Performance – Jazz
Independent artistic creation in improvisation, composition, interpretation and music production is the focus of the Bachelor's Programme in Jazz. Particular focus is on the participation in various ensembles with a solid foundation in music theory that is especially adapted to jazz.
The programme in jazz also offers unique opportunities for your own projects, concert performances and international exchanges.
Please note that a good knowledge of the Swedish language is required for this programme.
Read more about general entry requirements
Programme content
The Bachelor's Programme in Jazz consists of courses whose aim is to deepen the knowledge of your main instrument, and partly of courses aimed at providing the necessary music theoretical knowledge to develop as a musician. To link these two categories of courses, several of the theoretical courses are oriented towards ensemble playing focusing on form, dynamics and interaction.
Varied ensemble playing
Courses in music theory with arrangement, harmonics and ear hearing, as well as ensemble and instrumental methodology are offered in parallel with playing in ensembles such as big bands, latin bands, smaller improvisation groups and pop/rock groups.
You get many opportunities to lead an ensemble and to translate theoretical knowledge into practice while teaching at the highest international level takes place in your chosen main instrument, which may be one of the following: song, woodwind, brass, song, electric guitar, piano, bass, drum or percussion.
Smaller ensembles are created each year within the programme depending on student combination and course orientation. In addition, you have the opportunity to participate in a number of recurring teacher-led ensembles, which often appear on KMH and externally. This includes, for example, the big band KMH Jazz Orchestra.
Within the program, there are many opportunities to create your own compositions and arrangements, and to get them played and analyzed by various professional ensembles.
Great eligibility
Courses in entrepreneurship, stage communication and music history along with a wide range of elective courses enable further in-depth and/or broadening of your skills. In addition, your ability to reflect on jazz music and its role in society develops.
The programme includes a 15 ECTS independent assignment which means a concert or a corresponding artistic performance together with written reflections on music in an artistic perspective.
Individual projects
You as a student have many opportunities to complete your own projects during the course. With supervisors from the department, projects are included in courses where you can plan and implement tour plans, recordings and concerts from scratch. Several of these projects have become real productions. Groups like the Royal Concept and Dirty Loops are examples of groups that have started as a project. The projects are often reported at KMH's "New Sound Made" jazz festival and sometimes result in CD productions in collaboration with KMH's audio device and our well-equipped studios.
The programme's students regularly appear on Stockholm's significant jazz scenes, including the Fasching jazz club.
Workshops and seminars led by visiting teachers, both national and international, are also organised regularly.
After the programme
The program provides a broad professional basis for work as a musician, composer/songwriter, concert and record producer, concert organizer, own entrepreneur, theatre and studio musicians in various genres like jazz, pop/rock, Latin, free improvisation, etc.
To prepare yourself for the conditions of the labour market, you will be able to collaborate with students from KMH's media and audio departments, as well as take part in newly written music, train yourself to meet different media, work with sound recordings, develop and design concerts and participate in outreach activities with music productions for different audiences.