Jazz

Truman State University offers a comprehensive jazz studies program, including a minor in Jazz Studies. 

Courses and ensembles offered include:

JAZZ  ENSEMBLE - This 16- to 18-piece group performs numerous concerts on and off campus and has been featured with such jazz luminaries as Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis, Bill Watrous, Randy Brecker, John Abercrombie, Matt Wilson, Ben Allison, Ingrid Jensen, and many others. In addition, the group tours both nationally and internationally.

JAZZ LAB BAND - Also a 16- to 18-piece big band, the Lab Band provides its members many performance opportunities throughout the school year and is spotlighted with each of the guest artists featured on campus.

JAZZ COMBOS - The combo experience offers jazz students a chance to further sharpen their improvisation and performance skills. Combos are normally made up of 4 to 7 members and perform throughout each school year.

JAZZ IMPROVISATION is offered for beginning and intermediate jazz soloists and covers jazz harmony, scale/chord relationships, melodic development, common harmonic progressions, and transcription. More experienced players can study improvisation in private lessons.

JAZZ PEDAGOGY provides music education majors with the methods and materials needed to successfully teach in a middle school or high school jazz curriculum. Students are given instruction and hands-on experience in the various aspects of a comprehensive jazz program as well as resources for continued study in the future.

JAZZ ARRANGING AND COMPOSITION covers jazz arranging and composition practices for the small jazz group, including fundamentals of notation, orchestration, rhythmic and melodic development, jazz harmony, vertical sonorities for 2-5 parts, line writing, and basic forms.

JAZZ AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE (Jazz Appreciation) - Open to students of all majors, this class examines all of the periods and styles of jazz from its infancy to present-day forms, as well as its relationship to American culture.

RECOMMENDED LINKS

• Wealwaysswing.org
• Phi Mu Alpha JazzFest Page
• Jazz at Lincoln Center
• Jazz Composers Collective
• Thelonious Monk Institute
• Marina Music
• Jamey Aebersold Jazz

JAZZ ALUMNI

These Truman alumni are currently working as professional jazz performers and/or educators:

• Jo Ann Daugherty, Chicago, IL
• Bill McKemy, Kansas City, MO
• Ken Kehner, Jefferson City, MO
• Bob Long, St. Joseph, MO
• Mike Metheny, Kansas City, MO
• Dave Kobberdahl, Des Moines, IA
• Wayne Page, Des Moines, IA

Questions About Jazz at Truman State University?

Contact: Professor Tim Aubuchon
Assistant Professor of Music / Director of Jazz Studies
(660) 785-4412
aubuchon@truman.edu