Concentration in Jazz Studies

If you are looking for an opportunity to play jazz in a great ensemble, study the art of jazz improvisation with top musicians and educators in small, intimate classes, and find and develop your own musical voice in a creative, supportive atmosphere, SUNY New Paltz may be the place for you! Established in 1991, the Jazz Studies program at SUNY New Paltz was the first accredited degree program in Jazz Studies within the SUNY system. Students have the unique opportunity to study privately with top name artists, attend concerts by internationally known jazz artists, and participate in workshops and performances elbow-to-elbow with the jazz masters. Our classes are small, offering optimum student-teacher contact. Students also receive personal academic and career advisement each semester from members of the jazz faculty. We offer a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Music with a concentration in Jazz Studies and are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. NASM accreditation signifies that the Jazz Studies concentration meets the highest national academic standards.

Located amidst the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley, at the foot of the Catskills, 90 minutes from New York City, New Paltz is ideal for Jazz Studies. Many outstanding jazz artists reside in the area, and the rich artistic resources of New York City continue to have a great influence on the culturally rich Hudson Valley region. The town of New Paltz also has a reputation for outstanding live music year round. Our teaching philosophy is based on a broad view of jazz music, with a strong emphasis on improvisation skills, and encompasses traditional, modern, world, and avant-garde styles. We are a performance-oriented program that offers students many opportunities to perform regularly with school ensembles, their own groups, and recording projects. The Jazz Studies faculty is committed to offering students a varied and comprehensive music education, addressing important musical traditions and relating them to a musical vision of the future. Our students receive a thorough grounding in traditional theory and the history of music while embarking on specialized training in jazz styles and improvisation. Each year several distinguished guest artists present concerts, workshops, and residencies. Among the artists who have performed and/or presented workshops on campus are Sonny Rollins, Kenny Werner, Gary Burton, Rick Margitza, Warren Bernhardt, Lee Konitz, David Friesen, Harvey Swartz, Ed Thigpen, Jay Anderson, Gary Peacock, Cal Collins, Karl Berger and many others. Our faculty is composed of a number of highly qualified jazz artists and educators, all of whom maintain busy international performance schedules. Each faculty member brings to the program a diverse performance and educational experience that continues to be our greatest asset.

MAJOR PLAN

Core Courses (30 credits, required for all Music Majors):

MUS162 Chamber Jazz Ensembles (6 semesters or every semester in attendance for transfer students)
MUS150 Concert Series Attendance (6 semesters or every semester in attendance for transfer students)
MUS201 Piano 1
MUS202 Piano 2
MUS301 Piano 3
MUS231 Sight Singing & Ear Training 1
MUS232 Sight Singing & Ear Training 2
MUS203 Theory 1
MUS204 Theory 2
MUS270-MUS277 Applied Music Jazz (2 semesters)
MUS331 Music to 1750
MUS333 Music since 1750

Requirements for Concentration in Jazz Studies (30 credits):

MUS210 Jazz Improvisation Workshop
MUS270-MUS277 Applied Music Jazz (2 additional semesters)
MUS470-MUS477 Applied Music Jazz (4 semesters)
MUS310 Jazz Theory 1
MUS311 Jazz Theory 2
MUS312 Jazz Instrumentation & Arranging
MUS360 Jazz Milestones
MUS410 Jazz Improvisation Workshop
MUS483 Senior Recital