As a jazz saxophonist and composer, Dr. Gunther’s research centers on original composition, improvisation, and the transmission of jazz practices that have evolved over the past century. Because improvisation lies at the core of jazz, his work investigates the creative process itself—both as a subject of scholarly inquiry and as a pedagogical model—seeking to articulate approaches to improvisation that are transferable beyond jazz into other musical traditions and creative disciplines. A central component of Dr. Gunther’s research is practice-based creative work, including original compositions and recordings that explore extended forms, cross-genre influences, and collaborative models. In recent years, this work has expanded to include interdisciplinary projects integrating visual art, multimedia, and emerging technologies with live performance. Of particular focus is the use of spatial audio, multichannel sound, and ambisonic techniques as compositional and experiential tools, examining how immersive sound environments reshape performance practice, listening, and audience engagement. Dr. Gunther’s research also addresses the role of technology in music creation and education, including the development of new performance platforms and collaborative ecosystems. This includes the founding of the Boulder Laptop Orchestra in 2007 and ongoing exploration of technology-mediated ensemble models that bridge music, engineering, and the digital arts. Related initiatives examine how music and the arts can enhance STEM pedagogy by emphasizing creativity, embodied learning, and interdisciplinary thinking. Underlying these projects is a sustained interest in cross-cultural exchange through music, teaching, and travel. Dr. Gunther’s research engages musical practice as a vehicle for cultural dialogue, positioning creative work, technology, and pedagogy as mutually reinforcing modes of inquiry with continuing relevance both within the academy and beyond it.
keywords
Jazz performance, jazz improvisation, saxophone performance, jazz composition, computer music, multi-media composition and performance, creative process for composers and performers, jazz pedagogy, saxophone pedagogy, Pedagogy of STEM through Music and the Arts, Gnawa music, Spatial Audio, Ambisonic Audio.
Teaching
courses taught
EMUS 1427 - Jazz Ensemble
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Fall 2025
Students perform in a principal format for jazz expression. The large ensemble setting affords the opportunity to expand knowledge of jazz styles and repertoire as well as refine reading skills and improve spontaneous interaction with other musicians. Placed through auditions held at the beginning of search semester. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Degree credit not granted for this course and EMUS 3427 and EMUS 5427.
EMUS 1437 - Jazz Combo
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Fall 2025
Allows students the opportunity to perform in the principal format for jazz expression. The small group setting affords performers the opportunity to refine improvisation skills, improve spontaneous interaction with musicians and expand knowledge of jazz styles and repertoire. Placed through auditions held at the beginning of each semester. Same as EMUS 3427 and EMUS 5437.
EMUS 1457 - Electronic Music Ensemble
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2020
Explores performance, composition and the history of electronic music, including 20th century art music on through to electronic music in contemporary popular culture. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Same as EMUS 3457 and EMUS 5457.
EMUS 3427 - Jazz Ensemble
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Fall 2025
Students perform in a principal format for jazz expression. The large ensemble setting affords the opportunity to expand knowledge of jazz styles and repertoire as well as refine reading skills and improve spontaneous interaction with other musicians. Placed through auditions held at the beginning of each semester. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Recommended prerequisite: EMUS 1427 or previous experience in large jazz ensembles. Degree credit not granted for this course and EMUS 1427 and EMUS 5427.
EMUS 3437 - Jazz Combo
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Fall 2025
Allows students the opportunity to perform in the principal format for jazz expression. The small group setting affords performers the opportunity to refine improvisation skills, improve spontaneous interaction with musicians and expand knowledge of jazz styles and repertoire. Placed through auditions held at the beginning of each semester. Recommended prerequisite: EMUS 1437 or previous performance experience in small jazz combos. Same as EMUS 1437 and EMUS 5437.
EMUS 3457 - Electronic Music Ensemble
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2020
Explores performance, composition and the history of electronic music, including 20th century art music on through to electronic music in contemporary popular culture. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Same as EMUS 1457 and EMUS 5457.
EMUS 5427 - Jazz Ensemble
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Fall 2025
Students perform in a principal format for jazz expression. The large ensemble setting affords the opportunity to expand knowledge of jazz styles and repertoire as well as refine reading skills and improve spontaneous interaction with other musicians. Placed through auditions held at the beginning of each semester. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Recommended prerequisite: EMUS 3427 or previous experience in large jazz ensembles. Degree credit not granted for this course and EMUS 1427 and EMUS 3427.
EMUS 5437 - Jazz Combo
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Fall 2025
Allows students the opportunity to perform in the principal format for jazz expression. The small group setting affords performers the opportunity to refine improvisation skills, improve spontaneous interaction with musicians and expand knowledge of jazz styles and repertoire. Placed through auditions held at the beginning of each semester. Recommended prerequisite: EMUS 3437 or previous performance experience in small jazz combos. Same as EMUS 1437 and EMUS 3437.
EMUS 5457 - Electronic Music Ensemble
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018
Explores performance, composition and the history of electronic music, including 20th century art music on through to electronic music in contemporary popular culture. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours. Same as EMUS 1457 and EMUS 3457.
MUEL 3642 - History of Jazz
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Summer 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Summer 2024 / Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Summer 2025 / Fall 2025
Surveys the distinctly American art form of jazz music from its origins to the present, including the various traditions, practices, historical events and people most important to its evolution. Offered fall and spring.
MUSC 2997 - Sophomore Proficiency
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
To be completed by the second semester of the sophomore year.
MUSC 3061 - Jazz Improvisation I
Secondary Instructor
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Fall 2025
Develops skills in jazz improvisation through practical application of harmonic concepts, melodic construction, rhythmic awareness, transcription, repertoire and analysis. Open to all instruments. Recommended prerequisite: for non-jazz majors MUSC 2111. Offered fall only.
MUSC 3081 - Jazz Theory and Aural Foundations 1
Secondary Instructor
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Fall 2025
Presents the grammar and syntax of jazz. Helps to gain a greater understanding of the inner workings and application of chord progressions as they relate to the jazz idiom including major key harmony, secondary dominants, modal interchange and modulation. Students will demonstrate their understanding of these components through written assignments, singing, aural recognition, transcription and keyboard demonstration.
MUSC 3253 - Jazz Techniques for the Music Educator
Secondary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024 / Spring 2025
Prepares the music educator for successful experiences teaching jazz at the secondary level. Students gain insights into performance and rehearsal techniques for the instrumental jazz ensemble. Explores approaches for teaching jazz theory, improvisation, and selecting literature for young students. Own instrument required for certain classes. Recommended prerequisites: MUSC 1111 and MUSC 2103. Offered spring only.
MUSC 3642 - History of Jazz 1
Secondary Instructor
-
Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024 / Fall 2025
Utilizing musical examples and analysis, this course studies the distinctly American art form of jazz music from its origins up to the 1950's, including the various traditions, practices, historical events and people most important to its evolution. Offered fall only.
MUSC 4031 - Jazz Arranging 1
Secondary Instructor
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Fall 2023 / Fall 2025
Study of notation, score layout, transpositions, basic harmonic and melodic analysis, basic chord voicings, and composition for a small and large jazz ensemble. Use of notation software such as Finale or Sibelius. Offered fall semester only.
MUSC 4161 - Advanced Jazz Composition and Analysis
Secondary Instructor
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Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Provides in depth listening, score study, and analysis, exploring major composers in jazz and their innovations in composition. "Foundational" topics concerning melody, form, and orchestration are studied to provide a framework for further analysis. Influences of western art music, American folk and popular music considered. Final projects to be performed and recorded by a CU jazz ensemble.
MUSC 5091 - Contemporary Theory - Jazz and Modal Music
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2020
Studies the composition and improvisation of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea and their contemporaries. Broadly examines modality in jazz and its similarities to music of Ravel and Debussy, as well as systems of organization in Messiaen and others. Strategies for analysis and integration of the material into a personal vocabulary as a composer and improviser are explored. Offered spring of even-numbered years.
MUSC 5246 - Jazz Improvisation and Analysis
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Fall 2025
Application of performance skills for the advanced improviser through specific harmonic, melodic and rhythmic techniques. Also includes analysis of transcriptions and varied harmonic contexts as well as a focus on the development of repertoire. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered years. Requires prerequisite course or instructor consent.
MUSC 5256 - Jazz Studies Administration and Pedagogy
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2022
Surveys approaches, techniques, philosophies and materials available for teaching jazz at both pre-college and collegiate level. Subject areas covered include improvisation, composition and arranging, studio teaching and directing ensembles. Studies the organization and administration of collegiate jazz programs. Topic include curriculum, program philosophy, teaching techniques, funding, teacher training and evaluation. Recommended prerequisite: MUSC 3253. Offered fall terms of even-numbered years.
MUSC 5642 - Jazz History and Literature
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2024
Studies musical trends and cultural forces influencing jazz, with analysis of improvisational styles, melodic and motivic variations, transcriptions and orchestrations from significant periods in its history. Offered spring terms only.
PMUS 1515 - Jazz Piano Class
Secondary Instructor
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Fall 2025
Offers small group instruction in the concepts and skills required to learn jazz piano. Students not only learn basic techniques required to play jazz but also become familiar with the theory, grammar, and lexicon of the jazz language. May be repeated up to 4 total credit hours. Offered fall only.
PMUS 1876 - Jazz Saxophone
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Fall 2025
PMUS 3876 - Jazz Saxophone
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2019 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024 / Spring 2025
PMUS 4876 - Jazz Saxophone
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Fall 2025
PMUS 5826 - Jazz Drum Set
Secondary Instructor
-
Fall 2025
May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours.
PMUS 5856 - Jazz Trumpet
Secondary Instructor
-
Fall 2025
May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours.
PMUS 5876 - Jazz Saxophone
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
PMUS 6826 - Jazz Drum Set
Secondary Instructor
-
Fall 2025
May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours.
PMUS 6846 - Jazz Guitar
Secondary Instructor
-
Fall 2025
May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours.
PMUS 6866 - Jazz Trombone
Secondary Instructor
-
Fall 2025
May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours.
PMUS 6876 - Jazz Saxophone
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2025
May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours.
