Programs

Alto Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bass Trombone
Cello
Clarinet
Composition (MM only)
Double Bass
Drum Set
Electric Bass
Flute
Guitar
Harmonica
Piano
Tenor Saxophone
Tenor Trombone
Trumpet
Vibraphone
Viola
Violin
Voice (MM & DMA only)

Jazz composition is offered for graduate applicants who wish to pursue a Master of Music degree.  Students who major in jazz composition at Manhattan School of Music are presented with several unique and special opportunities to develop their art. These include regularly scheduled composers’ reading sessions each semester for large and small ensembles; two Jazz Philharmonic reading sessions with full studio orchestra (symphony orchestra & jazz big band; sessions are recorded for faculty review and study); student commissions with performance and monetary awards, performance of compositions at Jazz at Lincoln Center concerts, quarterly jazz composers’ concerts for chamber and jazz orchestra ensembles; and open access to two computer-based electronic music studios.

Classes are offered in studio synthesis techniques, composing and arranging for MIDI synthesizer, arranging for jazz composers, advanced studio recording, film scoring classes, songwriting classes.

Jazz voice is offered for graduate applicants who wish to pursue a Master of Music degree. The jazz voice program at Manhattan School of Music is designed to prepare each vocalist to be an exceptional performer who is able to function in today’s business of music. The program is spearheaded by our internationally renowned faculty Theo Bleckmann and Kate McGarry. Here are some of the highlights of the program:

• Vocalists are part of our unique performance track, combining vocalists and instrumentalists
• Small combo setting allows for individual attention
• Improvisation classes mix voice, composition, and instrumental students in an ensemble setting
• There are performance opportunities with big bands, as well as Jazz Philharmonic orchestra (symphony orchestra with jazz instrumentalists)

The program of study leading to the Manhattan School of Music doctor of musical arts degree is offered with a major in Jazz Arts Advancement.

Program Philosophy

As jazz music continues to work its way into the mainstream of the American education system, new and innovative methods need to be formulated to assure the perpetuation and development of this important art form. The Manhattan School of Music philosophy is that this is best done at the actual point where knowledge is transferred, at the level of the educator.

Having created a program that attracts top musical talent, Manhattan School of Music trains Doctor of Musical Arts candidates through an integrated and innovative educational format that focuses on three distinct and critical areas of jazz music: performance, composition and pedagogy. This three-fold educational concept enables a student to develop as “The Complete Artist Musician” — one who excels equally as a performer, composer, arranger, teacher, conductor of workshops and clinics, and lecturer. This distinctive concept in music education is the central philosophy of the Manhattan School of Music Doctoral Jazz Arts Advancement Program.

Additional info available here: Doctoral Jazz Arts Advancement Program

Michael Abene (’61), composer, arranger, former Faculty member

Ambrose Akinmusire (BM ’05), trumpeter, Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Artistic Director

Fabian Almazan (BM ’06, MM ’09), pianist

Martina Barta (MM ’23), vocalist

Patrick Bartley (BM ’15), saxophonist

Jamie Baum* (MM ’99), flutist

Benny Benack III (BM ’13, MM ’15), trumpeter and bandleader

John Benitez (BM ’04), bassist

Theo Bleckmann* (’90), vocalist, composer, bandleader

Luis Bonilla (MM ’04), trombonist

Domo Branch (BM ’22), drummer

Donald Byrd (BM ’63, MM ’63) (deceased), trumpet, NEA Jazz Master

Obed Calvaire* (BM ’03, MM ’05), drummer

Nicola Caminiti (BM ’19, MM ’22), saxophonist and composer

Ron Carter (MM ’61, HonDMA ’98), bassist, bandleader, educator, NEA Jazz Master

Sara Caswell (MM ’06), violinist

Gerald W. Clayton (’05), pianist, bandleader

Emmet Cohen (MM ’14), pianist and bandleader

Harry Connick, Jr. (’86), pianist, composer, singer, actor

Todd Coolman (MM ’86), bassist, professor Emeritus at State University of New York at Purchase

Tanya Darby (BM ’98), trumpeter, Chair of Brass at Berklee College of Music

Rich DeRosa (MM ’85), arranger, pianist, educator, Director of Jazz Composition and arranging at the University of North Texas, former MSM Faculty member

Garry Dial (MM ’90), pianist, educator, composer, former MSM Faculty member

Justin DiCioccio (MM ’71), drummer, former MSM Jazz Arts Associate Dean and Chair

Roy Eaton (BM ’50, MM ’52), pianist, composer

Mike Fahie^‡ (MM ’02), trombonist, composer

Andy Farber (’90), saxophonist, composer, arranger

Steven Feifke (MM ’18), pianist and bandleader

Sullivan Fortner (MM ’10), pianist

Joel Frahm (BM ’92), saxophonist, bandleader

Jimmy Greene (DMA ’18), saxophonist

Dave Grusin (’67, HonDMA ’13), pianist, composer, record label executive

Chris Hajian* (BM ’87), composer, trumpeter

Kellin Hanas (BM ’24), trumpet

Herbie Hancock (’61, HonDMA ’23), pianist, composer, NEA Jazz Master

Eric D. Harland (’96), drummer

Stefon Harris (BM ’95, MM ’97), vibraphonist, composer, bandleader, former MSM Jazz Arts Associate Dean and Chair

Kevin Hays (’89), pianist, bandleader

Miho Hazama (MM ’12), composer, bandleader, chief conductor of the Danish Radio Big Band

Matt Holman* (MM ’10, DMA ’18), composer, trumpeter

Gregory Hutchinson (’89), vibraphonist

Daryl Johns (’17), bassist

Tony Kadleck (BM ’89), trumpeter

Ryan Keberle* (BM ’01), trombonist, bandleader

Ryan Kisor (’93), trumpeter

Yusef Lateef (BM ’69, MM ’70) (deceased), composer, performer, educator, NEA Jazz Master

Pascal Le Boeuf (BM ’07, MM ’10), pianist, composer, Guggenheim Fellow

Remy Le Boeuf (BM ’07, MM ’09), pianist, composer, bandleader

Eric Lewis a.k.a. ELEW (BM ’97), pianist, composer, bandleader

John Lewis (BM ’52, MM ’53, HonDMA ’96) (deceased), pianist, arranger, composer, founder of Modern Jazz Quartet, former MSM Trustee, NEA Jazz Master

Jeremy Manasia* (BM ’93), pianist

Herbie Mann (’57), flutist, bandleader, composer

Hugh Masekela (’64) (deceased), trumpeter, bandleader

Christian McGhee (BM ’21, MM ’23), drummer and composer

Guy Mintus (BM ’15), pianist and bandleader

Bob Mintzer (’74), Saxophonist, woodwinds, composer-arranger, bandleader, Chief Conductor of the WDR Big Band (Cologne, Germany), University of Southern California Jazz Department Chair, former MSM Jazz Arts Faculty member

Motswedi Modiba a.k.a. MOE (MM ’24), vocalist

Jane Monheit (BM ’99), vocalist and bandleader

Jason Moran (BM ’97), pianist, composer, bandleader, educator, Artistic Advisor for Jazz at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2010 MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, former MSM Jazz Arts Faculty member

Adam Neely (MM ’12), pianist, composer, educator

Nadje Noordhuis (MM ’05), trumpeter, composer, former MSM Precollege Jazz Arts Faculty member

Adam O’Farrill (BM ’16), trumpeter, composer-arranger, bandleader

Zack O’Farrill (MM ’18), drummer

Linda Oh (MM ’08, HonDMA ’24), bassist, composer, bandleader

Miles Okazaki (MM ’99), guitarist

Aaron Parks (BM ’02), pianist, composer, bandleader

Luis Perdomo (BM ’97), pianist, composer

Danno Petersen (BM ’24), drummer

Elena Pinderhughes (BM ’17), flutist and bandleader

Charlie Porter (MM ’08), trumpeter, bandleader

Chris Potter (MM ’92), saxophonist, bandleader, composer

Alex Ridout (MM ’23), trumpeter

John Riley* (MM ’85), drummer, Vanguard Orchestra

Max Roach (’52, HonDMA ’90) (deceased), drummer, bandleader, composer

Sherisse Rogers* (MM ’04), composer, bassist

Chris Rosenberg* (MM ’85), guitarist

Ted Rosenthal* (BM ’81, MM ’83), pianist, bandleader, composer

Christian Sands (BM ’11, MM ’14), pianist and bandleader

Don Sebesky (’59), composer, arranger, trombonist

Lauren Sevian (BM ’01), saxophonist

Jaleel Shaw* (MM ’02), saxophonist

Evan Sherman (BM ’15), drummer and bandleader

Svetlana Shmulyian (MM ’15), vocalist

Steve Slagle (MM ’91), saxophonist, composer, former MSM Jazz Arts Faculty member

Walter Smith (MM ’05), saxophonist

Jahari Stampley (BM ’21), 2023 Hancock Piano Competition Winner

Richard Sussman (MM ’85), composer, MSM Faculty Emeritus

Erena Terakubo (MM ’23), saxophonist

Kim Thompson (BM ’03), drummer, SNL 8G Band alumna

Steve Turre (MM ’88), trombonist, bandleader, former MSM Faculty member

Donald Vega (MM ’07), pianist, composer, Guggenheim Fellow

Will Vinson (MM ’01), saxophonist, bandleader

Anna Webber (MM ’10), saxophonist, flutist, bandleader, composer, Guggenheim Fellow, Co-Chair of Jazz Studies at New England Conservatory

Daniel Weiss (BM ’99), drummer

Kenny Wessel* (MM ’87), guitarist

Joe Wilder (BM ’53) (deceased), trumpeter, NEA Jazz Master

Bernie Williams◊ (BM ’16), guitarist, former New York Yankees Centerfielder

Phil Woods (’49) (deceased), saxophonist, bandleader, composer, NEA Jazz Master

Miguel Zenon* (MM ’01), saxophonist, composer, bandleader, 2008 MacArthur Genius Grant recipient

Christopher Zuar* (MM ’13), composer

*MSM Jazz Arts Faculty
‡Alumni Council Member
◊MSM Trustee

• Terence Blanchard (HonDMA ’17, MSM Board of Trustees — trumpet)
• Gary Burton (vibraphone)
• Wycliffe Gordon (trombone)
• Stefon Harris (BM ’97, MM ’99 — vibraphone)
• Vijay Iyer (piano)
• Lee Konitz (saxophone)
• Dave Liebman (Artist-in-Residence — saxophone)
• Jason Moran (BM ’97 — piano)
• Butch Morris (Conduction Workshop)
• Christian McBride (bass)
• Jimmy Heath (tenor saxophone)
• Jon Faddis (trumpet)
• Maria Schneider (composition)