Jazz Studies

Area Overview

Jazz is big at Utah State, with hundreds of students participating every year in jazz activities of one kind or another, whether in one of the two big bands, several combos, numerous guitar ensembles, jazz improvisation and history classes, various chamber groups that include jazz in their repertoires, the Jazz Kicks Big band, the annual Jazz Night at the Sky Club, the jazz series at Why Sound, or the regular jazz jam sessions downtown. Students at USU have opportunities to conduct, write for, perform in, and record and tour with big bands and small groups. In June of 2014, Downbeat Magazine honored the USU Jazz Orchestra with its Outstanding Performance by a Large Jazz Ensemble award in the annual Student Music Awards issue. This is due to a combination of great students who are excited to study and perform this music, and a world-class music faculty, many of whom are also members of the faculty music ensemble Aggie Music Project.

Ensembles & Classes

Utah State University offers students numerous opportunities to study Jazz. Whether through participation in one of our many Jazz Ensembles (our two Big Bands -- the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra; as well as numerous Combos), or by enrolling in a course about Jazz history, we have something for everyone interested in adding some Jazz to their university studies.

Jazz Courses at USU

CRN	Course Name	Semesters Offered	Credits	Additional Information
MUSC 2460	Individual Jazz Piano Instruction for Non-Music Majors	Fall, Spring, Summer	1-2	1 credit = 30 min lesson, 2 credits = 1 hour lesson
MUSC 2470	Individual Jazz Piano Instruction for Music Majors/2nd Instr.	Fall, Spring, Summer	1	1 credit = 30 min lesson
MUSC 2550	Guitar Styles: Blues/Bluegrass	Fall	2	Prerequisite: Knowledge of basic chords and some standard notation and/or tablature reading
MUSC 2560	Guitar Styles: Jazz/Classical	Spring	2	Prerequisite: Knowledge of basic chords and some standard notation and/or tablature reading
MUSC 3020	History of Jazz	Fall, Spring	3	Fulfills the Depth Humanity credit
MUSC 3440	Individual Jazz Piano Instruction for Music Majors	Fall, Spring, Summer	1-2	All 1-hour lessons: credit is determined by practice time and extent of literature required.
MUSC 3760	Jazz Ensemble	Fall, Spring	1	Audition required, contact Dr. Wheeler for information
MUSC 3770	Jazz Orchestra	Fall, Spring	1	Audition required, contact Dr. Matzen for information
MUSC 3900	Jazz Improvization	Fall, Spring	2	Prerequisites: MUSC 2130 and 2150 or permission from instructor.
MUSC 3950	Jazz Choir	Fall, Spring	1	Ability to improvise helpful, though not required. Auditions held during the first week of fall semester.
MUSC 4710	Jazz Combo	Fall, Spring	1-2	Auditions held during the first week of fall semester. Contact Dr. Khan for information.

 

Guest Clinicians

Guest clinicians are a regular part of the jazz studies curriculum. Here is a partial list of guest artists from the past several years (since 2003).

Saxophonists

Bud Shank, Pete Christlieb, Dave Pietro, Chris Vadala, Norbert Stachel, Jack Wilkins, Lauren Sevian, Tom Walsh, Brent Jensen, Joe McQueen;

Trumpeters

Brian Lynch, Byron Stripling, Marvin Stamm, Graham Breedlove, Mark Buselli, Dave Douglas;

Trombonists

Slide Hampton, Conrad Herwig, Wycliffe Gordon, Chris Oberholtzer, Willie Applewhite;

Pianists

Bill Mays, Dana Landry, Bill Anschell, Melanie Shore;

Guitarists

John Scofield, Vic Juris, Mike Stern, Joe Diorio, Ron Eschete, Tommy Emmanuel, Martin Taylor;

Bassists

Rufus Reid, Lars Yorgason, Aaron Miller, Chris Symer, Erik Applegate;

Drummers

Ed Soph, John Riley, Danny Gottlieb, Beth Gottlieb, Jim White;

Organists

Dr. Lonnie Smith

Scholarships

Larry Smith Jazz Scholarships

Named to honor Professor Emeritus Larry Smith, founder of the jazz studies area at Utah State, this scholarship fund was created to help music students at Utah State University who have a dedicated interest in studying jazz. It is available to incoming jazz students as well as currently enrolled students, and can be put towards tuition, books, instruments, etc. This is an open-ended scholarship: someone needing a mute can apply as well as someone needing money for classes. To apply, get an application form from Dr. Khan and fill it out, obtain a brief endorsement from one of the jazz faculty at USU, and submit to Dr. Khan. Number of recipients and amount of scholarship vary based on funds and need.

Caine Jazz Combo Scholarship

This scholarship is available on a yearly basis to seven of the best jazz students at Utah State University. These seven students will perform in a standard jazz combo configuration of trumpet, saxophone, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, and drums, and will be responsible to meet and perform regularly. Scholarship recipients should be strong leaders and role models as well as fine musicians, but they are not necessarily required to be in a jazz ensemble or the music department. To apply, you must participate in jazz auditions at the beginning of the year, and indicate interest in the combo. The scholarship is worth $250 per semester.

Multimedia

Hear more USU jazz on the Media page.

Faculty