MSJ XXXLarge Ensembles (7-8 semesters, 1 credit hour)2
MSJ XXX Jazz Workshop Ensembles (semesters 1-4, 1 credit hour)4
MSJ XXXSmall Ensembles (semesters 5-8, 1 credit hour)4
MSJ VO3 (Level 3)Voice Lesson & Studio Class (semesters 7-8, 2 credit hours)4
Senior recital with lesson
MSJ 113Jazz History I3
MSJ 124Introduction to Jazz Improvisation3
MSJ 203Jazz Piano III1
MSJ 204Jazz Piano IV1
MSJ 213Jazz History II (AWC)3
MSJ 242Jazz Percussion Techniques1
MSJ 371Jazz Improvisation I (AWC)3
MSJ 372Jazz Vocal Improvisation I3
MSJ 381Jazz Pedagogy and Conducting2
MSJ 509Jazz Composition I3
MSJ 516Jazz Vocal Arranging3
MSJ 519Introduction to Composition and Arranging3
MVP 538Vocal Pedagogy2
Total Credit Hours121
1

EMC core courses require a grade of “C” or higher.  Lessons require a grade of "B-" or higher.

Suggested Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredit Hours
MSJ 3 Jazz Forum 1
MSJ VO1 Jazz Voice 2
MSJ 140
MSJ 107
Experiential Musicianship I
and Skills Lab I
4
MCY 140 Experiencing Music 3
MSJ 103 Jazz Piano I 1
MSJ 124 Introduction to Jazz Improvisation 3
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
UMX 100 The University of Miami Experience 0
MSJ Jazz Workshop Ensemble 1
MSJ Large Ensemble 1
 Credit Hours18
Spring
MSJ 3 Jazz Forum 1
MSJ VO1 Jazz Voice 2
MSJ 104 Jazz Piano II 1
MSJ 141
MSJ 108
Experiential Musicianship II
and Skills Lab II
4
MCY 141 European Musical Traditions 3
MTH 101 Algebra for College Students 3
WRS 106 or ENG 106 First-Year Writing II
or Writing About Literature and Culture
3
MSJ Jazz Workshop Ensemble 1
MSJ Large Ensemble 1
 Credit Hours18
Year Two
Fall
MSJ 3 Jazz Forum 1
MSJ VO1 Jazz Voice 2
MSJ 113 Jazz History I 3
MSJ 203 Jazz Piano III 1
MSJ 240
MSJ 207
Experiential Musicianship III
and Skills Lab III
4
MSJ 371 Jazz Improvisation I 3
MSJ Jazz Workshop Ensemble 1
MSJ Large Ensemble 1
 Credit Hours15
Spring
MSJ 3 Jazz Forum 1
MSJ VO1 Jazz Voice 2
MSJ 204 Jazz Piano IV 1
MSJ 213 Jazz History II (AWC) 3
MSJ 241
MSJ 208
Experiential Musicianship IV
and Skills Lab IV
4
MSJ 372 Jazz Vocal Improvisation I 3
MSJ Jazz Workshop Ensemble 1
MSJ Large Ensemble 1
 Credit Hours15
Year Three
Fall
MSJ 3 Jazz Forum 1
MSJ VO3 Jazz Voice 2
MSJ 342 Technology Skills 3
MSJ 381 Jazz Pedagogy and Conducting 2
MSJ 519 Introduction to Composition and Arranging 3
MSJ Small Ensemble 1
MSJ Large Ensemble 1
People & Society Cognate 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
MSJ 3 Jazz Forum 1
MSJ VO3 Jazz Voice 2
MSJ 516 Jazz Vocal Arranging 3
MSJ Small Ensemble 1
MSJ Large Ensemble 1
People & Society Cognate 3
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours13
Year Four
Fall
MSJ 3 Jazz Forum 1
MSJ VO3 Jazz Voice 2
MSJ 242 Jazz Percussion Techniques 1
MSJ 509 Jazz Composition I 3
MVP 538 Vocal Pedagogy 2
MSJ Small Ensemble 1
MSJ Large Ensemble 1
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours13
Spring
MSJ 3 Jazz Forum 1
MSJ VO3 Jazz Voice 2
Senior Recital (with Lesson) AWC
MMI 310 Music Business and Entrepreneurship for Musicians 3
MSJ Small Ensemble 1
MSJ Large Ensemble 1
People & Society Cognate 3
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours13
 Total Credit Hours120

Mission

The mission of the Studio Music and Jazz Performance Program is to:

  • Prepare jazz instrumentalists to enter the music profession or graduate school.
  • Identify, recruit, and retain high quality students who seek to pursue studio/jazz performance as a career.
  • Foster faculty creativity and performance which serves as a role model for students.
  • Develop, and revise courses in jazz improvisation, jazz arranging/composition and provide on and off campus performance opportunities.
  • Produce in our on campus facility, recordings for the Down Beat Student Music Awards, compact disks, radio and Internet broadcast.
  • Provide a platform of learning that includes performance, composition/arranging, technology, conducting, scholarship and production.

Goals

  • Students will develop musical performance skills necessary to make them competitive in the jazz world.
  • Students will develop performance skills in a variety of large and small ensembles that allow a student to participate in the professional jazz world.
  • Students will develop the skills necessary to play in a chamber setting emphasizing spontaneous interaction and improvisation.
  • Students will develop the skills necessary to play in large jazz ensembles emphasizing the development of ensemble skills necessary in a reading situation.
  • Students will perform a senior recital of sixty-minute duration that demonstrates their capabilities in the jazz idiom.
  • Students will develop the skills necessary to arrange and compose in a variety of styles appropriate to the jazz and contemporary music field.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Jazz Vocal students will demonstrate an exceptional level of fluidity, fluency and facility in their vocal technique by the time they graduate.
  • Jazz Vocal students will demonstrate an exceptional level in their improvisational structure by indicating the harmonic scheme, phrasing of melodic musical statement and creative use of compositional and stylistic components.
  • Jazz Vocal students will demonstrate an exceptional level in their interpretation of jazz literature. Interpretation will be appropriate, relevant, and complimentary beyond the expectations of the musical task.