Academic Programs - Bachelor of Music Degree Options

Guiding each student toward artistic and practical success as a contemporary professional jazz musician.

It achieves this mission by offering a progressive and innovative course curriculum spanning improvisation, theory, composition, performance, and jazz history, together with a commitment to developing strong mentoring relationships between students and faculty. Working closely with top professionals from the very beginning of their college experience, students in the Jazz Studies Program learn not only technique and an expansive repertoire, but also the history and significance of jazz as a cultural force in this country and around the world. Due in part to its Los Angeles location - the heart of the nation's music and recording industry - the CSU Northridge Jazz Studies Program provides its students regular concerts, clinics, and seminars with some of the world's greatest figures in jazz today.

The CSU Northridge Jazz Studies Program:

• Maintains a professionally active faculty roster of top-call performers in the Los Angeles area.
• Upholds the concept of "mentoring as an avenue toward musical/artistic development.
• Stimulates and supports close working relationships between students and teachers.
• Fosters and supports individual creativity.
• Regularly supports interaction between students and world-class artists.
• Supports both the "tradition" and "innovation" in Jazz Music

Recent accomplishments include:

• First-Place Collegiate Jazz Ensemble - 2010 Monterey Next Generation Festival
• First Place Collegiate Combo - 2010 Monterey Next Generation Festival
• First Place Collegiate Ensemble - 2010 Reno Jazz Festival

Visit CSU Northridge Jazz at www.csunjazz.com

Jazz Faculty

Matt Harris
Co-Director of Jazz Studies - Piano

Gary Pratt
Co-Director of Jazz Studies - Acoustic Bass

Rob Lockart, Saxophone | Howard "Howie" Shear, Trumpet | John Daversa, Trumpet | Bob McChesney, Trombone | Gary Fukushima, Piano | John Pisano, Guitar | Larry Koonse, Guitar | Darek "Oles" Oleszkiewicz, Acoustic Bass | Don Kasper, Acoustic Bass | David Joyce, Voice | Jerry Steinholtz, Latin Percussion | Nick Mancini, Vibes | Gregg Bissonette, Drums | Richard "Dick"Weller, Drums

Finally, we wish to gratefully acknowlege and thank the following sponsors for their continued and generous support:

• THE HERB ALPERT FOUNDATION
• THE WELLS FARGO FOUNDATION
• TOCA PERCUSSION
• REMO INC.
• LINDA ANDERSON
• RON and SANDY ZACKY

Recordings

A consistently rewarding album by any yardstick.
- Jack Bowers, All About Jazz

"CSUN JAZZCOMBOS" - The very latest CD, featuring all original music performed by two CSU Northridge Jazz Independent Projects, The Josiah Boornazian Group, and Midwestern Barncoat"

"CSUN Originals 0809"- The very latest CSU Northridge Big Band Jazz recording, featuring small groups as well as the Jazz "A" Band - all compositions and arrangements by CSU Northridge jazz students.

"CSUN Originals II - Rain Song" Was released in 2008 and is the Jazz Program's second album to exclusively feature student arrangements and compositions, and features saxophonist Tim Ries as guest soloist.