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Bachelor of Arts in Music – Jazz

"Jazz is the freest way to make and play music" (George Gruntz). Jazz is the one genre of music that truly embodies an attitude to life which values freedom, communication, innovation and self-expression.

Students of Bachelor degree programme receive extensive practical training and acquire the foundations to develop their own unique and well-rounded identity as an artist. This study programme focuses on perfecting students’ instrumental/vocal proficiency while encouraging them to find their creative voice.
Students will hone their improvisation and ensemble-playing skills by working on seminal works from the jazz tradition. Students are also actively encouraged to compose and perform their own works. In addition, the programme comprises a range of compulsory and elective courses designed to equip students with the necessary skills and tools to perform at the highest artistic level.

A stimulating environment that affords me the space to develop as an artist.

Lorraine Dinkel, student

Overview

The Bachelor degree programme aims to produce versatile and multifaceted jazz musicians who are able to work independently and put the skills they have acquired into practice. Students will hone their musicianship skills, acquire a solid grounding in the history of jazz and music in general, and become well-versed in the basics of music theory and improvisation. They will also be able to to communicate and reflect critically on the subject of music.

Graduates will be equipped to develop and expand their existing means of artistic expression, launch and carry out their own projects, as well as play a constructive role in the projects of other creatives. Holders of a BA in Music with an instrumental/vocal Jazz major have the qualifications required for a wide range of work as a professional musician and for further study at Master’s level.

Core curriculum

Major module (72 CP):
Individual and group tuition
Sight reading
Secondary subject (instrument/voice training)

Module Performance (24 CP):
Basic tunes & patterns
Workshop repertoire/themes or Big Band

Complementary courses

Practical module (54 CP):
Piano (compulsory)
Jazz aesthetics I: harmony
Jazz aesthetics II: improvisation and harmony
Jazz aesthetics III: reharmonisation techniques
Improvisation and world music
Ear training
Rhythm training
Rhythm & movement

Theory module (18 CP):
Voice leading
Arrangement
Analysis of jazz standards and improvisation
Jazz history, introduction
Jazz history, advanced
History of music
Music research

MA stream module (6 CP):
Preparation for MA P: Introducing Producing
Preparation for MA P: Tutoring/Writing Workshop
Preparation for MA MP: Meetings with FD faculties

Elective courses

Personalised module (6 CP):
Music business: attendance at two events
Courses/activities chosen from the electives on offer

Modulplan

Teaching staff Jazz

Our internationally renowned teaching staff

to teaching staff Jazz

Admission process

In order to be considered for entry to the Bachelor degree programme with an instrumental or vocal major, applicants must hold a school-leaving qualification (Swiss Baccalaureate, Swiss Professional Baccalaureate or equivalent); exceptions may be made for applicants with exceptional artistic talent.
Applications will not be considered from individuals who already hold an undergraduate music degree or similar qualification from a Swiss education provider.
Only applicants who have submitted the required registration documentation duly completed and on time will be invited to take the entrance examination. Applicants must also be sufficiently proficient in the German or English language from the outset.

Practical Exam Requirements

Major in Instrument or vocals:

Performance of three prepared jazz-oriented pieces of different stylistic and rhythmic genres
Performance of free choice: A self-composed piece of any style or a composition of a personally preferred genre, a technically demanding etude, transcription or similar. The piece can be performed alone, with playback or with the accompanying ensemble (see below*).
Sight-readand improvise within a simple melody. For main instrument guitar, piano and bass comp over a chord progression and for main instrument drums,interprete provided Lead-sheets

Major in Composition:

Performance with an ensemble (piano trio, see below*) of two pieces within any style (an original composition and a cover song) on vocals or the instrument of choice.
Solo performance of a self-composed or cover piece within any style on vocals or the instrument of choice.
Presentation of 2 recorded original compositions (scores) with short, prepared explanations (optionally along with sound recordings).
Written exercise / task (duration: 60 minutes)

*The performances will be accompanied by a Rhythm section (piano, bass and drums). For this, the student should provide in triplicate clear readable music (Lead-sheets) to bring to the test.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the candidates bring along a comprehensive list of previously studied, preferably memorized (Jazz) pieces for entrance examination.

Theoretical Examination Requirements

This section of the exam is required for the ones who passed the practical exam.

Basics of harmony (oral / written):

Determining intervals
Determination of major, minor and church modes
Harmonizing a melody
Analysis of a chord progression
Analyze and write chord symbols for three and four voice chords
Listening and analyzing cadences and typical chord progressions

Ear Training:

Listening and identifying intervals
Listen and identify tetrachords(tonal and free)
Singing a melody from a written sheet
Melody dictation
Singing and naming scales (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian)

Rhythm:

Singing / clapping binary and ternary exercises from a written sheet, in 4/4 and 3/4 time to 16th notes, 8th triplets and quadruplets
Rhythm dictation at the same level of difficulty