About This Program

The Jazz Studies minor promotes the development of fundamental skills in jazz. The minor provides instruction in performance, composition and arranging.

Contact Information

• Bobby Selvaggio | rselvagg@kent.edu |
  330-672-2965
• Speak with an Advisor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Admission Requirements

Admission to this minor is selective. To declare the Jazz Studies minor, students must audition to music faculty in voice or on an instrument.

Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Minor Requirements (min C grade required in all courses)
MUS 16001	APPLIED MUSIC JAZZ (taken for two semesters) 1	2
MUS 17013	FUNDAMENTALS OF JAZZ PIANO	1
MUS 41341	JAZZ IMPROVISATION I	1
MUS 41342	JAZZ COMPOSING AND ARRANGING 2	2
or MUS 48598	MUSIC RESEARCH (ELR)
MUS 41351	JAZZ IMPROVISATION II	1
MUS 42162	JAZZ STYLES AND ANALYSIS	3
MUS 45231	JAZZ ENSEMBLE (taken for four semesters)	4
MUS 45312	JAZZ COMBO DEVELOPMENT (taken for two semesters)	2
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		16

¹

A half-jazz recital or approved equivalent is required to complete the minor. Registration in MUS 16001 is required during the jazz recital semester.

²

Advanced pianists may replace MUS 41342 with MUS 48598.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements Summary - Minors

Minimum Minor GPA	Minimum Overall GPA
2.250	2.000

• A minimum C grade is required in all courses for the minor.
• MUS 11110, MUS 11111, MUS 16914 and MUS 16915 will not count as credit for graduation for this minor.

• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
• Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Learn a fundamental process of how to practice jazz improvisation through the concepts of ear training, technique, theory and style.
2. Learn the various stylistic vernaculars of jazz improvisation.
3. Know the traditions and history of jazz through research and analyzing and comparing transcriptions.
4. Learn a fundamental process of how to create a personal style and voice as a performing jazz musician.
5. Foster a specific set of skills relevant to today’s jazz musician by applying all these concepts in large jazz ensembles and jazz combos.