Our Jazz Studies degrees are designed for students seeking careers as performers, composers/arrangers, and educators in jazz, commercial music, and related contemporary musical fields. Through their studies, jazz majors are grounded in classical performance technique, theory, and history as well jazz improvisation methodology, composition, arranging, history, pedagogy, and repertoire.
(For a complete listing of degree options offered through the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance – click here).
B.M. in Jazz Studies
The B.M. in Jazz Studies offers a 4 year comprehensive curriculum that focuses on jazz improvisation, history, and composition/arranging. In the fourth year of this degree, students may choose courses that allow for concentrated study of advanced jazz writing or performance.
B.M. in Jazz Studies Degree Requirements (download)
M.M. in Jazz Studies
The M.M. in Jazz Studies degree option is designed for students who already have a solid background in jazz theory, history, and performance. Students pursuing this degree may choose to specialize in either instrumental performance or composition/arranging. Many students take courses in both areas. This degree allows the advancing student further in-depth study of jazz while also focusing on pedagogy.
M.M. in Jazz Studies (Instrumental Performance) (download)
M.M. in Jazz Studies (Composition/Arranging) (download)
Graduate Specialization in Jazz Pedagogy
This specialization is designed to provide graduate students who are not majoring in Jazz Studies with a) pedagogical tools needed for beginning to advanced instruction in jazz performance practice including improvisation, b) hands on teaching experience before both large and small jazz ensembles, and c) a knowledge of resources, method books, and literature appropriate for to teaching beginning to advancing students individually and in ensembles. (download)