The Jazz Arts program at Manhattan School of Music is one of the world's leading programs for jazz music.
Our comprehensive program prepares skilled performers, composers, arrangers, and jazz educators for successful careers in jazz music.
As one of the first conservatories in the U.S. to acknowledge the prime importance of jazz as an art form, Manhattan School of Music’s programs of study for jazz arts majors are designed to develop skilled performers, composers, arrangers, and jazz educators in preparation for careers in jazz music.
Systematic and rigorous conservatory training, combined with a myriad of performance and networking opportunities in New York City, make this program one of the richest of its kind for young jazz musicians.
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)
SLIDESHOW: MSM Jazz Arts instrumentalists and vocalists
Every concert season, guest soloists are featured in concert with our large ensembles, providing enriched performance experiences for students. Recent guest soloists include Paquito D’Rivera, NEA Jazz Masters Candido and Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Joe Lovano, Bob Mintzer, and vocalists Jane Monheit, Roberta Gambarini, and Judi Silvano.
All students in the Jazz Arts degree programs are required to fulfill their ensemble requirement as outlined in their course sequence plans and as assigned by the associate dean of the Jazz Arts Program.
Procedures By Instrument Type
Jazz Arts Department Handbook — includes information for current students on a variety of issues including ensemble and audition requirements, juries, recitals, grading systems, etc.
Plan of Study: Jazz Arts MSM Academic Catalog
2021-2022 Program Calendar
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:
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
In addition to studies with our expert faculty, students are provided opportunities to observe, play for, and receive feedback from world-renowned guest artists!
SLIDESHOW: Photos from a Master Class with Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter and composer, Terence Blanchard
Ingrid Jensen Dean of Jazz Arts ijensen@msmnyc.edu
JAN 2018 | Watch our teaser for the MSM Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra playing music from Clifford Brown with Strings and the Max Roach-Clifford Brown Quintet
917-493-4436 | admissions@msmnyc.edu
Support for Jazz Arts scholarships is provided by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation
Ingrid Jensen
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