The Jazz Studies Program is part of the BGSU College of Musical Arts.

  • Minor Available
  • Bachelors Available
  • Minor Available
  • Bachelors Available

Jazz Studies

The BGSU jazz department offers unparalleled opportunities for students wishing to study and perform jazz. Multiple ensembles and several annual guest residencies expose students to solo and ensemble literature, styles, pedagogy, the music industry, and more. Our exceptional faculty prepare students in courses like jazz history, composition and arranging, for a well-rounded education.

Enjoy modern facilities with more than 70 practice rooms, an 850-seat concert hall, 250-seat recital hall, and state-of-the-art computer labs and recording studio. Take your experience outside our walls with many off-campus performance opportunities.

Quality classroom experiences

The jazz performance degree offers students numerous opportunities to develop their musicianship through a blend of course, one-on-one, and ensemble experiences. Residencies with top performers in the field expose students to new ideas and networking opportunities.

Stand Out in courses like

  • Jazz chamber and large ensembles
  • Jazz composition and arranging
  • Jazz History
  • Private lessons with distinguished faculty

Curriculum

Jazz performance students receive private lessons on their main instrument, participate in small and large ensembles, work with world-renowned jazz artists, take supporting courses in pedagogy and repertoire and complete the music core (music theory, aural skills, music history). The capstone experience for performance majors is their senior recital.

Travel grants, guest artists, excellent facilities, and a robust network of alumni performing throughout the world

Internships and Careers

Alumni from the jazz performance department are numbered throughout the world in the music profession as performers and educators. Notable alumni include trumpeter Tim Hagans and saxophonist Rich Perry. Each year graduating seniors are accepted into prestigious graduate programs and pursue successful performance careers.

go far in your career

  • Performer
  • Arranger
  • Composer
  • Educator
  • Music Producer

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College of Musical Arts Admissions

All students who wish to major or minor in music must audition before being accepted to the College of Musical Arts. Students first apply to the University, then select that they want to be a music major. They then must submit an Audition Reservation Form to schedule their audition date. More information about applying.  

In the College of Musical Arts we believe that success is based on both musical and academic ability. While your audition is the primary consideration in your application for admission, your academic portfolio is also of great importance. This includes ACT or SAT scores, high school GPA, and your background and experiences in music.

Although the College of Musical Arts has no official test score requirements, we have found that acceptance into the CMA, and academic success in music classes, is most likely to be achieved by students with ACT scores of 22 or higher (1030 SAT). The average student ACT score in the College of Musical Arts is currently 26 (1190 SAT).

The Hansen Music Fellowship is awarded to two incoming music performance freshmen each year, and provides annual funding for professional development opportunities throughout the degree program.  



* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in music are expected to:

  • Possess a repertoire of musical skills and knowledge;
  • Demonstrate independence of thought and action in music performance and scholarship;
  • Make informed aesthetic judgments about music compositions and performances, including evaluation of musical knowledge;
  • Understand the styles and structures of music and relate this knowledge to performance;
  • Understand relationships among multiple traditions, histories, and styles of music, art, and other disciplines;
  • Apply technical vocabulary to communicate with a community of other professionals and to instruct novices;
  • Apply musical knowledge to novel situations in performance, teaching, scholarship, and composition, including personal interpretations of the repertoire;
  • Participate in associations and organizations for the improvement of music in our society and articulate complex professional issues to audiences and community constituencies in ways that make these concepts understandable;
  • Lead musical performances and discussions.

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Music Performance program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and is in good standing.

More information on accreditation

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Music Performance program does not lead to professional licensure.

Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Music Performance program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

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Updated: 06/09/2022 04:18PM