Jazz Studies: Instrumental Performance - Bachelor of Music

Program Total Credits: 126

The Jazz Studies instrumental curriculum provides a direct and pragmatic education for students interested in establishing a career as a performer or arranger in jazz and/or contemporary music. Students receive weekly, one-hour private lessons in their major area with renowned artist teachers. Performance opportunities are plentiful in the School’s award-winning jazz ensembles. Special courses include Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Theory, Jazz Ear-Training, Basic Piano, Jazz Piano, Jazz Arranging, History of Jazz, The Business of Music, MIDI Synthesis, Music Technology, Recording Engineering, Transcription and Analysis, Acoustics, Orchestration, World Music, 20th Century Music, Advanced Rhythmic Theory, and Advanced Improvisation. 

 
Woodwind majors may elect to enroll in a woodwind specialist program that includes the study of various woodwind instruments.

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies will:

• demonstrate outstanding aural musicianship;
• demonstrate outstanding cognitive musicianship and theoretical knowledge;
• understand music in its historical and sociological context;
• express understanding of music in verbal and written form;
• be musically literate and technically proficient performers and composers;
• possess knowledge and experience in a diversity of musical styles and cultures;
• acquire the skills to use and integrate current technology in support of their musicianship;
• use all of the above as the basis for creative output.

In addition, students graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies in Instrumental Performance will:

• demonstrate strong technique and artistry through the study of varied repertoire and technique exercises;
• demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of contemporary and traditional music theory;
• demonstrate knowledge of fundamental aural skills through singing, sight-reading, dictation and solo transcription;
• demonstrate an understanding of jazz forms, improvisational concepts, and how to apply them to a broad range of musical styles;
• demonstrate the ability to collaborate artistically with other performers, both vocal and instrumental, as a performer, arranger, creator and leader;
• demonstrate the ability to compose, orchestrate and create musical arrangements;
• demonstrate knowledge of current technological applications to assist in the creation of one’s art.