BM Jazz Studies

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.