Music, Jazz Studies, BM
Program Details
- Location
- Akron Campus
- Level
- undergraduate
- Degree/Program Type
- Bachelor of Music / major
- Format
- In-person
- Course Info
- Curriculum Guide
- College
- Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences (BCAS)
- School/Department
- School of Performing Arts
Program Contact
- Christopher J .Coles
-
Assistant Professor of Practice
Overview
Earn your Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and grow as an improviser, performer and collaborator. Study jazz improvisation and arranging while learning from dedicated jazz faculty. Connect with the global jazz community through masterclasses, clinics and professional performances at leading Northeast Ohio venues, and build the entrepreneurial skills to thrive in today’s music industry.
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted as a music major, both freshmen and transfer students must successfully complete an audition on their major applied instrument, complete the Undergraduate Placement Examination in Music Theory, and be evaluated in keyboard skills.
Career Outcomes
Turn your talent for improvisation into a professional path through performance, arranging and real-world jazz experiences.
Jazz performer (solo artist or ensemble member)
Studio musician and session player
Music arranger and orchestrator
Composer for film, media and live performance
Bandleader and ensemble director
Private music instructor (instrumental or improvisation)
Clinician/workshop leader for schools and community programs
Arts administrator or program coordinator (venues, festivals, nonprofits)
Music producer and recording project coordinator
Entrepreneur: gigging artist, freelancer or small business owner in the music industry
Let UA Bring Out the Music in You
The University of Akron has a wide variety of opportunities to pursue a career in music. Come let us help you find the music inside of you.
A Learning Experience Like No Other
The University of Akron Jazz Studies Program strives to bring creative improvised music into the social and cultural fabric of Northeast Ohio by fostering collaboration, education, and performance that connect with and inspire the community.
UA JazzWeek
Each year, UA faculty and student ensembles collaborate with touring musicians like Sean Jones, Joshua Redman, and Sharel Cassity during a week-long jazz festival in downtown Akron.
Check out JazzWeek 25 on The Lowdown
Specialized Technology and Instruments
Learn and perform in dedicated music studios, a tech-equipped lab, 3,000-seat E.J. Thomas Hall, and the intimate Guzzetta Recital Hall, where our Steinway Spirio, one of the world’s most advanced pianos, lets students perform, record, and playback with stunning precision.
Spirio Concert Piano at UA
Performance Opportunities
From jazz combos to full orchestras, our ensembles give you the stage time to grow as a musician.
School of Performing Arts Ensembles
Real-World Experience
Perform, compose, and collaborate beyond the classroom through masterclasses, recitals, productions, and public performances.
School of Performing Arts CalendarMeet Our Faculty
Learn from experienced educators and musicians who are dedicated to preparing the next generation of musicians.
