Jazz
Interested in becoming a major performer on the jazz scene? You've come the right place. Designed for students seeking a professional career in jazz, our comprehensive program includes private lessons, study in jazz performance methods and numerous ensemble opportunities.
Whether you're practicing in the classroom or taking center stage for a concert, you'll have the opportunity to work one-on-one with faculty who have performed in jazz clubs and concert halls across the globe. Our professors focus on jazz history, theory, improvisation, rhythm section techniques, rehearsal techniques and jazz ensemble literature in their lessons. As experienced artists, they can also provide their expertise to help you improve your own performance
—no matter the instrument.
Course offerings
MUS-350: Fundamentals of Jazz Improvisation
An entry-level jazz improvisation course, students study the basic melodic and harmonic shapes that are used by all jazz musicians, and also engage in a transcription project as part of the course. The only prerequisite for this class is an understanding of basic music theory and an interest in learning to improvise. This course is a highly recommended elective for all music education majors.
MUS-351 Applied Jazz Improvisation
Private lessons that serve as a follow-up to MUS-350.
MUS-102 Introduction to Jazz
This course that examines the history of jazz, focusing on the stylistic elements of the music, its master musicians, and important recordings. This course also satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts (VP) general education requirement.
Private instruction
Lessons offered in jazz guitar, jazz piano, bass, and drum set.
Ensembles
Faculty