Jazz
The College of Charleston Jazz Program provides students with
- marketable skills in jazz performance
- a strong background in jazz history, theory, and improvisation
- practical performance opportunities which provide students with experiential learning
Courses of study are available for both majors and non-majors, with a concentration in Jazz Performance available for music majors. Five jazz combos and the Reading Band offer numerous performance opportunities for students.
For more information, contact Robert Lewis at 843.953-5169 or e-mail lewisr@cofc.edu.
Faculty
- Robert Lewis, saxophone, director of jazz studies
- Lee Barbour, guitar
- Quentin Baxter, drums
- Frank Duvall, bass
- Tommy Gill, piano
- David Heywood, flute
- Charlton Singleton, trumpet
Combos
The Jazz Combos at the College of Charleston are the centerpiece of the jazz experience at the College. Unlike other institutions where the emphasis is on larger ensembles, the five jazz combos at the College, each with its own instructor, provide the student with a more individual and personal learning experience, with opportunities for players of all levels. These groups also perform outside of the College during many of the various music festivals held in Charleston throughout the year. Individualized instruction by some of the best players in the field, combined with plenty of performance opportunities make the jazz experience at the College a complete musical experience.
Courses in Jazz and Pop Music
- MUSC 232 History of Popular Music in the U.S. (3 Humanities credits)
- MUSC 347 Jazz History (3 Humanities credits)
- MUSC 295 Jazz Repertory Class (1 credit, studies jazz improvisation)
- MUSC 345 Jazz Theory (3 credits)
Jazz Performance Concentration for Music Majors
Applied Lessons:
- Guitar
- Piano
- Bass
- Drums
- Saxophone
- Flute
- Trumpet/Trombone
In addition to the 42 hours of courses required for the Music Major, the following courses are recommended:
- 2 semesters of MUSP 286 Jazz Piano in place of Class Piano
- Jazz Theory (MUSC 345)
- 8 semesters of Jazz Combo (MUSC 359)
- 8 semesters of Jazz Repertory Class (MUSC 295)