The Bachelor of Arts in Global Jazz Studies encourages students to think globally about the capacity of jazz to transform the musical and political worlds it engages, while building upon UCLA’s strong jazz studies and world music foundation. Designed for students seeking careers as jazz performers, producers, teachers, and/or jazz scholars, coursework includes scholarly courses on the history and culture of jazz, studio instruction, participation in jazz and world music ensembles, and courses in music theory, musical structure and instrumentation, improvisation, expression, composition, and arranging. The major is interdisciplinary, drawing from various areas across the school of music as well as UCLA’s African American Studies department.
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Guest Artists Offer Students Unique Insights
The Global Jazz Studies program provides significant opportunities for students to engage with a wide range of distinguished jazz artists, including visiting artists and faculty brought by the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA. By offering meaningful interactions with jazz greats, we help students master their instruments and prepare for professional performance careers. Recent opportunities to participate in masterclasses have included such esteemed artists as Jimmy Heath, Terri Lyne Carrington, Billy Childs, Steve Coleman, Benny Golson, Vijay Iyer, Nicole Mitchell, Danilo Pérez, and Jen Shyu.
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2022 Emmy Nomination for Terence Blanchard
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Student musicians join Arturo O’Farrill, Cornel West and Mariachi Los Camperos on stage
The concert celebrated more than 30 years of intercultural musical partnership between UCLA and Mexico
National Endowment for The Arts Chair to address UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music graduates
Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, the 13th chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), will deliver the keynote address at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music 2022 commencement celebration, which will be held in Dixon Court North on Friday, June 10 at 4 p.m. PT.
Apr 29 Sat
7:00pm
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Vocal Night: A Tribute to Los Angeles Jazz and Blues Legend, Barbara Morrison Vocal Night: A tribute to Los Angeles Jazz and Blues Legend, Barbara Morrison, featuring UCLA Global Jazz Studies vocalists and special guests.
Lani Hall
Explore Our Degrees
Conducting
Graduate study and training in choral, orchestral, or wind conducting
Ethnomusicology
The study of global musical traditions through performance training, research, and field work
Global Jazz Studies
Jazz performance and musicianship courses are paired with African American Studies
Music Composition
Mentorship in the creation and realization of music for concerts, opera, and visual media
Music Education
Preparation for music educators leading to a B.A. and teaching credential in just four years
Music History & Industry
Combining Musicology and the Music Industry minor for practical hands-on training with the study of music within the context of different societies, cultures, and theories
Music Industry
Industry professionals and UCLA faculty prepare students for music-related careers
Musicology
The scholarly study of the histories, cultures, and critical interpretations of music and music-making
Music Performance
Study and training towards professional performance careers in Western classical music