About the Specialization
Undergraduate students of jazz bass, guitar, keyboard, drums, brass, reeds, and in special cases for other instruments, jazz performance, develop their skills through major lessons, jazz forums, and a range of classes covering transcription, jazz improvisation, harmonic improvisation, keyboard theory, composition, arranging and jazz history, among other topics.
Intensive ensemble work includes performing with both a student jazz ensemble and a faculty jazz ensemble, West African Music and Dance ensembles, Balinese and Javanese Music and Dance ensembles, North Indian Music ensembles, Persian ensembles, and a variety of multi-focus and cross-genre groups in the School. Along the way, students build both concert and recording studio experience.
Mentors and faculty provide continuous musical guidance and collegial artistic advice throughout the BFA residency, as students develop the musical skills and creative voices they need to excel as professional jazz artists after finishing at CalArts.
All BFA jazz students are required to pass a Graduation Recital in order to obtain the degree.
Full Curriculum
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