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Jazz Studies (BFA)

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Degree
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
Department
Faculty
Program type
Specialization
Primary campus
Sir George Williams (SGW)
Duration
3 to 4 years
Start term
Fall

Why choose Jazz Studies?

Rhythm, syncopation, improvisation... Jazz lets you swing as a virtuoso soloist and a member of a tight ensemble of musicians pushing each other further. The mental agility you develop as a jazz musician is matched only by your dexterity as a performer, your audacity as a composer, and your skills as an arranger.

Students in the Jazz Studies program, the first university-level jazz program created in Canada, have a unique opportunity to become fully immersed in the sounds and traditions of a 100 year-old art form that’s truly modern and still evolving. From jazz language and composition to theory classes, you’ll learn music in an environment that’s grounded in the traditions and leading the next wave.

In the heart of downtown Montreal, a vibrant metropolis with a deep jazz tradition, you’ll have enormous opportunity for cross-pollination with other university-level jazz students across the city. And you’ll be in a rich environment for jamming and seeing the best acts in the world perform at one of the city’s jazz clubs.

Program highlights

  • Access to fully equipped practice rooms, recording studios, and two great performance halls
  • Smart classrooms with multimedia playback capacity

Program structure

A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree takes a minimum of three or four years (90 – 120 credits) of full-time study, depending on your academic background.

Program option

  • Specialization in Jazz Studies (66 credits)

Courses

For a list of required courses, please download the Program Guide according to your year of entry. Consult the Undergraduate Calendar for a complete list of current Music courses.

United States students: A U.S. Federal Student Aid-eligible version of this program is offered. This version meets all U.S. regulations (such as no co-operative education or e-courses) for eligible programs.

Admission criteria

This program is available for Fall admission only.

Minimum cut-off averages and course requirements

Additional requirements for admission

Applicants must submit additional requirements for admission directly to the department.

Music admissions package submission deadline: March 1
Applicants must apply online before submitting the music admissions package.

We need to know more about you than the general University application provides.

  • Information about you and your music
  • Online theory test 
  • Online theory and ear-training placement tests
  • Video audition

It is the applicant’s responsibility to upload the video audition online by the prescribed deadline. Test results are sent after the audition has been evaluated.

Please remember:

  • To check the program availability for the fall, as late applications will continue to be accepted for certain programs for an undetermined amount of time
  • Applicants must apply online before completing the online theory test and submitting their audition video

For more information on these additional requirements, please read the following:

Minimum cut-off averages should be used as indicators. The cut-off data may change depending on the applicant pool. Applicants who meet the stated minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission to these programs.

Application deadlines

Fall term

FALL TERM

March 1 is the deadline to apply for fall term entry. International students are encouraged to apply by February 1 to allow sufficient time for CAQ and study permit application processing.

Winter term

WINTER

Admission to this program is available for the Fall Term only.

We reserve the right to close admission to a program at any time after the official deadline without prior notice.

After your degree

Your hard work while at Concordia will give you the knowledge and discipline to further your solo work, plus the teamwork skills to collaborate with others. Our alumni compose, perform, tour, produce original CDs, and write for theatre, dance, film, TV and video games; their cultural work has been recognized through awards and prizes.

Your degree can lead to many paths such as:

  • Composer, arranger
  • Performer
  • Administrator in the arts (band manager, festival organizer)
  • Teacher, musicologist, researcher

Other programs of interest

Music (BFA)

Whether you want to compose, write songs or perform, become a music therapist or an arts manager, Concordia’s music programs give you the flexibility to create your own musical future.

Department

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Electroacoustic Studies (BFA)

As an electroacoustic artist, your ear is your instrument. As a student, you will explore the possibilities for sonic creativity through electroacoustic composition, sound design and recording, while training your inner and outer ears.

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