About Jazz Studies

Audition requirements can be found on the How to Apply page. If you have any questions please contact the Music Office by phone 604-986-1911, local 2329 or email jcyr@capilanou.ca

Jazz Studies Programs

Capilano University offers a four-year Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies).
A two-year Diploma in Jazz Studies is also available

Jazz Studies Program Mission and Goals

The Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies) provides a broad-based academic background, while developing comprehensive abilities in music, with jazz as the main focus. In keeping with the eclectic nature of jazz, students are exposed to music from diverse cultural sources, historical periods and media. Because jazz is an applied art form, the achievement of specific high standards in vocal and/or instrumental performance, improvisation, composition, and arranging are fundamental goals of the program curriculum, and demonstration of ability in these areas is required of all graduates. Teaching music within the public school system will be a goal for some graduates; to this end, the Jazz Studies program includes all the necessary prerequisites for acceptance into the fifth year Teacher Education Program at the University of British Columbia. While most Jazz Studies graduates who do not enter the public school system as teachers embark upon creative and varied careers as self-employed professionals, the Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies) also qualifies its graduates who wish to teach at the college or university level for some post-graduate degrees. Since 1995, some graduates from the Jazz Studies program have been admitted into Master's programs at Canadian and American universities in the areas of composition, education, conducting and performance.

Career Opportunities

The two-year Diploma program is intended to provide its students with the skills necessary to develop careers as self-employed professionals in the contemporary music industry.

The four-year Degree program provides a curriculum which balances and integrates the instruction of jazz, traditional music, and general academic electives to provide an enriched education at the degree level. For those who wish to pursue music as self-employed professionals, teach music in the public school system, or continue their musical development as part of a Liberal Arts education, it is a unique and attractive option. Majors in Vocal Performance, Instrumental Performance, Arranging/Composition, and General Studies with an Education Stream are available. Those interested in teaching would enrol in the Education Stream of the General Studies program.

Facilities

As recording experience has become an essential part of todays musical training, the Jazz Studies program has now integrated multi-track recording into the curriculum. Vocal, instrumental, and arranging/composition students all make use of our multi-track facilities.

Computer labs are available to students for supplemental help in ear training, sight-reading, and other basic music skills, as well as the printing and recording of theory and arranging assignments.

First Year (Diploma)

All applicants must:

  • Students must satisfy the Admission Requirements for University Transfer Programs
  • demonstrate an adequate knowledge of theory rudiments through a department test
  • display a sufficiently high level of performance and sight-reading ability on their concentration instrument (see Auditions)
  • pass a simple aural aptitude test involving pitch and rhythm matching

View the Jazz Studies Diploma Program in the online calendar.

Admission Requirements for Transfer/Returning Students (Diploma)

All applicants must:

  • Students must satisfy the Admission Requirements for University Transfer Programs
  • display a sufficiently high level of performance and sight-reading ability on their concentration instrument (see Auditions)
  • take an aural test to determine their basic acceptability and placement within the ear training sequence (see Transfer of Credit)
  • take a theory test to determine their basic acceptability and placement within the theory training sequence (see Transfer of Credit)
  • take a keyboard proficiency test to determine their placement within the class keyboard sequence (see Transfer of Credit)

The auditioning instructor will make recommendations regarding acceptance, eligibility and placement in some performance classes, placement in Private Music Instruction (PMI), and required remedial work.

Admission Prerequisites for the Four Year Degree Program

Upon completion of the two-year Diploma in Jazz Studies, a student may register as a third-year student in one of the degree options. Permission to enrol in any major will be based on completion of prerequisite requirements. Continuation in the Vocal Performance, Instrumental Performance and Arranging/Composition majors is subject to review at the end of the third year of studies. Students may be accepted into some upper level courses before the completion of their diploma on a part-time or probationary basis with the permission of the instructors involved, but official acceptance into the degree program is necessary before any opportunity to graduate should be anticipated.

Transfer students should not anticipate immediate acceptance into the third year of the degree program, as there are normally some lower level music courses and/or general electives that must be completed before this can take place. Official acceptance into a major of the degree program can be applied for once the requirements for the two-year Jazz Studies diploma have been met. (See Graduation Requirements, Two-Year Diploma.)

View the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies Degree Program in the online calendar.

Admission Procedures:

  1. Submit the Application for Admission to the Registrar's Office, together with official transcripts of all secondary and post-secondary education. It is important to note on the application form if you will be auditioning on an instrument or vocal and which instrument. See Admission and Registration for complete information.
  2. Information meetings, auditions and placement tests are held in May. Please call (604) 984-4951 for meeting times and audition appointments.

Auditions

Auditions are required for all entrants. Live audition and testing is preferred. (Contact the Jazz Studies program for specific audition requirements.)

Entrance into the Jazz Studies program is competitive as seats are restricted. Applicants are ranked in comparison with others who audition on the same concentration instrument with the entrance year applied for taken into consideration. Providing that all other entrance requirements have been passed, students will be admitted in the order of their ranking until the seats available for that instrument have been filled.

Separate auditions are held for the Capilano University Singers, Jazz Choirs, and Jazz Bands.

Acceptance into the program does not guarantee acceptance into these ensembles. It is the student's responsibility to sign up for and attend these auditions.

Transfer of Credit

While no formal articulation agreements are in place between Capilano University's Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies program and other undergraduate jazz diploma and degree programs, Capilano University's Jazz Studies program grants transfer credit for courses taken at other post-secondary institutions if they are applicable and have suitable relevancy.

The Jazz Studies program regularly accepts students from colleges in B.C. such as Malaspina University College, Vancouver Community College, Kwantlen University College and Selkirk College. In addition, students have transferred from the jazz programs at Alberta's Mount Royal College, Grant MacEwan Community College and Keyano College, to complete the four-year program at Capilano University. Across Canada, Capilano University has accepted transfer students from the classical music programs at the University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, Concordia College, and the University of Regina, as well as from the jazz programs at St. Francis Xavier and Humber College. Outside of Canada, Berklee College of Music (Boston, U.S.) has been another source of transfer students to Jazz Studies at Capilano University. A small number of students have transferred from music schools abroad, including the University of the Phillipines, Middlesex University (U.K.), and the George Ots Talinn Musical School in Estonia.

Because of the wide variations that exist in approach and emphasis in various music programs, the Jazz Studies program reserves the right to examine for competency according to our course requirements before transfer credit is approved.

Transfer of concentration performance instrument courses, keyboard and ear training credits will be possible only up to the placement level determined by the auditioner and by keyboard and ear training test results.

Since the Capilano program emphasizes jazz studies and many other Canadian music degree programs provide a study of traditional music, block transfer of courses to other institutions is not available. Several individual courses have, however, been accepted by institutions with similar offerings.

Please refer to the online B.C. Transfer Guide for further information.

Special Fees and Expenses

See Exceptional Tuition and Other Costs.

Satisfactory Standing

Students considered to be in "Satisfactory Standing" are entitled to pre-register in the next term of the program.

A student who has not maintained a satisfactory standing in a program in any term may be denied permission to register in that program in a subsequent term, or be required to re-audition.

To maintain satisfactory standing, all Jazz Studies students must be enrolled in a full-time course of study (at least nine credit hours) that includes a reasonable number of courses specific to their major (normally three) and must achieve a grade point average above 1.8.

The grade of "D" in a course, although a minimal pass, is not sufficient to fulfil prerequisite requirements.

Students should refer to the section on Policies on the University Website for further information on "Academic Probation".

In addition, to qualify and continue in the specialized majors, Jazz Studies Degree students are expected to achieve a minimum grade of "B+" in all courses directly related to that major. These courses are:

Arranging/Composition

  • Concentration PMI (Composition)
  • All required Theory courses
  • Arranging I, II, III, IV
  • Rhythm Section Writing

Instrumental Performance

  • Concentration PPMI
  • Improvisation I, II, III, IV
  • All Small Ensembles
  • All Large Instrumental Ensembles

Vocal Performance

  • Concentration PPMI
  • Improvisation I, II
  • Vocal Master Class I, II
  • Studio Vocal Performance I, II, III, IV
  • Vocal Jazz Master Class I, II, III, IV
  • All Vocal Ensembles

Grades below B+ in these courses can only be applied for credit toward the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies with a General Studies major or else towards the chosen specialized major with the permission of the Jazz Studies Grade Appeals Committee. When unusual circumstances have resulted in lower than expected grades in a student's first semester of a continuing course, instructors may recommend to the Committee that the student be given probationary acceptance into the next semester of the course. If the student fails to achieve a minimum of "B+" in the next level of the course, no credit for either course can be applied toward the specialized degree.

It is expected that students choosing the General Studies-Education stream of the program will demonstrate an aptitude for dealing with young people in a educational setting and an above-average level of organizational skills.

 

The schedule for the Spring 2012 Jazz Studies Graduation and Performance recitals will be posted late spring on the News and Events page. Please come and support our students and hear some great jazz music!

 

"The jazz studies program at Capilano is one of the best in all of North America. It maintains a high curriculum standard with an experienced and innovative teaching staff. To show my support of the program and teaching staff , I created the Dee Daniels Vocal Scholarship in 2001." 

- Dee Daniels
International recording artist
and jazz vocalist