The focus of the Jazz Studies programs at Shenandoah is the
preparation of performing and writing musicians in the broad field
of contemporary music, which includes jazz, rock, popular, commercial,
classical and studio music.
Shenandoah’s Jazz Studies program has been recognized through invitations
extended to the Jazz Ensemble to perform at festivals and colleges
in Europe, Japan, China and the eastern United States as well as
at annual conferences of professional musical organizations. Jazz
students are trained as performers, arrangers and composers. Graduates
find employment in a wide variety of sites. Students are prepared
to write music for commercial use and often enter a career that
combines both performing and arranging. Private teaching may be
combined easily with performance in this career field.
In
the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies program,
saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar and percussion
students major in their auditioned instrument and minor in both
classical and jazz piano. In addition, saxophone majors are required
to attain competence on flute and clarinet. Students complete major
applied study in both the classical and jazz idioms, thus enhancing
their opportunities for success as professional musicians upon graduation.
Students in the Jazz Studies program receive training in a variety
of specialized courses in recording techniques, music notation,
improvisation and jazz techniques. Together, with the required half
recital and full recital, all courses enhance the students’ professional
qualifications.
The Jazz Emphasis is available to saxophone, trumpet,
trombone, piano, bass, guitar and percussion students in the Bachelor
of Music in Music Production and Recording Technology, Bachelor
of Science in Arts Management (Music Concentration) and Bachelor
of Music Therapy programs who elect to complete their applied music
and ensemble requirements in jazz.
In the Bachelor of Music in Music Education program, a slightly
different jazz emphasis is available to saxophone, trumpet, trombone,
piano, bass, guitar and percussion students who complete an extra
18 credits of jazz study.
Students with an interest in combining the specific career preparation
of the Jazz Studies curriculum with a high interest in performing
will find an opportunity to fulfill this interest in Shenandoah’s
unique Performance Certificate.
Those students who complete classical applied levels beyond the
minimum required for the Jazz Studies curriculum graduate with a
Performance Certificate as well as the degree. The Performance
Certificate acknowledges the advanced study in performance
and documents it for graduate schools and for prospective employers
seeking specific performance capabilities.
RECORDING
AND MIDI STUDIO
Jazz
students can work in the growing fields of recording techniques
and electronic music through the use of the Shenandoah's state-of-the-art
multitrack MIDI/Recording studio, equipped with the latest computer
hardware (SSL 4000 G+, ProTools 24) and software, sound generators,
keyboards, and recording equipment. Working with both analog and
digital formats in the
Windows and Macintosh operating systems, this facility gives students
not only the experience of recording and composing, but also the
opportunity to perform and record in a studio setting.
In
the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies program,
saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar and percussion
students major in their auditioned instrument and minor in both
classical and jazz piano. In addition, saxophone majors are required
to attain competence on flute and clarinet. Students complete major
applied study in both the classical and jazz idioms, thus enhancing
their opportunities for success as professional musicians upon graduation.
Students in the Jazz Studies program receive training in a variety
of specialized courses in recording techniques, music notation,
improvisation and jazz techniques. Together, with the required half
recital and full recital, all courses enhance the students’ professional
qualifications.
Jazz
students can work in the growing fields of recording techniques
and electronic music through the use of the Shenandoah's state-of-the-art
multitrack MIDI/Recording studio, equipped with the latest computer
hardware (SSL 4000 G+, ProTools 24) and software, sound generators,
keyboards, and recording equipment. Working with both analog and
digital formats in the 
Windows and Macintosh operating systems, this facility gives students
not only the experience of recording and composing, but also the
opportunity to perform and record in a studio setting.