Learn the many facets of jazz

The Jazz Studies program prepares you for a professional career in the recording industry, theatre orchestras, jazz groups and virtually all areas of the commercial music industry.

You’ll concentrate on all aspects of jazz performance, composition, history, improvisation and theory. Assignments will take you into the city’s professional recording studios where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and work with the best in the business. Jazz studies majors perform in one of the large jazz bands and many combos. Our jazz ensembles have won national acclaim for their performances on campus, on tour and on recordings.

Faculty members in the Jazz Studies program are among Chicago’s top studio artists, composers and arrangers. They have worked with virtually every major group, from Woody Herman and Gerry Mulligan to Maynard Ferguson. As a jazz studies student, you’ll have the opportunity to record and play with guest artists such as Phil Woods, Slide Hampton, Jim McNeely, Clark Terry and Louie Bellson.

Classes

Coursework

• Essentials of Jazz
• Jazz Arranging and Composition
• Jazz Chamber Ensemble
• Jazz History and Style
• Jazz Improvisation
• Jazz Rhythm Section Techniques

Resources

• Major Requirements
• Schedule of Classes
• Department Website

• Combined bachelor's + master's degree offered

Career Options

Common Career Areas

• Arranging
• Composing
• Education
• Music editing
• Music production
• Performance
• Recording

Program Checkpoints

Undergraduate Jazz Studies majors will perform a checkpoint audition at the end of their freshman year. The student's applied instructor and/or area coordinator or director will give students specific information on content and required music. Successful completion of the checkpoint audition is required for continuation in the performance degree.

Course Requirements

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Ear Training Sequence:
JZZ 205	JAZZ EAR TRAINING I	1
JZZ 206	JAZZ EAR TRAINING II	1
JZZ 207	JAZZ EAR TRAINING III	1
Group Piano Sequence:
JZZ 202	GROUP JAZZ PIANO I	1
JZZ 203	GROUP JAZZ PIANO II	1
JZZ 204	GROUP JAZZ PIANO III	1
Essentials Sequence:
JZZ 300	ESSENTIALS OF JAZZ I	2
JZZ 301	ESSENTIALS OF JAZZ II	2
JZZ 302	ESSENTIALS OF JAZZ III	2
Improvisation Sequence:
JZZ 308	JAZZ IMPROVISATION I	2
JZZ 309	JAZZ IMPROVISATION II	2
JZZ 310	JAZZ IMPROVISATION III	2
Advanced Improvisation Sequence:
JZZ 330	ADVANCED JAZZ IMPROVISATION I	2
JZZ 331	ADVANCED JAZZ IMPROVISATION II	2
History Sequence:
JZZ 335	JAZZ HISTORY I	2
JZZ 336	JAZZ HISTORY II	2
Jazz Arranging Sequence:
JZZ 304	JAZZ ARRANGING AND COMPOSITION I	2
JZZ 305	JAZZ ARRANGING AND COMPOSITION II	2
JZZ 306	JAZZ ARRANGING AND COMPOSITION III	2
Additional Required Courses:
JZZ 325	JAZZ RHYTHM SECTION TECHNIQUES	2
JZZ 314	JAZZ PEDAGOGY	2
PAM 309	MUSIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP	2
Recital Requirements:
JZZ 215	JAZZ JUNIOR RECITAL	2
JZZ 315	JAZZ SENIOR RECITAL	2
Select 24 credits of Ensembles		24
Select 8 credits of Music Electives		8
Select 2 credits of Free Electives		2

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.