Overview
The Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies/Composition is offered by the Department of Music Studies.
Students must select one of the following concentrations:
- Bassoon
- Cello
- Clarinet
- Double Bass
- Euphonium
- Flute
- French Horn
- Guitar
- Harp
- Oboe
- Percussion
- Piano
- Saxophone
- Trombone
- Trumpet
- Tuba
- Viola
- Violin
- Voice
Students of Temple's Jazz Studies program have the opportunity to participate in various large and small ensembles, including Jazz Band, Lab Band, Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Vocal Ensemble. These ensembles provide comprehensive performance experience in solo as well as ensemble playing for both instrumentalists and vocalists. All the performing groups are coached by an experienced faculty of musician-educators. Graduates are prepared to begin a career as professional performers and composers.
Special Admissions Requirements
See Music Admissions information on the Boyer College of Music and Dance page.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: BC-JSCO-BMUS
Contact Information
Terell Stafford, Director of Jazz Studies
215-204-8036
terell.stafford@temple.edu
Tim Warfield, Jr.
215-204-8306
warfield@temple.edu
Learn more about the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies/Composition.
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
The Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies/Composition is conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 123 credits. This major requires a concentration; the available concentrations are Instrumental (options include Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Double Bass, Euphonium, Flute, French Horn, Guitar, Harp, Oboe, Percussion, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola, and Violin), Piano and Voice.
University Requirements
- All students are required to complete the university's General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
- All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses required for the major are MUST 3196 and MUST 3896.
Program Requirements (Instrumental Concentration)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education courses | 32 | |
| Music Theory | ||
| MUST 1711 | Theory I | 4 |
| MUST 1712 | Theory II | 4 |
| MUST 2711 | Theory III | 4 |
| MUST 2712 | Theory IV | 4 |
| MUST 3896 | Theory Seminar II | 3 |
| Music History | ||
| MUST 2704 | Music in History | 3 |
| MUST 2114 | History of Jazz | 3 |
| MUST 3196 | History of Pop | 3 |
| Basic Conducting | ||
| MUSC 2323 | Basic Conducting | 1 |
| Orchestration | ||
| MUST 3713 | Orchestration | 3 |
| The Business of Music | ||
| MUST 1118 | Business of Music I | 2 |
| Music Technology Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Computer Synthesis of Music | ||
| Sound Recording | ||
| Sound Editing | ||
| Composing Music for Films | ||
| MIDI | ||
| Introduction to Music Technology for Non-Majors | ||
| Jazz Studies | ||
| MUST 4110 | Seminar in Jazz Composition and Arranging (Take four times for eight total credits) | 8 |
| MUST 4111 | Jazz Style and Analysis | 2 |
| MUST 4112 | Jazz Arranging I | 3 |
| MUST 4113 | Jazz Improvisation: Theory and Practice I | 2 |
| MUST 4114 | Jazz Improvisation: Theory and Practice II | 2 |
| MUST 4115 | Jazz Arranging II | 3 |
| MUST 4120 | Seminar in Advanced Jazz Composition and Arranging (Take two times for four total credits) | 4 |
| Instrumental Concentration | ||
| MUSC 1501 | Instrumental Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 1502 | Instrumental Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 2501 | Instrumental Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 2502 | Instrumental Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 3501 | Instrumental Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 3502 | Instrumental Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 4501 | Instrumental Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 4502 | Instrumental Concentration | 2 |
| Secondary Piano | ||
| MUSC 1405 | Secondary Piano for Music Majors | 1 |
| MUST 1106 | Jazz Secondary Piano | 1 |
| MUST 2105 | Jazz Secondary Piano | 1 |
| MUST 2106 | Jazz Secondary Piano | 1 |
| Ensembles | ||
| Take any combination of the following four courses for a total of 10 credits: | 10 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
Program Requirements (Piano Concentration)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education courses | 32 | |
| Music Theory | ||
| MUST 1711 | Theory I | 4 |
| MUST 1712 | Theory II | 4 |
| MUST 2711 | Theory III | 4 |
| MUST 2712 | Theory IV | 4 |
| MUST 3896 | Theory Seminar II | 3 |
| Music History | ||
| MUST 2704 | Music in History | 3 |
| MUST 2114 | History of Jazz | 3 |
| MUST 3196 | History of Pop | 3 |
| Basic Conducting | ||
| MUSC 2323 | Basic Conducting | 1 |
| Orchestration | ||
| MUST 3713 | Orchestration | 3 |
| The Business of Music | ||
| MUST 1118 | Business of Music I | 2 |
| Music Technology Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Computer Synthesis of Music | ||
| Sound Recording | ||
| Sound Editing | ||
| Composing Music for Films | ||
| MIDI | ||
| Introduction to Music Technology for Non-Majors | ||
| Jazz Studies | ||
| MUST 4110 | Seminar in Jazz Composition and Arranging (Take four times for 8 total credits) | 8 |
| MUST 4111 | Jazz Style and Analysis | 2 |
| MUST 4112 | Jazz Arranging I | 3 |
| MUST 4113 | Jazz Improvisation: Theory and Practice I | 2 |
| MUST 4114 | Jazz Improvisation: Theory and Practice II | 2 |
| MUST 4115 | Jazz Arranging II | 3 |
| MUST 4120 | Seminar in Advanced Jazz Composition and Arranging (Take two times for 4 total credits) | 4 |
| Piano Concentration | ||
| MUSC 1401 | Piano Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 1402 | Piano Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 2401 | Piano Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 2402 | Piano Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 3401 | Piano Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 3402 | Piano Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 4401 | Piano Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 4402 | Piano Concentration | 2 |
| Ensembles | ||
| Take any combination of the following three courses for a total of 10 credits: | 10 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| Electives | ||
| Free Electives | 4 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
Program Requirements (Voice Concentration)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education courses | 32 | |
| Music Theory | ||
| MUST 1711 | Theory I | 4 |
| MUST 1712 | Theory II | 4 |
| MUST 2711 | Theory III | 4 |
| MUST 2712 | Theory IV | 4 |
| MUST 3896 | Theory Seminar II | 3 |
| Music History | ||
| MUST 2704 | Music in History | 3 |
| MUST 2114 | History of Jazz | 3 |
| MUST 3196 | History of Pop | 3 |
| Basic Conducting | ||
| MUSC 2323 | Basic Conducting | 1 |
| Orchestration | ||
| MUST 3713 | Orchestration | 3 |
| The Business of Music | ||
| MUST 1118 | Business of Music I | 2 |
| Music Technology Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Computer Synthesis of Music | ||
| Sound Recording | ||
| Sound Editing | ||
| Composing Music for Films | ||
| MIDI | ||
| Introduction to Music Technology for Non-Majors | ||
| Jazz Studies | ||
| MUST 4110 | Seminar in Jazz Composition and Arranging (Take four times for 8 total credits) | 8 |
| MUST 4111 | Jazz Style and Analysis | 2 |
| MUST 4112 | Jazz Arranging I | 3 |
| MUST 4113 | Jazz Improvisation: Theory and Practice I | 2 |
| MUST 4114 | Jazz Improvisation: Theory and Practice II | 2 |
| MUST 4115 | Jazz Arranging II | 3 |
| MUST 4120 | Seminar in Advanced Jazz Composition and Arranging (Take two times for 4 total credits) | 4 |
| Voice Concentration | ||
| MUSC 1201 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 1202 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 2201 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 2202 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 3201 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 3202 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 4201 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
| MUSC 4202 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
| Secondary Piano | ||
| MUSC 1405 | Secondary Piano for Music Majors | 1 |
| MUST 1106 | Jazz Secondary Piano | 1 |
| MUST 2105 | Jazz Secondary Piano | 1 |
| MUST 2106 | Jazz Secondary Piano | 1 |
| Ensembles | ||
| Take any combination of the following four courses for a total of 10 credits: | 10 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies/Composition
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MUSC 1405 | Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| MUST 1711 | Theory I | 4 |
| MUST 1118 | Business of Music I | 2 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Voice Concentration | ||
| Piano Concentration | ||
| Instrumental Concentration | ||
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUST 1106 | Jazz Secondary Piano 1 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| MUST 1712 | Theory II (Jazz) | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ | 4 | |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Voice Concentration | ||
| Piano Concentration | ||
| Instrumental Concentration | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUST 2105 | Jazz Secondary Piano 1 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| MUST 2711 | Theory III (Jazz) | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Voice Concentration | ||
| Piano Concentration | ||
| Instrumental Concentration | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUST 2106 | Jazz Secondary Piano 1 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| MUST 2712 | Theory IV (Jazz) | 4 |
| MUST 4113 | Jazz Improvisation: Theory and Practice I | 2 |
| MUST 2704 | Music in History | 3 |
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Voice Concentration | ||
| Piano Concentration | ||
| Instrumental Concentration | ||
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUST 4112 | Jazz Arranging I | 3 |
| MUST 4114 | Jazz Improvisation: Theory and Practice II | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| MUST 4110 | Seminar in Jazz Composition and Arranging | 2 |
| MUSC 2323 | Basic Conducting | 1 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| MUST 3196 | History of Pop [WI] | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Voice Concentration | ||
| Piano Concentration | ||
| Instrumental Concentration | ||
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUST 4115 | Jazz Arranging II | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| MUST 4111 | Jazz Style and Analysis | 2 |
| MUST 4110 | Seminar in Jazz Composition and Arranging | 2 |
| MUST 2114 | History of Jazz | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Voice Concentration | ||
| Piano Concentration | ||
| Instrumental Concentration | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| MUST 4110 | Seminar in Jazz Composition and Arranging | 2 |
| MUST 4120 | Seminar in Advanced Jazz Composition and Arranging | 2 |
| MUST 3713 | Orchestration | 3 |
| Music Technology Elective (see list below) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Voice Concentration | ||
| Piano Concentration | ||
| Instrumental Concentration | ||
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Large Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble | ||
| MUST 4110 | Seminar in Jazz Composition and Arranging | 2 |
| MUST 4120 | Seminar in Advanced Jazz Composition and Arranging | 2 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| MUST 3896 | Theory Seminar II [WI] | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Voice Concentration | ||
| Piano Concentration | ||
| Instrumental Concentration | ||
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Technology Electives | ||
| MUST 4712 | Computer Synthesis of Music (Spring) | 3 |
| MUST 4713 | Sound Recording (Fall) | 3 |
| MUST 4714 | Sound Editing (Spring) | 3 |
| MUST 4716 | Composing Music for Films (Fall) | 3 |
| MUST 4719 | MIDI (Fall) | 3 |
| MUST 4762 | Introduction to Music Technology for Non-Majors (Spring) | 3 |
- 1
Piano concentration students should not take the 4 credits of Secondary Piano shown in this Academic Plan. They should instead take 4 additional credits of free electives.