The Jazz Program at UCO, founded by Dr. Kent Kidwell, has been a vibrant part of the School of Music curriculum since 1974. Award winning ensembles and generations of highly successful professional musicians have been the norm. With the opening of the UCO Jazz Lab in 2002 a new chapter began. Today the Jazz Studies Division offers more performance ensembles than ever before and has expanded degree options including an undergraduate minor in jazz studies and a master of music in jazz performance or commercial music production.
All performance ensembles and most related coursework are open to every UCO student regardless of intended major.
Primary ensemble auditions take place during the 1st week of each Fall semester. Audition materials and other important information will be posted on this page by August 1st of each year and discussed at the very important annual student meeting beginning at 3PM on the first day of school every Fall semester.
UCO School of Music's dedicated jazz degree options include:
Undergraduate Minor in Jazz Studies
Master of Music in Jazz Studies with
Majors in Performance or Commercial Music Production
Offerings
include
Jazz Ensembles I, II, & III
Latin Jazz Ensemble
Jazz Guitar Ensemble I & II
Vocal Jazz Ensemble (Chamber Singers - a.k.a. - Chamber Swingers)
Undergraduate & Graduate Jazz Combos
Jazz Theory & Analysis
Applied Jazz Improvisation
Jazz History
Jazz Pedagogy
Graduate Jazz Recital
Applied Jazz Piano
Annual Recording Technology Workshop (Summer)
Annual Guitar Workshop (Summer)
Music Technology
Computer Music Technology
Advanced Recording Technology
CD Album Pre-Production
CD Album Production
Applied Jazz Arranging
Jazz & Commercial Music Arranging
Arts Management __________________________________________________________ Undergraduate Minor Jazz Studies Curriculum (PDF)