Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination
A maximum of 24 semester hours of credit earned at this institution or elsewhere may be applied toward the bachelor's degree. A maximum of 36 credit hours for all non-traditional forms of education may be counted toward fulfilling undergraduate degree requirements. Such credit is not included in determining grade point averages and has certain restrictions (see the UNT undergraduate catalog.
Freshmen, transfer students and graduate students with undergraduate deficiencies must either take or test out of all core jazz courses. University policy prohibits testing out of a course which has already been taken for credit. If a student doesn't a grade of A or B (required in all core jazz courses), he or she must retake the course in question to raise the grade. Specific information concerning these exams may be found below.
Aural Skills Proficiency (also serves as MUJS 1361 Barrier Exam)
The Aural Skills Proficiency covers:
intervals within the octave
7th chords played in typical jazz voicings
Short melodies based on modes of the major scale
Major and minor blues scale melodies
Pentatonic scale melodies
Chord progressions
Modulations from one major key to another
Rhythmic transcription
Melodic transcription
Final Improvisation Proficiency Exam
Instrumental
All instrumental jazz performance majors must pass the Final Improvisation Proficiency Exam (FIPE) before they will be allowed to play a senior recital.
The exam will take place each semester during finals week and be adjudicated by no fewer than five members of the jazz faculty. Each student must demonstrate competency in the art of jazz improvisation on repertoire drawn from the UNT course of study in jazz improvisation. (MUJS 2360, 2370, 3360, 3370)
It is recommended but not required that students take the FIPE at the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in MUJS 3370. A student may attempt the FIPE one time without being enrolled in MUJS 3370, after which he/she must enroll in 3370 before attempting the FIPE again.
Students are expected to perform their senior recital in the semester following successful completion of the FIPE. If the recital is not completed within one year the student will be required to retake the FIPE.
Vocal
The Exit Examination in MUJS 4120 Vocal Jazz Styles serves as the FIPE for vocalists.
Improvisation Continuation Exam (ICE)
All undergraduate jazz majors must pass the Improvisation Continuation Exam (ICE) before they will be admitted to MUJS 3360 (Advanced Jazz Improvisation), MUJS 4610 (Advanced Jazz Arranging), or MUJS 4120 (Vocal Jazz Styles). The exam will take place each semester during finals week and be adjudicated by no fewer than five members of the jazz faculty. Each student must demonstrate competency in the art of jazz improvisation on repertoire drawn from the UNT course of study in jazz improvisation. (MUJS 2360 and 2370).
It is recommended but not required that students take the ICE at the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in MUJS 2370. A student may attempt the ICE one time without being enrolled in MUJS 2370, after which he/she must enroll in 2370 before attempting the ICE again.
Jazz Arranging Proficiency Exams
Jazz Fundamentals Proficiency Exam
MUJS 1360 Proficiency Exam
A true/false and multiple choice exam covering chapters 1 through 7 of "The Jazz Language" by Dan Haerle which is the text for the course.
MUJS 1370 Proficiency Exam
A true/false and multiple choice exam covering chapters 7 through 14 of "The Jazz Language" by Dan Haerle which is the text for the course.
University policy prohibits attempting to test out of a course already taken for credit.
The exam schedule is posted during the week before the start of classes.
Jazz Keyboard Proficiency
The Jazz Keyboard Proficiency Exam (JKPE) consists of the realization of a chord progression using idiomatic voicings, in tempo, at sight (from chord symbols only). A study guide of practice progressions is available for those individuals who want an indication of the difficulty of the exam before attempting to test out. You can download it here: keyboard study guide (PDF).
The study packet has progressions that are comparable to the JKPE but in two versions:
Chord symbols and voicings written out which show the proper kind of voice-leading and connection.
Chord symbols only as they appear in the JKPE.
Students will have a timed period to look over the exam before they attempt it. The JKPE is given at the beginning of each long semester. Simply sign up for an audition time (MU #272) or make a special appointment.