COURSE CURRICULUM

Graduates of the Jazz Studies program are prepared for highly versatile and professional careers in the music industry, working as performers, composers, arrangers, teachers, producers, and entrepreneurs. Many alumni also take on independent paths by forming their own companies or musical groups, while others build successful careers outside traditional music roles but continue performing at a high artistic level. The program equips students for work in a wide range of professional environments, including jazz clubs, concert halls, Broadway theatres, churches, schools, colleges and universities, recording studios, and U.S. armed forces bands, reflecting the broad applicability of their musical training. The program’s strong reputation is also reflected in its notable alumni network, which includes influential musicians across many areas of jazz and contemporary music. These include bassists such as Mike Pope, Tony Scherr, and Matt Wigton; composers like Alan Baylock, Yumiko Sunami, Brad Turner, and Dale Wilson; drummers Keith Carlock, Ari Hoenig, and John Riley; guitarists Tim Miller, Rick Peckham, and Bruce Saunders; musician-producers Bob Belden and Dave Love; pianists Lyle Mays, Jon Ballantyne, Pavel Wlosok, and Stefan Karlsson; saxophonists including “Blue Lou” Marini, Jim Snidero, Tim Ries, Craig Handy, and Jeff Coffin; trombonists such as Tom “Bones” Malone, Conrad Herwig, Steve Wiest, and Sara Jacovino; and vocalists including Norah Jones, JD Walter, and Alison Wedding. The curriculum supports this professional development through courses that build both technical and conceptual understanding of music, such as Jazz Improvisation, History of Jazz, Music Cultures of the World, Science and Technology of Musical Sound, Music as Communication, and Jazz Fundamentals. Overall, the program blends performance training, academic study, and real-world industry preparation to develop highly skilled musicians capable of succeeding in diverse musical careers worldwide.