Global Jazz Studies - The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music

What is Global Jazz Studies?

Jazz is a global and constantly evolving phenomenon, with roots and their extensions in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia. As a cultural force, jazz has a powerful tendency to transform the musical and political worlds it engages. We cultivate jazz’s transformative capabilities in our curriculum while we focus on honing the skills and talents of our students. Students have the opportunity to play in multiple ensembles and work one-on-one with artist-teachers in individual studios. Our courses immerse our students in the vibrant history and culture of jazz.

In the best liberal arts tradition, you will enjoy interdisciplinary contact from the departments of ethnomusicology, musicology and music industry at the School of Music and UCLA’s other arts and humanities departments. We are committed to giving students the best academic and musical preparation, all while taking advantage of the many performance opportunities on campus and in Los Angeles.

“It’s amazing how jazz interacts and influences cultures from around the world. I’m an immigrant myself, and I appreciated the global focus of the program.”
-Christian Omar Ruiz Mendoza, class of 2023

Global Jazz Studies News

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Freedom Melody Concert Caps Steve Dyer Residency
Steve Dyer, the South African multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, visited The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music the week of October 27 with his quartet Aaron Rimbui (piano), Jimmy Mngwandi
A Concert That Asks the Audience to Listen to Their Voices, and Others
Forty years after the African music festival Freedom Melody challenged apartheid, an artist brings the songs of resistance and humanity to the stage On Wednesday, October 29, The UCLA Herb
2025-26 Season Brings Exciting Programming to Los Angeles and Beyond
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s 2025–26 season offers something for everyone, with over 200 public concerts, recitals and panel discussions at UCLA and throughout the community. True to
Alumnus Publishes Study on Health Benefits of Mindful Jazz Listening
Ethnomusicology alum Sean Young worked in the music industry before earning a Ph.D in Psychology from Stanford University. Now a professor at UC Irvine, Young has published a controlled study
From the Classroom to Coachella
The Channeltone Horns, a trio comprised of three global jazz students at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, are set to perform at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and
The Poem is the Music, the Musician is the Poet
Celebrated Poet Nathaniel Mackey Talks About the Deep Connections between Jazz and Language On Friday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m. in Schoenberg Hall, Salim Washington, professor and chair of global

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 BA and teaching credential in just four years
Music Industry
A leadership-focused professional degree which prepares students to transform the creative, entrepreneurial, and executive structures of the music industry
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