Smooth. Daring. Evolving.
Jazz Studies
So you want to study jazz? We don’t think there’s anything cooler.
Jazz is America’s smoothest and most daring contribution to the world’s musical lexicon. And we have the oldest program in New Orleans dedicated to the study of its history and performance.
Undergraduate Degree Programs
Bachelor of Music: Jazz Studies
Our students have the opportunity to perform their craft in a city known worldwide for it. A favorite stop for Grammy-winning musicians, Loyno is your first step toward becoming one of the greats.
A minor in jazz studies is also offered.
Find Your Groove
The Loyola School of Music has one of the oldest jazz programs in the south.
- Famous alumni include Ellis Marsalis, Victor Goines, and Rick Margitza.
- The Jazz Studies curriculum features studies in improvisation, composition, arranging, history, theory, and music industry.
- Students have the opportunity to perform in many award-winning jazz ensembles and combos, coached by faculty who are the finest musicians New Orleans has to offer.
- New Orleans forms a “second classroom” for jazz studies.
- Many Loyola students enhance their skills by gigging with New Orleans masters and their own peers, becoming part of the musical fabric of the city at historic music venues.
Bachelors in Music: Jazz Studies
The degree program features studies in improvisation, composition, arranging, history, theory, and music industry.
See Degree Plan Course Listing for this major »
Loyola Jazz Bands
The jazz bands offer vocalists and instrumentalists an opportunity to perform music in the popular and jazz idioms along with study of arranging and techniques of improvisation. Both Jazz Band and Jazz Workshop Band are open to all University students by audition. Musicians have the opportunity to perform in both Jazz Ensembles and Combos.
Ensembles available include:
- Jazz Ensemble
- Jazz Workshop Band
- Jazz Training Band
- Jazz Combos
- Traditional Jazz Combo
- Afro-Cuban Ensemble
- Jazz Vocal Ensemble
- Jazz Guitar Ensemble
Jazz Festival
Loyola hosts one of the oldest educational jazz festivals in the country. Each year in March a famous guest artist joins the Loyola Jazz Ensemble to share knowledge with and perform for student jazz musicians from all over North America.
Learn more about the Loyola Jazz Festival >>
Recording
Loyola has state of the art recording facilities which are used by the jazz ensemble and combos.
Contact
For more information on our jazz studies program, please contact Gordon Towell at gltowell@loyno.edu
