The B.M., Performance Concentration, Jazz Studies Option offers instrumental students a balanced course of study in both performance and academic classes to help them develop their skills as jazz artists and educators. Students in the degree have the opportunity to study jazz history, theory, improvisation, pedagogy and composition, and arranging, in addition to taking private lessons with both traditional applied faculty and jazz specialists.
Ensembles in the Jazz Studies area consist of two large jazz ensembles and two smaller jazz combos. Both the ensembles and combos expose students to classic and contemporary jazz literature and styles with an emphasis on quality performance and education. Auditions for the jazz ensembles are open to all CSU students. Ensemble audition excerpts and instructions are available at music.colostate.edu/auditions.
Degree Program
Jazz Studies students are highly encouraged to develop their talents in the context of a wide musical world while still learning the classic music of the jazz masters.
- The select nature of the CSU Jazz Program gives students the opportunity for more individual attention and time with their faculty mentors.
- Students develop skills that can be immediately applied to a range of career performance opportunities, both on and off campus.
- Students get to learn from and perform with a wide range of regular guest artists and clinicians. Past guests include John Fedchock, John Riley, Dave Pietro, Paul McKee, Walt Weiskopf, Scott Wendholt, Rich Perry, Greg Gisbert, Zach Brock, Erik Deutsch, Art Lande, Nguyen Le, Ron Miles, Michael Weiss, and many more.
- Repertoire for our two big bands and multiple small combos includes classic literature and modern music, and students are pushed to write and arrange their own music to share with their peers and the public in our regular concerts each semester.
- The Jazz Studies degree is currently available to students who play the following instruments only: trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, percussion, and double bass.
Audition Requirements
In addition to the performance degree audition requirements listed on the individual instrument web pages, students must also audition for the jazz area.
- Prepare two jazz standards and/or classics of your choice, including melody and improvisation (accompaniment will be provided, or the auditioning student can provide an audio track)
- Pianists should also be prepared to play accompaniment (comp) on the chord progression
- Bassists should also be prepared to play a bass line in the appropriate style on the chord progression
- Drummers should prepare multiple jazz styles including swing, bossa nova, samba, ballad, funk and rock, as well as ¾ time. Drummers should also be prepared to demonstrate knowledge of blues and AABA form.
- Sight reading will also be included in all auditions
Study With
Wil Swindler
Instructor of Music; Coordinator of Jazz Studies; Director of Jazz Bands
Peter Sommer
Associate Professor of Music; Saxophone, Chamber Music, Jazz Studies; Coordinator of Woodwinds
Shilo Stroman
Instructor of Music; Percussion, Jazz Studies, Marching Band (Drumline)
Jazz Studies Events
Jazz Ensembles Concert: Spotlight on Ernie Wilkins
CLASSICAL CONVERGENCE CONCERT SERIES: Passion for Bach and Coltrane
Harmony Outreach Competition and Concert
Jazz Studies News
The Rocky Mountain Saxophone Summit Story
By Viola Cai, Publicity Intern “It is almost like a saxophone party!” The Rocky Mountain Saxophone Summit at the University Center for the Arts invites saxophonists of all ages and levels to join their party. There will be masterclasses during daytime and a capstone recital in the evening. Tim Glesmann from Sax Alley will be […]
CSU Jazz Ensembles Collaborate with Guest Artist Terell Stafford, Trumpet
By Emily Kaiser, SMTD Publicity Intern Dr. Peter Sommer, and the Colorado State University Jazz Ensembles I and II are gearing up for an exciting experience to collaborate with guest artist, Terell Stafford, the renowned trumpet player from the East Coast region. The student ensemble members will have the opportunity to learn from the artist, […]
Jazz Ensembles Celebrate One Hundredth Birthday of Jazz Innovators
By Nicole Towne, UCA Publicity Intern This October, two of the biggest names in jazz will turn 100. Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk, born 10 days apart, will be remembered with a performance by Colorado State University’s jazz ensembles on Sept. 28. “Dizzy and Monk are two of the fathers of modern jazz,” said Peter […]
Guest Artists
2015-2016
Paul Romaine
Denver drummer, founder of the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts, instructor at University of Colorado; website.
