Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy – Jazz (Instrument/Voice)

Nurturing independently-minded artist-educators who can share their expertise with empathy and enthusiasm

Jazz (Instrument/Voice) pursues two objectives. On the one hand, students acquire the basics necessary to perform in public as well as the contextual knowledge to plan and deliver musical performances to a professional level.

On the other hand, students acquire the requisite skills to teach and communicate music to others, enabling them to become music educators who can guide others to jazz and music in general and offer professional, practical instrumental/vocal instruction at all Levels.

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

Lorraine Dinkel, student

Overview

Jazz (Instrument/Voice) is a practice-led graduate programme which focuses on producing musicians with a well-developed and unique artistic identity who can deliver musical performances of the highest calibre, either as a soloist or as part of an ensemble. To this end, students acquire the ability to compose and arrange music for performance/teaching purposes, and advance their knowledge of the history of music in general, and of jazz in particular. They also gain the music management expertise they will need for their future career.

The Master’s programme also delivers the necessary pedagogical-didactic skills for the provision of professional jazz tuition at all Levels.

This Master’s programme produces professional musician-educators who have a well-rounded artistic identity and the necessary qualifications to deliver musical performances of the highest calibre either as a soloist or as part of an ensemble. Graduates of this programme have the requisite expertise to lead ensembles, as well as initiate and oversee their own creative projects.

Equally, holders of a this Master are qualified to offer instrumental, group and ensemble tuition in general, music and jazz schools at all levels, as well as on a private basis. This means that they are also qualified to assess the musical development of children, young people and adults and to further them according to their abilities and musical Goals.

In a freely arranged performance (max. 30 min), applicants should be able to demonstrate advanced artistic abilities and excellent instrumental/vocal proficiency. The choice of material should be stylistically diverse and reflect the applicant’s familiarity with a wide range of jazz genres. The applicant may perform a work from the standard jazz repertoire, an original work in their preferred style or an arrangement. For the performance, the university provides a backing band (rhythm section). Applicants must provide the backing band with clear sheet music (lead sheets, 3 copies) if their prepared music is not included in the standard "Fake Books".
Applicants are also kindly requested to provide the examiners with a list of the repertoire (e.g. jazz standards) that they have already studied and preferably are able to perform from memory.
During the audition, the examiners may decide to ask the applicant to undertake a short and unprepared exam, e.g. a sight-reading/singing or free improvisation exercise, in order to ascertain his/her level of playing experience.
Prior to the audition, the applicant will be interviewed to assess his/her pedagogical aptitude and the scope of their existing knowledge.

Piano (compulsory) for non-pianists

Applicants whose Bachelor degree did not include piano as a compulsory subject will be required to perform the following exercises:

Repertoire: performance of five, stylistically different works using advanced harmonisation techniques as follows – theme (chord accompaniment) – accompaniment (with variations) – improvisation (optional). The examiners will choose which of the works they wish the applicant to perform.
Sight-reading of a jazz standard of intermediate difficulty (accompaniment, poss. melody).
Major and minor key progressions, individual chords (both with variations).

The piano exam will take place before the main audition (max. 10 minutes incl. sight-reading and progressions).