McGill.CA / Music / Programs / Licentiate in Music / Jazz; L.Mus. (Major)

Yearly Program Study Plan; L.Mus. Jazz

Use this 3-year guide to plan your studies and graduate from your Licentiate in Music (Jazz Performance) program on time.

If you're a transfer student or a CEGEP graduate, you may be able to complete the program in 3 years instead of 4.

Which courses to take each year

This is a basic 3-year plan for students from high school with no advanced standing.

Program audit

You will receive a summary of exemption credits from placement exams, transfer credits, Advanced Placements (AP), etc, before you begin your first semester at the Schulich School of Music. You can access this information via a Program Audit (PA) customized for you. Visit the PA web page to learn more about how you can view your personalized program plan.

Meet with your academic advisor to review your program plan at least once a year.

Course load

You should normally register for 20-23 credits per term.

  • Full-time course load: 12 credits or more
  • Part-time course load: 11 credits or less

Practical instruction and practical exams

  • You must complete 3 practical exams (MUIN 252, 352 and 452) during your program. In some cases, you might take your exams at different times than what we suggest in our sample 3-year plan.
  • Determine when to apply for these exams with your practical instruction teacher.
  • For practical instruction registration details, visit Registration. 

Sample year 1 course plan

  • You must take placement exams in jazz materials and jazz ear training before school starts. Depending on the basis of admission and the placement test results, you may be exempt from jazz music history (MUJZ 187), jazz materials (MUJZ 160 & 161), or jazz ear training (MUSP 123 & 124). To learn more about course exemption criteria, see Placement Exams. 
  • If you choose not to write the placement tests, you are expected to register for the prerequisites, MUJZ 160 & 161 and MUSP 123 & 124 in the first year. You will defer registration for MUJZ 223, 224, 260 & 261 until the second year after you successfully pass the MUJZ prerequisites.
  • You must be proficient in English for all courses, especially Music History. Non-anglophone students should defer MUJZ 187 until their second year and register for an English as Second Language (ESL) course in year 1. Contact the Writing Centre for information on ESL course registration.

Fall term

MUJZ 223 Jazz Improv/Musicianship 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(see placement exam note above)

MUJZ 260 Jazz Arranging 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(see placement exam note above)

MUPD 135 Music as a Profession 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(optional course though not required)

  • We recommend that you take this course even though it is not required. It covers useful topics such as injury prevention skills and wellness.

MUIN 250 LMus Practical Instruction 1 6 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo (MUEN 5xx) 1 credit

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

MUJZ 187 Jazz History Survey 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Winter term

MUJZ 224 Jazz Improv/Musicianship 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUJZ 261 Jazz Arranging 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 251 L.Mus. Practical Instruction 2 6 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 252 L.Mus. Performance 1 Exam 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo (MUEN 5xx) 1 credit

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

Year 2 course plan

Fall term

MUJZ 493 Jazz Performance Practice 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUJZ 340 Jazz Composition 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUJZ 423 Jazz Improv/Musicianship 3 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 350 LMus Practical Instruction 3 6 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo (MUEN 5xx) 1 credit

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

Winter term

MUJZ 341 Jazz Composition 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUJZ 424 Jazz Improv/Musicianship 4 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 351 L.Mus. Practical Instruction 4 6 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo (MUEN 5xx) 1 credit

MUIN 352 L.Mus. Performance 2 Exam 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

Year 3 course plan

Fall term

MUJZ 440 Advanced Jazz Composition 1 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

OR

MUJZ 461D1 Advanced Jazz Arranging 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 450 LMus Practical Instruction 5 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One small combo (MUEN 5xx) 1 credit

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

Winter term

MUJZ 441 Advanced Jazz Composition 2 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

OR

MUJZ 461D2 Advanced Jazz Arranging 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 451 L.Mus. Practical Instruction 6 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 452 L.Mus. Performance 3 Exam 8 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

* To spread these 8 credits over fall and winter: Instead of MUIN 452,
take

MUIN 452D1 L.Mus. Performance 3 Exam 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

in the fall and
MUIN 452D2 L.Mus. Performance 3 Exam 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

in the winter.

One small combo (MUEN 5xx) 1 credit

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

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