Academic and Performance Areas
Jazz Studies Area
About the Program
| Student Jazz Ensembles | Faculty
| Performance Opportunities
General Courses | Degree
Requirements | Audition Requirements
Audition Dates | Articles | Links | Professors
of Jazz
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About the Program
 The Jazz Studies Program
at the Michigan State University College of Music is committed to the highest
level performance, mentoring, education and community outreach. This unique
program is comprised of nationally and internationally renowned faculty
members, drawn directly from the highest ranks of the international jazz
community. All faculty members have the experience of performing with
top-notch recording and performing artists in jazz and the music industry.
The Jazz Studies Program creates an environment conducive to the development
of the next generation of jazz musicians through blues-based improvisation,
bebop, swing, blues and soul music. Students learn to develop their ear
and intellectual capacity in jazz music.
- Students are offered employment opportunities through compensated
performance activities.
- Each student ensemble is required to participate in two performances
each semester at the College of Music.
- Courses are conducted through master classes, private studies and
studio classes.
- There are 12 available slots for private lessons per instrument for
each year of studies.
- Each student receives private lessons with an applied studies professor,
which includes the following:
- Introduction of Creative Ideas for Improvisational Proficiency
- Translation of Theoretical Principles into Performance Ideas
- General Understanding of the Jazz Era & Tradition in Relation
to One's Particular Instrument, and much more.
- Students have access to nine Jazz Studies facilities.
- Students and faculty participate in community residencies throughout
Michigan, and conduct workshops, concerts and master classes with children
in various Detroit public schools through the College of Music's Detroit
Public School Music Partnership.
- The jazz area's teaching approach and methods consist of various techniques
specific to the individual instrument as follows:
- Development of proficiency in performance of contemporary styles of
jazz music
- Memorization of repertoire and lesson material
- Applied listening and aural skills
- Provide harmonic and scaler jazz improvisational patterns
- Introduction of creative ideas for improvisational proficiency
- Translate theoretical principles into performance ideas
- Assessment of student's ability to play the instrument and address
any and all problems regarding breathing, embouchure, posture, etc.
so that improvisational ideas can be realized
- Strengthen the use of scales and chords, i.e.; Major, Dorian,
Mixolydian, Locrian (Half Diminished), Bebop, Blues, Whole Tone,
Chromatic
- Students and faculty participate in community residencies throughout
Michigan, and conduct workshops, concerts and master classes with children
in various Detroit public schools through the College of Music's Detroit
Public School Music Partnership.
- Faculty/Student class ratio is 1-12.
- Number of Jazz Majors is approximately 50 with 150 non-jazz major student participants
- An article published in the Fall 2003
edition of MSU Alumni Magazine about the program
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