The University of Arkansas at Monticello, whose jazz ensembles have attracted national attention, is now offering a master of music degree in jazz studies.
The first 10 students began the program July 6 with an intense two-week on-campus program called Gateway, which accounts for six of the program’s 30 academic hours. The session included a week-long jazz camp and playing lessons from five world-class jazz musicians brought in by UAM jazz faculty Claude Askew, Les Pack and Gary Meggs.
The guest artists for the first summer program included Mike Williams, lead trumpeter for the Count Basie Orchestra; Alex Norris, a freelance jazz trumpeter based in New York City; David Kane, a pianist who performs out of Washington, D.C.; Paul Henry, bassist for the U.S. Air Force jazz band Airmen of Note; and Harry Watters, trombonist for the U.S. Army Blues.
Also assisting with the program are graduate assistants Bass Deese and Jake Miller, members of Jazz Band I, the school’s premier jazz ensemble.
The program requires 18 hours to be completed online — nine hours in the fall semester and nine in the spring. The final six hours will be completed during a second two-week summer session called Capstone, which requires a jazz recital or special project.
“The program is designed for band directors and educators,” Pack said. “It’s not a performance-based program. That’s how we’re able to offer so much online.”
Details: UAM Division of Music, 870-460-1060.