Our thriving jazz program has 3 big bands and 7-9 small combos open to all UM students. The University of Montana School of Music offers a Bachelors of Arts in Jazz Studies degree. Courses offered include an improvisation sequence, jazz composing and arranging, jazz pedagogy, jazz history, and private jazz lessons.

The Jazz Artists’ Series welcomes world class jazz performers to campus each semester for masterclasses and performances. Held each spring, the University of Montana Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival features prominent performers and educators as well as hundreds of students. All of our groups have the opportunity to perform with guest artists throughout the year, and the groups frequently perform on and off campus. We hope you will join us in the UM Jazz Program.