Jazz Studies

Effective: Fall 2022
Certificate of Achievement Program Map
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This program map from the 2024-2025 catalog year represents one possible pathway to complete this program. Your pathway may vary depending on your transfer plans and also previous college credit, including AP Test scores, concurrent enrollment courses and high school articulated courses.

I'm ready to get started. What do I do next?

  1. Review this program map to get an overview of the required courses
  2. Meet with a counselor to develop your customized student education plan www.chabotcollege.edu/counseling
  3. Use DegreeWorks, an online student education planning tool, to track your progress toward graduation www.chabotcollege.edu / admissions / degreeworks
Program Description

This certificate program offers specialized study in Jazz pedagogy and will prepare students for a career performing, private teaching, and coaching jazz fundamentals, harmony, and musicianship. Completion of this certificate indicates that the student is prepared to offer instruction in jazz pedagogy including improvisation.


What can I do with this major?

This certificate will prepare music students to succeed toward their educational goal and towards gainful employment in the workplace. Career opportunities in Jazz include being a private instructor, arranger, composer, contractor, as well as a performer.


Learning and Career Pathway
  • Arts and Design

Icon Key

= Critical Course = Prerequisite for Other Courses = Prerequisite Required = Required for Major GE = General Education

Semester 1

5 units

MUSL 42A
Jazz Theory I

3 units
Developing an understanding of traditional jazz nomenclature including chord symbols, chord/scale relationships, and jazz harmony. Various scales, their modes and their applications will be addressed as well as their applications to harmonic progressions common to the jazz idiom.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: MUSL 6

MUSP 15
Jazz Ensemble

1 unit
Reading, preparation and performance of contemporary jazz music arranged for standard Big Band. New literature will be studied each semester. The band plays various concerts and festivals. Students develop ability to play various jazz styles, sight read, improvise, and play both as members of a section and as soloists.

MUSP 11A
Fundamentals in Jazz Improvisation

1 unit
Exploring the fundamentals of Jazz improvisation and structure. Major scales, chord construction, and development of melodic lines used in traditional styles of Jazz improvisation. Jazz literature for small groups of the Bop era to modern styles.
Course Details:

    Semester 2

    5 units

    MUSL 42B
    Jazz Theory II

    3 units
    Jazz composition and arranging to gain and/or solidify a working knowledge of standard concepts pertaining to writing and arranging for the small to large ensemble. Emphasis will be placed on achieving the following: shapes and voicings used for different combinations of melody instruments; writing idiomatic arrangements of “standards” in the jazz idiom and standard “industry-style” formatting of scores and parts.
    Course Details:
    1. Prerequisite: MUSL 42A

    MUSP 16
    Jazz Orchestra

    1 unit
    Jazz Orchestra is a performance organization that rehearses and performs a variety of contemporary jazz literature. Students develop ability to play various jazz styles, sight read, improvise, and play both as members of a section and as soloists. The orchestra plays various concerts and festivals. Opportunities to rehearse the orchestra as well as conduct. Enrollment by audition only
    Course Details:

    MUSP 11B
    Jazz Combo

    1 unit
    Exotic scales, altered chord construction, and development of modal and intervocalic concepts used in modern jazz improvisation. Techniques used in contemporary styles of Jazz improvisation for small ensembles. Examines and performs various jazz pieces in several styles.
    Course Details:

      Semester 3

      3 units

      MUSA 22A
      Jazz Piano and Musicianship I

      1 unit
      Voicings, chords, and guidelines for improvisation in the contemporary styles of the jazz pianist. Post bop-era, through modern to avant-garde piano playing in the jazz idiom.
      Course Details:
      1. Strongly Recommended: MUSL 6

      MUSP 15
      Jazz Ensemble

      1 unit
      Reading, preparation and performance of contemporary jazz music arranged for standard Big Band. New literature will be studied each semester. The band plays various concerts and festivals. Students develop ability to play various jazz styles, sight read, improvise, and play both as members of a section and as soloists.

      MUSP 11A
      Fundamentals in Jazz Improvisation

      1 unit
      Exploring the fundamentals of Jazz improvisation and structure. Major scales, chord construction, and development of melodic lines used in traditional styles of Jazz improvisation. Jazz literature for small groups of the Bop era to modern styles.
      Course Details:

        Semester 4

        3 units

        MUSA 22B
        Jazz Piano and Musicianship II

        1 unit
        Development of skills in jazz piano performance, notation, literature. Emphasis on further development of technique and performance.
        Course Details:
        1. Prerequisite: MUSA 22A

        MUSP 16
        Jazz Orchestra

        1 unit
        Jazz Orchestra is a performance organization that rehearses and performs a variety of contemporary jazz literature. Students develop ability to play various jazz styles, sight read, improvise, and play both as members of a section and as soloists. The orchestra plays various concerts and festivals. Opportunities to rehearse the orchestra as well as conduct. Enrollment by audition only
        Course Details:

        MUSP 11B
        Jazz Combo

        1 unit
        Exotic scales, altered chord construction, and development of modal and intervocalic concepts used in modern jazz improvisation. Techniques used in contemporary styles of Jazz improvisation for small ensembles. Examines and performs various jazz pieces in several styles.
        Course Details:
          Total Units: 16 units
          This program map is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.