Music, BM Concentration
Studio Music & Jazz
Develop your voice as a performer, improviser, and composer through one of the Southeast’s most vibrant undergraduate jazz programs.
Program Overview
The Studio Music & Jazz concentration within the Bachelor of Music (BM) degree prepares students for careers as professional jazz artists, composers, and educators. Grounded in performance and guided by an accomplished faculty of working musicians, this program blends rigorous training in theory, history, and musicianship with real-world experiences in small combos, jazz band, and studio settings.
From your very first semester, you’ll take part in private studio lessons, perform regularly in small jazz ensembles, and build a solid foundation in jazz piano, improvisation, arranging, and jazz history. The program is carefully sequenced to develop your skills over time, culminating in a junior recital, senior recital, and courses in pedagogy and advanced improvisation.
Learn more about our Jazz Area and Faculty
Why study Studio Music & Jazz?
- One-on-one instruction with active jazz performers, composers, and educators
- Regular ensemble experience in small jazz combos and contemporary groups
- Core courses in jazz theory, piano, arranging, history, and pedagogy
- Integrated training in improvisation, composition, and recording techniques
- Flexible electives in commercial scoring, music technology, and entrepreneurship
- Emphasis on real-world readiness through junior and senior recital experiences
What can you do with a Studio Music & Jazz concentration after graduation?
At the University of Tennessee, we prepare students for both academic and professional success, including real-world careers you can pursue right after graduation. Whether your passion lies in performance, composing, producing, or teaching, you’ll gain the skills to thrive in a variety of creative roles. Potential career opportunities include:
- Sound Designer or Music Producer
- Jazz performer or recording artist
- Arranger or composer
- Studio Musician
- Private Instructor or Ensemble Coach
- Arts Administrator or Concert Presenter
Featured Courses
Visit the undergraduate catalog for more information.
MUTC 340 Introduction to Computer Music Transcription
Exercise in notation, playback, and publishing incorporating elements of word processing, graphic design, sequencing, and page layout. Study of Music Instrument Digital Interface protocol as it applies to computer music work station design.
MUJZ 210 Jazz Improvisation I
Study of application and principles of improvisation, including nomenclature, chord progressions, chord-scales, patterns, melodic development, and tune styles.
MUJZ 310 Jazz Composition and Arranging
Composing and arranging in the jazz idiom.
MUJZ 420 Jazz Pedagogy
Methods and materials relating to teaching of jazz, designing and administering jazz programs, and rehearsal techniques for jazz ensembles.
Admissions and Aid
Choosing the right university to pursue a music degree is an important decision and a significant investment. We want to make sure that you have the information you need to both apply and make attending UT affordable.
Questions? We’re here to help. Contact our admissions team at [email protected].
