MUSA 3114 Jazz Harmony and Improvisation

Name: Jazz Harmony and Improvisation
Rating: 4.25 (16 reviews)

This music theory course will focus on the study of chord structures, chord substitutions, chord scales, composition, and improvisation as they have been codified by contemporary jazz musicians. The technical innovations in the music of Sonny Rollins, Thelonius Monk, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis will be analyzed and discussed. Special attention will be placed on learning how to improvise on the great standards of the jazz repertory. Additional studies will include the following: piano lead sheet arrangements; ii-V-I keyboard harmony, re-harmonization, and composing original tunes based on chord structures of standards by Berlin, Kern, Gershwin; rhythm changes; and the blues.

Course overview

Department: Music Academic
School: MCAS
Credits: 3
Level: Undergraduate
Offered: Every Fall

Catalog details

Prerequisites: MUSA2100

Catalog text is imported from the reviewed Boston College course snapshot. Confirm eligibility in EagleApps.

Requirements fulfilled

Music (Before Fall 2026): Any one of the following (upper-level theory/composition) (Before Fall 2026 (page heading "Major Requirements Before Fall 2026"; elsewhere the page calls these "contracts before fall 2026"))

Requirement eligibility can vary by school, cohort, and section. Confirm the selected section in EagleApps or with an advisor.

Official evaluation summary

4.25 / 5

Based on 16 aggregate responses from BC Avalanche/Blue evaluations.

Data freshness

Course and evaluation data last updated 2026-08-02. Source details and limitations are documented in Data Sources and Methodology.

Instructors

Thomas Lee
Fall 2026, Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021 · Official rating 4.56/5

Sections

Section 01
Fall 2026 · Thomas Lee · Lyons Hall 409 MWF 02:00PM-02:50PM · Offered