Offering a state-of-the-art learning environment featuring an outstanding faculty as well as a truly exceptional campus and infrastructure, the Jazz Institut of Basel Academy of Music counts among the most highly reputed Higher Music Education institutions, both nationally and internationally.
Individual mentoring by outstanding faculty
Around 40 faculty members — many of whom actively shape the national and international jazz scene — work with more than 100 students at Jazzcampus. With pedagogical expertise and strong commitment, they share their knowledge, artistic skills and extensive professional experience while bringing their own unique artistic perspectives into the teaching process.
Outstanding facilities designed for jazz
Our exceptional building complex offers excellent infrastructure, including an in-house jazz club, several recording studios and numerous rehearsal and teaching rooms accessible around the clock. A wide range of performance opportunities, collaborations and band projects enables students to apply and develop their skills in real-world settings already during their studies.
Individual learning in a family-like atmosphere
Bachelor Studies
Repertoire, composition, interpretation: getting prepared for the Master's degree
Instrument/Voice or CompositionMusic Secondary Education II, JazzMaster Studies
Events
Our calendar of events is published in cooperation with the Musik-Akademie Basel.
Experience it liveImpressions
News
@institutjazz
Instagram 🎶 Vimeo 🎶 Event calendar
History and people
About the history
In 1986, Bernhard Ley and a dozen or so colleagues founded the Basel Jazzcasino, Switzerland's fifth jazz school after Bern, Lucerne, Zurich and St. Gallen. A steady increase in interest soon meant that the location became too small. In 1996 – now with a professional department recognised by the SMPV and financial support from the canton and foundations – the school movedto a new place. In 2000, it was integrated into the Basel Academy of Music as the jazz department.
The Jazzcampus project dates back tothe late 2000s: thanks to generous patronage, the Jazzcampus was redesigned and realised from the ground up; the inauguraton of this building complex was in late summer 2014. Finally, in 2018, the jazz department became one of three institutes of the Basel Academy of Music.
A place for jazz
University institute, music school, public jazz club and home to the Focusyear talent promotion programme and Jugendjazzorchester.ch: the Jazzcampus in Basel's old town, near the Rhine, is all this and more. Stars of the international jazz scene and children experiencing jazz for the first time come and go here, and aficionados and (former) students meet here. This is where people rehearse, jam, improvise, record, learn, research and continue to write the history of jazz in all its facets. An inspiring place, a laboratory, designed and built for the needs of this young genre and its musicians.
Institut Jazz
FHNW Basel Academy of Music
Institut Jazz
Utengasse 15
CH - 4058 Basel