Program Overview
The Bachelor of Music in Performance, Jazz Performance promotes excellence and celebrates self-expression through a comprehensive degree program. The performance curriculum incorporates a variety of courses ranging from conducting and arranging to improvisation and instrument-specific lessons and literature. Our faculty will assist you with written critiques concerning artistic style, performance practice, repertoire selection, conducting technique, and notes for your own recitals. Through collaboration across the School of Music, you’ll learn proper rehearsal and performance techniques, have tons of performance opportunities, and will mold your passion for performance into a promising career. The Wells School of Music at WCU houses all music majors and Presser Music Library, tons of practice rooms and performance spaces, and is a certified All-Steinway School. Wells also offers more than 30 student ensembles to fit your interests and your instrument, from steel drum and jazz to opera theatre and chamber winds. Our students receive hands-on opportunities both in the classroom and in practice, and develop their skills through a personalized education experience and tight-knit music community.
Program Highlights
- Opportunities to participate in variety of ensembles including 9 choirs, 6 bands, 2 orchestras, 4 jazz groups, and 18 chamber ensembles
- Individualized instruction and guidance from your instrumental teacher throughout your degree sequence
- International performance opportunities facilitated by faculty relationships with groups and festivals in various countries
- Senior recitals with personalized repertoire selected through collaboration between professor and student
- Yearly concerto competition where students audition for the opportunity to perform solos accompanied by Wells School of Music’s orchestra or wind symphony
- Weekly scheduled studio hour that cultivates collaboration between all students of the same instrument. These sessions include guest masterclasses, peer performance critiques, and faculty lead discussions on practice techniques and pedagogy
- Distinguished faculty members who are devoted educators, progressive scholars, and active performers in the industry
What can I do with this degree?
Our music performance graduates enjoy active performing careers with national and international musical organizations, including orchestras, opera companies, and military bands including:
- The Philadelphia Orchestra
- Metropolitan Opera
- Chicago Symphony
- Stan Kenton Orchestra
- U.S. Army Band (Army Blues jazz ensemble)
- U.S. Air Force Band (Max Impact rock band)
- U.S. Navy Band (Cruisers popular music ensemble)
- Waverly Consort
- Broadway Shows
They’re also pursuing music and education industry professions including roles like:
- Production assistant
- Development associate
- Private instruction
- Studio instruction
- College professor
And have been admitted to elite graduate programs at prestigious institutions, including:
- The Curtis Institute of Music
- Manhattan School of Music
- New England Conservatory
- Eastman School of Music
- Indiana University
- Peabody Conservatory