BMus (Hons) Jazz

Incorporating many of the distinctive components of our flagship BMus course, this programme offers specialist modules for those students who want to pursue a professional career in jazz.

Training alongside some of the UK’s best jazz musicians, you’ll get opportunities to perform and collaborate with students on your course and those from other departments across the College.

Inspired by the ever-changing needs of the jazz performer and composer, it covers the main performance disciplines associated with the genre: vocal, instrumental and composition.

You can study any of these instruments as part of your course:

• Bass
• Drums
• Flute
• Guitar
• Piano
• Saxophone
• Trombone
• Trumpet
• Voice

Studying in small groups, you’ll not only gain a deep understanding of the history and philosophy of jazz, but you’ll examine its repertoire in a wide selection of genres and sub-genres.

But one of the most important parts of your training will be ensemble playing. You’ll perform in front of audiences at the myriad gigs held across the College – or as part of Cardiff’s flourishing jazz scene.

All of these elements, combined with networking and placements with some of the most respected organisations in the business, lay the groundwork for a lasting, successful career in today’s music industry.

• From day one, you’ll work with a team of tutors who are focused on making you the best musician you can be. With these one-to-one and group lessons – which we call ‘principal study’ – you can explore all sorts of different specialisms, approaches and techniques, giving you the confidence to find your artistic voice and pursue your chosen career path.
• To shape you into an innovative, well-rounded and employable musician, your principal study features different types of tuition. It includes performance classes, ensemble rehearsals, practical classes, workshops, studio sessions, lectures, seminars, group projects and many opportunities to take part in work experience.
• Our impressive list of tutors includes some of the UK’s leading jazz artists, all of whom are practicing contemporary jazz composers and renowned instrumentalists/vocalists. They offer you not only first-rate individual teaching, but ensemble coaching, group teaching, mentorship and networking opportunities.
• You could join smaller collaborations, perform in a big band, sing in the jazz choir or work with students on a drama or musical theatre production. And, every week, you can take part in planning, presenting and performing for the public at our student-led jazz club, JazzTime, to build your entrepreneurial skills and share your work with new audiences.
• Your end of year performance assessment is a real-life professional experience performing in our yearly jazz festival, which offers you the opportunity to perform on a professional platform.
• To help you develop as a musician, we’ve incorporated a substantial level of assessment into your course. Getting used to this ongoing discussion of your development is crucial to your artistic growth.
• You’ll also gain an awareness of the evolving trends and new media within the industry. You can also learn more about the Alexander Technique, biology for musicians, music for theatre, composing and arranging, and sound recording.
• You will have the option to study abroad at a partner conservatoire, opening up a whole new realm of networking, collaboration and performance opportunities.
• To help you learn employability skills – with the ultimate goal of forging a career after you graduate – we offer professional development activities, talks and specialist guidance every term. And we also encourage you to create your own live performances, giving you another way to gain vital entrepreneurial skills.
• Outside of the College, you’ll also get the chance to work with local communities, as diverse as performing in Cardiff’s range of jazz clubs and facilitating workshops in local schools.