The Juilliard School - Music Division

Music Division

Jazz Studies

In September 2001, the Juilliard Institute for Jazz Studies opened its doors, welcoming 18 advanced jazz musicians into the School's newest program. Selected by audition, these 18 young artists became the first class in the program, which now offers a four-year bachelor's degree in music as well as a two-year post bachelor's Artist Diploma. (Students applying for the tuition-free, pre-professional, Artist Diploma must already have a bachelor's degree.)

The Jazz Studies program is the collaboration of two organizations — The Juilliard School and Jazz at Lincoln Center — which represent the highest level of excellence in the music profession. It has access to the greatest performers and teachers in both the jazz and classical worlds as its faculty.

Students participate in a curriculum that focuses on public performance for jazz orchestra and small ensemble. In addition to school-year performances at Juilliard and Alice Tully Hall, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra and the Juilliard Small Jazz Ensemble perform in local venues and on tour. (Performing stipends are awarded.) To find out more, please visit the Jazz Performance Activities page.

All Jazz students are required to complete the following courses:

Jazz History
Jazz Improvisation
Jazz Composition and Arranging
Juilliard Jazz Orchestra
Small Jazz Ensemble
Piano Skills
Elements of Music

Students have the opportunity to take placement exams or auditions which can exempt them from the requirement for Ear Training, Piano Skills, and Literature and Materials.The Jazz faculty consists of accomplished jazz artists and scholars. Active as performers and composers, the jazz faculty have worked with and learned from the greatest jazz musicians, including Alvin Batiste, Dizzy Gillespie, Slide Hampton, Ellis Marsalis, and Joshua Redman, among others.

The Juilliard School wishes to acknowledge the support the Institute for Jazz Studies has received from generous donors, including Bank of America, founding corporate sponsor; the Edward John Noble Foundation; the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative, a collaboration of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Surdna Foundation; and the members of the Juilliard Jazz Society.