Jazz Graduate Programs

The Master of Music in Jazz Studies includes private instruction, jazz ensembles, studies in jazz harmony, improvisation, arranging, recording techniques, and other courses suited to the needs of today’s jazz musicians. Students may major in either jazz performance or jazz composition.

Admissions

Students may apply to the program by first submitting the Queens College graduate application.

After you have submitted your application and application fee, you must submit videos for prescreening to the School of Music using GetAcceptd.

Program Requirements

There are two tracks to the MM Program in Jazz, the performance track and the composer track. The requirements for these programs overlap, but there are differences. For the Performance track the requirements are:

Master of Music Jazz Studies: Composition 

Both composers and performers must do a Graduate recital (uncredited) to graduate from the program.

Most students graduate in 4 semesters averaging 9 credit hours per semester. International students must take 9 credits per semester (except in their last semester) in accordance with the rules for F-1 Student Visas. It’s possible to complete the program in 3 semesters and U.S. residents, particularly students who are working full time, can take longer than 4 semesters to complete the degree.

Electives

A wide variety of classes are offered for elective credits that students can take to complete their degrees. These include Harmony II, Improv II, Arranging and Composition II, Piano Workshop for Non-Pianists I and II, Transcription and Ear training, as well as classes in the Recording Department (Digital Recording I and II, Sequencing, and various seminars). Performers can take Counterpoint and Jazz Styles and Analysis for elective credit. New elective classes are often added and vary, semester to semester.

Private Lessons

Composers must take 3 semesters of composition lessons from Professor Michael Mossman or adjunct faculty members in the composition department. Performers are required to take instrumental lessons on their instrument for the first 2 of the 3 semesters of private lessons. On each instrument, we have either full-time faculty members as private teachers or adjunct faculty teachers available. If there is a full time faculty member on your instrument (trumpet, composition, saxophone, piano and drums) that faculty member will determine whether you study with him or an adjunct. Students who receive and A- or above for private lessons in their first two semesters, may elect to study with a teacher who teaches an instrument other than their instrument in their third semester, although studying all 3 semesters on your instrument is strongly encouraged. All students will choose from faculty members, whether full time or adjuncts, and cannot go outside of the program to take private lessons with musicians not on staff at the Aaron Copland School of Music.

Schedule and Academic Calendars

To learn about: the first and last days of classes in each semester, holidays and registration deadlines, please visit https://www.qc.cuny.edu/qchub/.

Tuition Costs

Please visit: https://www.qc.cuny.edu/br/tuition-costs/.

Scholarships

Even though these costs may seem high compared to the cost of college in other countries, the tuition at CUNY colleges is the lowest in the tri-state area because they are, to a degree, subsidized by the city of New York. There are no scholarships available through the school to incoming international students. NY state residents may pursue financial aid options here, but be forewarned, these are fairly limited.

English Level

A TOEFL Scores of 79 or better is required for entrance into the Jazz Program. Occasionally this requirement can be waived if fluency in English can be demonstrated. Students with substandard English skills need to pursue English as a Second Language classes prior to applying for admittance to the college.

Immunization

All students are required to have proof of immunization against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, as well as Meningitis, before they can register for classes. For more information on how to obtain proof of immunization, please visit https://www.qc.cuny.edu/health/immunizations/.