Music at Aquinas College

Music Major with Jazz Emphasis (BA)

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Statement of Purposes: The Bachelor of Arts Degree: Music Major: B.A. with Jazz Emphasis is designed for the student who wishes to deepen their jazz performance and musicianship skills within the framework of the Liberal Arts curriculum. By adding an emphasis in jazz, students gain greater competency in jazz history, improvisation and literature, and are better prepared for performing, the pursuit of studies at the graduate level, and other artistic opportunities.

Major Requirements: Sixty-one (61) semester hours

  • At least thirty (30) semester hours must be taken at Aquinas.
  • A 2.7 GPA must be maintained in the major.
  • MCAP courses must be completed with a B- or higher, MCTH courses must be completed with a C+ or higher, and all other courses must be completed with a C or higher.
AQUINAS REQUIREMENTS
19 (nineteen) semester hours of Music Theory:
MCTH113 Integrated Theory I 3.0
MCTH114 Integrated Theory II 3.0
MCTH115 Ear Training/Sight Singing I 1.0
MCTH116 Ear Training/Sight Singing II 1.0
MCTH/CS160 Midi Music Publishing 1.0
MCTH203 Integrated Theory III 3.0
MCTH204 Integrated Theory IV 3.0
MCTH205 Training/Sight Singing III 1.0
MCTH206 Ear Training/Sight Singing IV 1.0
MCTH352 Modern Analytical Techniques 2.0
Six (6) semester hours of Music History and Literature:
MCHL213 Music History Survey 3.0
MCHL215 History of Jazz (WI) 3.0
One (1) semester hour of Music Education:
MCED315 Conducting Fundamentals 1.0
Four (4) semester hours of Jazz Band (MCEN171-272):
  1.0
  1.0
  1.0
  1.0
One (1) semester hour of Jazz Combo:
MCEN158 Jazz Combo (instrumental or vocal) 1.0
Eight (8) semester hours of either MCAP Applied Piano (125-226), Organ (131-232), Instrument (151-252), or Voice (165, 166, 141-242):
  2.0
  2.0
  2.0
  2.0
Two (2) semester hours of Piano Techniques:
MCAP123 Piano Techniques I 1.0
MCAP124 Piano Techniques II 1.0
Senior Capstone
MCHL360 Recital Seminars (SC) 1.0
Jazz Emphasis Requirements:
Six (6) semester hours of either MCAP Applied Jazz Piano (325-425), Jazz Instrument (351-451), or Jazz Voice (341-441):
  2.0
  2.0
  2.0
Four (4) semester hours of Jazz Band (MCEN 371-472):
  1.0
  1.0
  1.0
  1.0
Seven (7) semester hours of Music Theory:
MCTH 102 Studio Recording I 2.0
MCTH 157 Jazz Improvisation 1.0
MCTH 371 Composing/Arranging for Jazz Ensemble 2.0
MCTH 415 Instrumentation and Orchestration 2.0
Two (2) semester hours of Piano Techniques:
MCAP 323 Jazz Piano Applications & Techniques I 1.0
MCAP 324 Jazz Piano Applications & Techniques II 1.0
Departmental Assessments:
Declaration of Major Hearing (DMH)  
Recital Hearing  
Senior Portfolio Review (SPR)  
Piano Proficiency
Senior Graduation Recital (45 minutes)

 

Courses

  • MCTH102 Studio Recording 1 (2)

    A ‘hands on’ introduction to the basics of sound recording. This class provides the opportunity to work on a personal project, while gaining knowledge of and experience with audio equipment, including the Pro Tools audio workstation.

  • MCTH157, 257, 357, 457 Improvisation (1,1,1,1 )

    Jazz Theory: beginning, intermediate, and advanced techniques. Direct applications will be made to your own applied instrument/voice.

  • MCAP323, 324 Jazz Piano Applications and Techniques I and II (1,1)

    A two-semester course in jazz techniques and applications designed specifically for music education majors. Because the piano is the most comprehensive and immediate source of tonal harmony in all music, particularly jazz, the course will necessarily center on the piano techniques required to explore, direct and understand the specifics of jazz harmony as they apply to the musical structures and various styles found in jazz performance. Classes are taught in the AMC piano lab. Prerequisites: Successful completion (a grade of B- or higher) in MCAP123, 124; and in MCAP323 to advance to MCAP324.

  • MCAP125, 126, 225, 226, 325, 326, 425, 426 Jazz Piano (2)

    Eight-semester sequence of private piano lessons at the college level. Repertoire will survey Jazz styles and development, increasing in demands as the semesters continue. Fee.

  • MCAP141, 142, 241, 242, 341, 342, 441, 442 Jazz Voice (2)

    Eight-semester sequence of private voice lessons at the college level. Repertoire will survey Jazz styles and development, increasing in demands as the semesters continue. Music Majors and Minors with Voice as their principle instrument will have MCAP141 waived upon successful completion of the required MCAP165/166. Fee.

  • MCAP151, 152, 251 252, 315, 352, 451, 452 Jazz Instrument (2)

    Eight-semester sequence of private instrument lessons at the college level. Repertoire will survey Jazz styles and development, increasing in demands as the semesters continue. Fee.

  • MCEN171, 172, 271, 272, 371, 372, 471, 472 Jazz Band (1 each) AP

    Standard and original jazz literature performed. Audition required.

  • MCTH415 Instrumentation/Orchestration (2)

    Through the study and application of a variety of integrative analytical models, the instrumentation/orchestration student will demonstrate competence in theirge ability to understand and express in verbal and written language, all facets under study of the various acoustic qualities of string, wind, and percussion instruments plus an understanding of the conventional pitch range, transposition, and most characteristic scoring practices applied to all the musical instruments belonging to the aforementioned instrumental groupings. Prerequisite: MCTH352.

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