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Studies & Degrees in Jazz Studies

Jazz studies is the university-level study of jazz as a performing art. It is a music degree in which the student's main instrument or voice is trained in the jazz tradition, with improvisation at the centre. The subject grew up in North American music schools, and most programmes are still found there.

Students take individual lessons on their instrument, play in big bands and small groups, and study improvisation, jazz theory and harmony, ear training, arranging and composition, and the history of the music. At Northwestern University, for example, the coursework includes improvisation, advanced techniques, and jazz theory and history, and students perform in the Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz Ensemble and small ensembles. Many programmes add music technology, recording or the business side of a musician's career.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. The usual first degree is a Bachelor of Music (BM) in Jazz Studies. The University of North Texas offers it with three degree plans: instrumental, vocal and arranging. The University of Washington offers both a BM in Jazz Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an instrumental option in jazz studies, which leaves more room for other subjects.
  • Master's degree. The Master of Music (MM) deepens performance or writing. The University of North Texas has jazz performance and jazz composition tracks; Northwestern University and the University of Washington also offer a master's degree in the area.
  • Doctorate. A few schools offer a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA). At the University of North Texas it is a DMA in Performance with a jazz concentration. It is aimed mainly at those who want to teach at university level.
  • Diplomas and ensembles without a degree. Colleges offer shorter routes. The Music Performance diploma at Camosun College in Victoria, Canada, is a two-year, full-time programme run with the Victoria Conservatory of Music, in which students of classical, contemporary (folk, jazz, rock) and experimental music learn side by side; it is open to international students. At universities without a jazz degree, students of any subject can often join the ensembles: at Duke University they may play in the Jazz Ensemble, the Jazz Combos, or both.

Admission

Entry depends on an audition as much as on school grades. At the University of North Texas a first round of audition, a screening submitted through the music application, is required of all jazz studies applicants, and the audition for admission also serves as the audition for jazz scholarships. Each school publishes its own repertoire list by instrument, so prepare for each application separately. International applicants also need to meet the university's English requirement.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 17 active schools for jazz studies: 15 in the United States, 1 in Canada and 1 in the United Kingdom. Teaching is in English.

The US schools include the University of North Texas, The Ohio State University, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, the University of Washington, Temple University, Northwestern University, the University of Miami, Duke University, Butler University and Ithaca College. Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia runs a jazz student exchange with the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Camosun College is the Canadian entry and the University of Sunderland the British one.

When comparing schools, look at who teaches your instrument, how many ensembles there are and how places in them are awarded, how close the school is to an active live-music scene, and whether the degree is a professional BM or a broader BA.

Careers

Graduates work as performers, composers and arrangers, studio and theatre musicians, band leaders and teachers. Temple University describes its programme as preparation for careers as professional musicians, educators, composers and arrangers. Most musicians combine several of these activities, and work is usually freelance and obtained through auditions and personal contacts.

A degree is not a formal requirement for performing: the US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that musicians and singers typically do not need formal postsecondary education to enter the occupation. Teaching music in schools is different, and typically requires a bachelor's degree and a teaching licence. The Bureau projects little or no change in employment of musicians and singers from 2025 to 2035, with about 17,400 openings a year.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to audition to study jazz?

Yes, for degree programmes. At the University of North Texas, for example, all jazz studies applicants must go through a first-round screening audition, which decides whether they continue in the admission process.

What is the difference between a BM and a BA in jazz studies?

The Bachelor of Music is a professional degree centred on performance and writing. The Bachelor of Arts, offered for example at the University of Washington, combines jazz with a broader general education.

Can I play jazz at university without studying a jazz degree?

Often, yes. At Duke University, students may take part in the Jazz Ensemble, the Jazz Combos, or both.

Do I need a degree to work as a jazz musician?

No formal qualification is required to perform. A degree gives structured training, ensemble experience and contacts, and it is normally needed to teach in schools and universities.