BA Jazz Degree

Overview & facilities

At Middlesex University, London, we are proud to offer you the UK's first and largest specialist Jazz degree course.

On our BA Jazz degree with honours you'll benefit from training with dedicated tutorial and instrumental staff who will guide you towards finding and developing your own individual style. This is essentially a practical, full time music course where you play the music we're studying in class -and not just study it as an academic exercise. The music and artists studied change each year, giving you a varied and exciting practical experience over the full three years of this unique course.

You will be taught by four dedicated jazz lecturers, in addition to many other members of music staff, who also work extensively as performing musicians, composers and producers, as well as working for the University.You'll learn to work quickly, effectively and flexibly, by having the opportunity to join a range of ensembles, and also to perform at London jazz venues.

Content & modules

Modules

• Year 1

  Jazz Harmony and Theory 1 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to give students a broad harmonic knowledge to inform their practice, as well as the practical application of this knowledge and the conventions of jazz notation. For example, four-part realisation of song book harmony e.g. I Remember You and the formal design of common chord sequences such as the II V I and its variations . Through the analysis of standard jazz repertoire, students will examine form and gain an understanding of chord/scale relationships. Practical application is actively encouraged in the weekly lecture/workshop. This module will prepare students for further study in MUS 2083.

  Jazz Performance 1 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to prepare students for further study in jazz performance by giving them a grounding in the conventions of jazz performance through repertoire such as Autumn Leaves, Take the A Train, major and minor blues , simple arrangements, aural analysis and providing broad knowledge of common practice.

  Stylistic Studies 1 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to lay a firm foundation for the further study of jazz through a range of specific musical skills, with a focus on the execution of melodic patterns relating to harmonic sequences, sight reading skills and rhythmic fluency, and an understanding of musical analysis. These analytical skills are then used to examine paraphrase, motivic and formulaic improvisation.

• Year 2

  Jazz Harmony and Theory 2 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  Building on the specialist body of knowledge gained in Harmony and Theory 1, this module aims to further students exploration in analysis and realisation of jazz chord construction and chord type. For example, exploring the modes of the melodic minor scale and various approaches to diminished harmony. The module also contains an aural component which will develop the skills needed in order to study the sounds of jazz harmony and to relate them to their written representations and to their context.

  Jazz Performance 2 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  Building on the broad knowledge base gained in MUS 1082 Jazz Performance 1, this module aims to develop students command of specialised performance skills. Students will also learn about researching, adapting and arranging material for jazz ensembles and this will prepare students for further jazz performance study.

  Jazz Repertoire (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  Building on the broad knowledge base gained in MUS 1082 - Jazz Performance 1 - this module is more specialist in its demands on the student. An ability to learn more complicated sequences as blocks of harmony and demonstrate a practical understanding of the harmony of jazz standards through improvisation. Repertoire at this level e g Green Dolphin Street, Body and Soul will demand an increased level of sophistication and understanding, and will prepare students for further jazz performance modules.

  Stylistic Studies 2 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to use skills and knowledge gained in MUS1081 for study of later styles of jazz. It enables the student to develop: 1 Knowledge of the styles and techniques of small group bop and hard bop, an awareness of the roles of instruments in these styles and their inter-relationships, and understanding of the concepts of extended motivic and formulaic improvisation through processes of analysis and pastiche composition. 2 Notation and aural skills

• Year 3

  Advanced Jazz Improvisation (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  Building on the knowledge gained in the series of Stylistic Studies modules at levels 1 2, this module aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of the conventions and practice of improvisation in Jazz, to extend students practical improvisation skills and aural awareness, and to provide techniques for the development of musical ideas through improvisation.

  Independent Project (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module develops further knowledge, understanding and skills in an area of study that particularly interests the student, whether arising from previous learning or enabling the student to pursue an interest not other otherwise catered for in taught modules. Because of the diversity of Independent Projects, their specific aims will vary according to the nature of the project and will be defined by the student in their proposal, subject to the approval of the Module Leader.

  Jazz Major Project (30 Credits) - Optional

  Building on the knowledge base gained in MUS 2082 Jazz Performance 2, this module aims to consolidate and extend the specialised performance skills already established. Students are expected to apply these creative skills and to accept responsibility for researching and developing their performance material. This is done in combination with learning about jazz composition for small ensembles, and exploring the relationship between composition and performance in jazz.

  Stylistic Studies 3 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module is a study of post-bop developments in jazz, including the electric music of Miles Davis and John McLaughlin, and European jazz by musicians such as Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor. Through analysis, transcription and critical evaluation of key works, students will examine the broadening of the modern jazz palette as some elements of various cultures rock, Indian classical music, folk music and Western classical music have been absorbed. This module will also give students an understanding of more advanced developments in harmony slash chords and rhythmic concepts.

  Un-American Activities (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to use skills and knowledge gained at levels 1 2 for study of the interactions between jazz and Afro-Cuban styles, and jazz and Brazilian styles. It enables the student to develop: 1 Knowledge of some of the styles and techniques of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music, an awareness of their interaction with jazz, and understanding of the concepts of the resulting styles through aural analysis and pastiche composition. 2 Idiomatic notation and aural skills

Entry & applying

We normally make offers on a minimum 240 UCAS tariff points or overseas equivalent.Applicants need to demonstrate instrumental and aural ability naming/singing/hearing different intervals ,harmonic knowledge,and experience of performing jazz,as well as some keyboard ability,sight reading and sight singing ability.Applicants will attend interview/audition.

We are looking for the following

• instrumental ability
• aural ability (naming- singing- hearing different intervals)
• harmonic knowledge
• experience of performing jazz
• some keyboard ability
• sight reading and sight singing ability

Apply now

Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL internet based 72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading).

Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk.

Entry into year two or three (transfer students)

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex course in year two or three. For full details of how this works see transfer students

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

Applying

Applications for UK and EU students should be made to UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The institution code for Middlesex is M80, and the code name is MIDDX. You also need the code for the course you wish to apply for – this is found in the 'at a glance' box above.

International students from outside the EU can make a direct application.  We have a network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.  They have worked with people from your region coming to Middlesex before and can help. Read more on international applications

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for UK/EU students is £9,000.
The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for International students is £10,400.

Click here to find out more about fees, funding and our scholarships in 2012.

Careers & placements

BA Jazz requires a high standard of musicianship and provides a broad training in jazz. Many of our students go on to play jazz and other types of music at a professional level. The performance, compositionand arranging aspects of the course are also excellent preparation for those wishing to become music teachers or instrumental teachers.

Past students

Led Bib

All five members of Led Bib studied music at Middlesex. They met and formed the band while at Middlesex in 2003, after collaborating on a performance project.

Mark, Led Bib’s band leader, drummer and composer said “Our formative year and a half was at Middlesex, even after that, we would go back and rehearse in the practice rooms. Soon after we finished Middlesex we started to get some press interest.” 

The band won the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award in 2005 and from there began to gather the momentum that ended up with a Barclaycard Mercury Prize nomination for their third studio album Sensible Shoes, released on Cuneiform Records in May 2009.

Speaking about the academic staff at Middlesex, who helped guide him, he said: “They’re all Jazzers on the scene as well. Obviously they are really pleased, especially in a thing like Jazz when there’s very little money at the best of times and very little recognition; it’s a hard ride for everybody”.

One of these staff members is Chris Batchelor, Programme Leader for BA Jazz and acclaimed Jazz trumpeter in his own right. He recently released “Big Air” on Babel, a record label Led Bib released their second album on, to five star reviews in the national press. He said: “There’s a very healthy scene amongst younger players in London and the Middlesex courses are part of that. Middlesex has got a distinctive approach in that it is a broad course and the students have the opportunity to study things like Afro-Cuban music and Fusion. When they come to Middlesex they get the chance to play day and night and develop their individual voices. Because of that they come out with a distinctive edge and style”.