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A performer plays the trumpet during Upperman’s 25th anniversary ceremony

Jazz Studies Minor

Prepare for a Career in Jazz
  • 9:1

    Student-Faculty Ratio

  • 3rd

    Rated 3rd on a List of “5 Best Colleges for Music Majors in North Carolina"

A minor will prepare you for positions including:

Hone your craft and become a performing artist.

Teach private lessons to aspiring musicians/performers.

Write music as a professional occupation.

Organize concerts and performances for musicians/artists.

Learn To

Attain fundamental musical knowledge and skills through analytical listening and sight-singing

Prepare for performance of musical works that exhibit effective artistic expression

Locate, evaluate and effectively use information to prepare music for a performer

“ Come to UNCW if you’re looking for an intimate learning experience, if you’re looking for lots of one-on-one time with your professors. As a student, that is very, very helpful. ”
Isabella Stollenmaier ’17
Jazz Studies, Minor Program Overview

Go Beyond the Notes

As a jazz studies minor, you will learn music theory, jazz history and applied lessons.

Performance ensembles and a variety of other music classes provide you a stage to further your musical knowledge.

The jazz studies minor offers a comprehensive jazz curriculum, as well as exceptional training and diversified experiences through a wide variety of performance opportunities, to prepare you for careers in the jazz field, as well as related contemporary fields.

Learn From Expert Faculty

Your classes are taught by internationally recognized artists and teachers. Individual attention is the hallmark of our music program.

The faculty will work closely with you to obtain the highest level of musicianship, creativity and scholarship. Your learning experiences include extensive performance opportunities.

As an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, UNCW's Department of Music is committed to the highest standards of excellence in teaching and training students who will become the artists and teachers of the future.

Overall, it would be difficult to find a more diversified and challenging curriculum than the music curriculum at UNCW.

students playing saxophone in an ensemble

Sample Courses in Jazz Studies Minor

Table shows sample courses for this program
MUS 111 Theory I
MUSL 111 Aural Skills and Sight-Singing I
MUS 116 History of Jazz
MUS 136 Jazz Theory and Keyboard
MUS 235 Jazz Improvisation I
MUS 308 Jazz Arranging
MUS 365 Modern Jazz
See The Full Curriculum

How Do I Minor in Jazz Studies?

Admission to the program requires approval by the Department of Music and an audition in the performance medium.

ADMISSION AND AUDITION DETAILS

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