1.

Introduction of jazz studies

My major is Jazz Studies at George Mason University. Jazz Studies, which combined

improvisation, jazz theory, instrument performance, and jazz history. My undergraduate major is

classical piano performance. My professor was an excellent performer between classic and jazz.

And, we played classical music. Sometimes, he gave me jazz piano score and taught me how to

perform it. In my junior year, I fell in love with jazz music, and I wanted to change my major in

my graduate degree. Compared to classical music, I believe that jazz music is more fit with me

because I like improvisation. And, classical music is solemn music that people must follow every

note. In George Mason University, my department offers us the four semesters at master’s degree,

and it comprises many opportunities with other musical instruments. Otherwise, the school gave

us plenty of performance opportunities. I believe that studying at George Mason University can

help me learn more in this field.

2. Academic goals

My first academic goal is getting a good grade every semester, and I think it will help me

get a good job when I graduate. To achieve this goal, I need to work hard between English learning

and my major. Because English is my second language, I have to spend more time than America

students. Moreover, I should learn about the history of America and jazz music development

because I have to understand the different music style of every time.

The second academic goal is improving my piano improvisation skills. I think it is hard for

me at the start because I am a beginner in jazz music. Although I learned classical piano for many

years, I do not know how to improvise because classical music has to follow every note and rhythm

which the composer writes it. While I study improvisation at George Mason University, I should
transcribe other jazz musician’s performance and read books about improvisation because this is

the most important part of jazz music.

The last academic goal is more creatively. I think music is not only imitation but also

innovation, that will make the development of music more multiformity. I should try my best to

combine classical music and jazz music. Hence, during my graduate study, I cannot give up my

classical piano practice because I need to practice my finger technique. When I finish my graduate

study, I want to be a performer who can play different styles.

3. Disciplinary resources list

The following list has some useful resources in my academic study field.

(1) Woods, T., & Clark, M. (2011). Complete Blues Keyboard Method Complete Edition.

Alfred Music; Pap/Com edition. This book is for everyone who interested in learning to

play blues keyboard. It is a good choice for jazz beginners because it contains rhythms,

improvisation and so on. This book is not hard and very useful for beginners.

(2) Markley, B. (2014). A practical approach to jazz improvisation. New Albany, Indiana:

Jamey Aebersold Jazz. This book is a comprehensive book which for all instruments. This

book advices the learner, for example, teaching them how to create their etudes in the style

of their favorite players. Moreover, allowing people to understand and absorb their concept.

(3) Rawlins, R. (2004). Real Book - Volume I: (Songbook). Hal Leonard. Real Book is a series

of books about jazz music. Everyone who learns jazz music will know these books because

they are the best-selling jazz books of all time Since the 1970s. These books collected

several hundred jazz songs of famous jazz musicians.

(4) Levine, M. (1995). The jazz theory book. Petaluma, CA: Sher Music. The writer of this

book is an acknowledged jazz musician. This book presents all the information about jazz
 in an easy-to-understand degree. People will gain plenty of knowledge from working

through this book. Therefore, this book is used by universities around the world.

(5) Santisi, R. (2009). Berklee jazz piano. Boston, MA: Distributed by Hal Leonard Corp.

This book was written by Ray Santisi, one of the most revered educators at the Berklee

College of Music. People can get help from beginning through advanced levels. This

book gives plenty of information about jazz improvisation, jazz history and so on.

(6) George Mason University. (2019, 4 29). Music. Retrieved from InfoGuides

https://infoguides.gmu.edu/music. This website is one of the George Mason University's

library. It helps me find much useful information about jazz music. The website is free

for George Mason University students.

(7) GMU Music. (2019, 4, 29). Retrieved from https://music.gmu.edu. This website includes

all information of George Mason University school of music. I can check my major class

information, school events and so on.

4. Course Plan

Course Title Credit

Spring 2019 EAP 506 Graduate 4

Communication in the
Disciplines I
PROV 501 Introduction to 2
Graduate Study for
International Students I
MUSI 685 Graduate Chamber 1
Ensemble
MUSI 721 Graduate Applied 3

Music

EAP 507 Graduate 4

Communication in the
Disciplines II
 PROV 502 Introduction to 2
Graduate Study for
Fall 2019 International Students
II
MUSI 685 Graduate Chamber 1
Ensemble
MUSI 721 Graduate Applied 3

Music

Spring 2020 MUSI 615 Advanced Jazz 3

Improvisation

MUSI 650 Topics in Jazz Studies 3

MUSI 721 Applied Music 2-3
MUSI 722 Applied Music in 3
Keyboard
Fall 2020 MUSI 790 Graduate Recital 1
MUSI 721 Applied Music 2-3
MUSI 685 Graduate Chamber 1
Ensemble
MUSI 630: Topics in Music 3
History and Literature
MUSI 662 Introduction to 3
Research in Music

5. The Academic Reflection

This semester, one necessary academic skill for me is I spent more time to think the

music rather than play the music. I have a private lesson of jazz piano, my professor always

tells me, when I am learning jazz music, I am not only the performer but also composers

because most of time we have to improvise. Furthermore, learning music requires creativity

rather than repeating the work of others. Because everyone's life experience is different, we

should express music which suitable for ourselves. Another necessary academic skill is

critical thinking, which helped me to learn more knowledge in the graduate study, because I
always self-reflection during my study. Moreover, I got the help of my academic study in the

INYO class. In this class, I got plenty of information and resources of graduate studies. For

example, the professor told us how to set academic goals in the graduate studies and what

academic resources we can use in school. I think these things will help me achieve my goals

in my graduate studying and the rest of my life.