Degree Requirements:

• Eight semesters of lessons, one 60-minute lesson per week.
• One full recital containing at least 60 minutes of music, given in the senior year.
• A jury to be presented to the faculty at the end of semesters 1-7.

Jury Requirements:

• See Undergraduate Jury Requirements below.
• The jury repertoire may include: a blues form; a ballad form; one composition employing rhythm changes; one tune employing modal form. The music presented for faculty evaluation must be chosen by the student in consultation with the major teacher.
• At each jury the student is required:
  1. to demonstrate the appropriate level of technical proficiency
  2. to perform the required repertoire by memory
  3. to perform with correct intonation and rhythmic accuracy
  4. to perform with stylistic understanding, using standard jazz forms and improved improvisational skills
  5. to sight-read repertoire appropriate to the instrument
• Any Bachelor of Music student who fails a jury will automatically be placed on artistic probation and may be dismissed from the program. Artistic probation may result in the loss of any Music Department scholarship funds. It may be removed by the successful completion of the previously failed jury at the conclusion of the next semester. Two consecutive jury failures will automatically mean dismissal from the Bachelor of Music program. Failure to appear on time for a jury may result in a grade of F for that jury.

Recital Scheduling:

All degree recitals must take place before the last two weeks in the semester of graduation. Procedures for scheduling the recital are described here.

Recital Hearing:

One month prior to the recital date there will be a recital hearing at which at least three faculty members must be present. The entire program is to be memorized and ready for presentation at this time. Selections totaling approximately 15 minutes of time will be chosen by the faculty committee. The major teacher must be present at both the recital hearing and the recital itself.
If, in the faculty's judgment, the program is not adequately prepared, the recital date must be postponed. A new recital date may not be scheduled until a subsequent hearing has been passed.

Recital Repertoire Requirements:

The program must include at least one blues number, one rhythm number, one ballad form, and one original composition. The repertoire must reflect a knowledge of different jazz styles and musical forms, and should provide opportunity for demonstration of extensive improvisational skill. The recital should include at least 60 minutes of music.

Recital Deferment:

If a student has completed all course work, s/he, in consultation with the major teacher, may defer the final recital for no more than one semester. The student should be enrolled for performance study credit during the semester of the recital.

Grading:

Each semester's grade will be based upon artistic and technical progress as well as the performance of assigned repertoire in lessons and ensembles. A minimum of 11 lessons per semester is required for grading.

Touring:

Extended tours off-campus are a privilege that may only be undertaken with the permission of the student's major teachers. The student must obtain an off-campus release form from the department convener, have it signed by the appropriate teachers and return it to the convener. The student must also inform all his/her other instructors of any prolonged absences; the attendance policy for each course is set by the instructor.

Large Jazz Ensemble

The purpose of the jazz ensemble is to prepare the student for a career as a successful performer, with an emphasis on preparation of parts, understanding of section playing, ensemble precision, improvisational skills and knowledge of diverse styles.

Students enrolled in jazz ensemble:

• Are solely responsible for all music. Lost parts must be repurchased from the publisher at the student's expense or, if unavailable, recopied note for note from the score.
• Are responsible for bringing proper equipment to all rehearsals.
  • Brass players will bring all mutes.
  • Reed players will bring all doubles.
  • Rhythm section will have all equipment in the rehearsal area early, so as not to delay the start of rehearsal.

Attendance policy:

All rehearsals are mandatory. Aside from illness, a student may not be absent more than twice a semester. Any unusual circumstances must be discussed with the director 24 hrs. in advance of the rehearsal. The student must, with the approval of the instructor, secure a qualified substitute for such an absence. Failure to adhere to the above policy will result in a lower grade and/or dismissal from the ensemble. Concert dress policy is established by the leader of the ensemble. Failure to abide by such a policy will result in a drop in grade and/or dismissal from the ensemble.

Grading:

Each semester's grade will be based upon the following criteria:

• preparation of parts
• attendance at full rehearsals and sectionals
• performance
• punctuality

Undergraduate Jury Requirements By Semester

• Semester 1:
  1. Major scales and arpeggios in all keys
  2. Lydian, Lydian augmented, half-whole diminished, whole-half diminished, and whole tone scales
  3. Performance of material studied in lessons
  4. Check of sight-reading ability with repertoire appropriate to the instrument
• Semester 2:
  1. Major and minor scales and arpeggios in all keys
  2. All scales from previous semester
  3. Performance of one blues and/or standard tune, by memory if possible
  4. Check of sight-reading ability with repertoire appropriate to the instrument
• Semester 3:
  1. All scales from previous semesters
  2. Blues scale, major and minor pentatonic scales
  3. Performance of at least one tune which includes an improvised solo
  4. Check of sight-reading ability with repertoire appropriate to the instrument
• Semester 4:
  1. All scales from previous semesters
  2. Performance by memory of at least one tune which includes an improvised solo
  3. Sight-reading exam in which:
     • the student must demonstrate the ability to sight-read a melody on his/her major instrument
     • pianists must read written voicings and chord symbols
     • drummers must read a standard big band part, including fills and breaks
     • bassists must read written lines and chord symbols
     Failure to pass the sight-reading exam will result in the student's repeating both the semester of instruction and the jury.
• Semester 5:
  1. Review of all scales and arpeggios
  2. Performance by memory of at least one tune with an improvised solo
  3. Check of piano proficiency for non-pianists: the student must be able to play chords and cadences
• Semester 6:
  1. Review of all scales and arpeggios
  2. Performance by memory of at least one tune with an improvised solo
  3. Performance by memory of any standard tune from the list below
  4. Sight-reading of a be bop melody with improvisation on chord changes
  5. Keyboard proficiency exam for non-pianists. Each student is expected to perform blues changes, rhythm changes and sight-read chord symbols.
• Semester 7:
  • Continuation of material from previous semester
• Semester 8:
  • Recital hearing and recital; no jury required

List Of Standard Tunes (from Guitar Workshop Tapes - T. Dunbar)

Tape 1 - Side A                   Tape 1 - Side B 
1.  Confirmation                  11. Jordu 
2.  Donna Lee                     12. Airegin 
3.  Four                          13. Yardbird Suite 
4.  Little Willie Leaps           14. Au Privave 
5.  Freedom Jazz Dance            15. Budo 
6.  Sippin'At Bells               16. Ornithology 
7.  Scrapple From The Apple       17. Parisian Thoroughfare 
8.  Vierd Blues                   18. Groovin' High 
9.  Cookin' At The Continental    19. Moment's Notice 
10. Gingerbread Boy               20. Dat Dere 
                                  21. Daahoud 

Tape 2 - Side A                   Tape 2 - Side B 
22. Be-Bop                        33. Dig  
23. Ceora                         34. Quicksilver 
24. Thrivin' On A Riff            35. Impressions 
25. Tricatism (i.e. Tractitism)   36. Prince Albert 
26. Joy Spring                    37. Giant Steps 
27. Half Nelson 
28. Oleo 
29. Room 608 
30. Milestones 
31. Cheryl 
32. Opus De Funk

See Full Index
TOP of Music Student Handbook

[send updates to: preid@rci.rutgers.edu]