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UNO: Symphonize with Music and Jazz studies
23 Feb 2018
City of soul and sound
As people gear up for the 2018 New Orleans Jazz festival, the 49th annual celebration has swiftly brought our attention to the global influence of jazz. As the birthplace of jazz and rock-n-roll, thousands of tourists from around the world dream of visiting vibrant New Orleans in the heart of Louisiana.
This powerful musical movement dates back to the 1900s, with the ad-lib ragtime talents of Charles ‘Buddy’ Bolden binding him as the genre’s founding father. The 1920s saw Louis Armstrong step firmly onto the scene, giving the popular musical style purpose and direction. By playing a key role in the genre’s global development, Armstrong’s rhythmic trumpet techniques and upbeat persona instantly gave life to an era defined by the American Dream. Armstrong ignited one of the world’s most influential styles, allowing the revolution of toe-tapping beats to take center stage.
Alongside inventiveness and individuality, creative freedom has helped form the genre of jazz. With a magnetic way of luring in the listener, the genre is just as lively today as ever before. Many people continue to enjoy the melodious delights of jazz.
“The jazz scene in New Orleans today is enormous, dramatically diverse, and historically deep and connected,” explains Professor Brian Seegar, University of New Orleans (UNO). “On the deadest night, there are still more than 50 live performances happening. During the active time, you could choose from over 100 different jazz shows. New Orleanians are kind and supportive individuals, so it’s very easy to have a chance to talk and hang out with professionals!”
Delve into the birthplace of Jazz
If you’re interested in exploring the concepts of jazz and composing musical masterpieces of your own, you really should check out the College of Liberal Arts, Education and Human Development at UNO.
Situated in one of America’s greatest music cities, you know this institution is set to deliver musical excellence. For aspiring undergraduates, why not tune into the B.A. in Music with Jazz Studies program; a four-year degree that delivers core courses on improvisation, jazz history, arranging the technology of sound, and essential theory. What’s great about UNO’s Department of Music is the way that its music courses focus on both your individual and ensemble performance abilities. So, while you’re engaging with your critical-thinking and entrepreneurial expertise, your professors will also keep a steady eye on your practical progression.
If you want to take your degree to an even higher level, you may also be interested in the Masters of Music with Jazz Studies program. For two years, you will receive advanced training in the applied field of jazz and will also be required to present a graduate recital. This engaging and exciting scheme has produced extremely successful performers and bandleaders.
With UNO Jazz Studies, students are not confined to the conventional classroom, with an in-house recording studio fully-equipped and readily set-up for your creative talent. Studio visits merge with group work activities and one-to-one sessions, allowing students to get familiar with the college’s high-tech musical environment.
As dedicated UNO staff agree, “Our bespoke music programs allow carefully selected students to interact with a world class faculty, as well as a plethora of top-tier guest artists and clinicians. Every member of our faculty has operated at the highest levels of creativity and professionalism and collaborated with the masters of the jazz world.”
Ensemble of top educators
This college understands that ambitious jazz students expect to be guided by a motivated team of professional musicians. That’s why they’ve enlisted an extraordinary ensemble of educators who are passionate about the trade, possessing invaluable industry knowledge that can be passed on.
Another feature that sets this faculty apart is that jazz music professors at UNO ensure they watch every one of their students perform. By maintaining an up-to-date mentoring system, students receive the guidance and attention needed to develop as an artist and musician. Without this, many would lose track of their creative development and would be far less likely to succeed after graduation.
On top of current staff, you’ll also connect to a network of distinguished alumni, such as Jamison Ross, Grammy-nominee and winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, master trumpeter Nicholas Payton, drum guru Brian Blade, and many more jazz dignitaries. There’s also the Jazz at the Sandbar series which pairs student groups with seasoned jazz figures, such as Ellis Marsalis, Rufus Reid and Randy Brecker.
As Professor Brian Seeger, whose band, Organic Trio, recently spent two months in the US Radio Jazz Top 10 confirms: “You will never find a more fertile or accessible place to study music than the University of New Orleans. There are very few programs in the world that can offer such a personal experience, both with your peers and your mentors. As the vast majority of our graduates end up in music-related careers, your talent is set to rise at UNO.”
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