Wednesday, October 21, 2009

BFA in Jazz Voice at the City College of New York - Curriculum

Hello jazz vocalists:

If you are interested in pursuing a degree in jazz voice, please check out the City College of New York. Not only will you be in New York City and have access to all it has to offer, but the tuition cost is hard to beat. The jazz department is made up of a stellar faculty and talented and dedicated students who are pursuing careers in music performance and/or teaching. In addition, our department is a warm, friendly and supportive place.


Below, please find information about the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Voice. I will be posting more details about the classes in the next week. But meanwhile, you can consult the music department website for more detailed information: http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/prospective/humanities/music/index.cfm


BFA in Jazz Voice:

Candidates for the BFA Jazz Vocal Program must take an audition, either live or by CD (if you live out of the New York area). In preparing for the audition, we suggest that you choose two brief, contrasting selections that best demonstrate your technique and musicianship, which includes some improvisation. These selections should be chosen from the standard or jazz repertoire. You should also bring copies of the music to the audition to give to the accompanists that will be provided for you.

Students in this program must take or exempt Theory I and Musicianship I before taking Jazz Harmony & Improvisation. They must also pass or exempt Class Instruction in Voice I and II before taking Private Instruction.

All music students must take MUS 21000 "Writing About Music," which is the co- or prerequisite for Jazz History I-II.



Required Music Courses: Credits


Private Insruction (4 semesters) 8

Jazz Vocal Workshop (3 semesters) 6

Jazz Harmony and Improvisation I-II 8

Jazz Harmony III 2

Jazz Piano I-II 2

Class Instruction in Voice I-II 2

Musicianship for Jazz Vocalists I-II 2

Musicianship Lab II-III 4

Jazz Vocal Repertory and Performance I-IV 4

Jazz Vocal Improvisation I-II 4

Jazz History I-II 6

Jazz Vocal Ensemble (3 semesters) 3

Chorus (2 semesters) 2


Music Electives 11

(Blues Vocal Workshop, Songwriting, Composition, Jazz Arranging, Harmony IV, Brazilian Jazz Ensemble, Latin Band, Jazz and World Music Ensemble, and more)


Total Credits: 64


Please understand that the BFA audition is only one part of the application process for admission to CCNY. Students must first go through the application procedure with the Admissions Office before they can enroll in this program. Please adhere to their deadline dates in order to assure acceptance to the College. If you have any questions about the admissions process, call the Admissions Office at (212) 650-6977 & 650-6448 or apply on-line at www.ccny.cuny.edu. Do not send materials such as transcripts, applications, visa information or TOEFL scores to the music department. These items should be sent directly to the Admissions Office..


Thursday, October 1, 2009

Introduction to the Jazz Vocal Program at The City College of New York


Hi everyone,

Since its creation in 2007, the BFA Jazz Vocal Program at The City College of New York has grown rapidly and is quickly becoming the premier place to study jazz singing in the New York metropolitan area. With that in mind, I thought I would take a moment to introduce myself and share with you some of the concepts we are trying to impart to our students.

Prior to my coming to CCNY in 2005, the jazz vocalists had the good fortune to study with the great Sheila Jordan, who shared her talent, expertise and pure jazz spirit with City College students for 27 years. Pianist Ray Gallon, Lecturer at CCNY, served as accompanist for Sheila's class – the Jazz Vocal Workshop – in recent years. I hope that I have created a curriculum that will help keep Sheila's flame alive in the hearts of future generations of jazz vocalists (header photo, l-r: Ray Gallon, Sheila Jordan, Suzanne Pittson).

Our third BFA jazz vocal class has now begun the newly designed jazz vocal sequence. As far as I can tell, CCNY is one of the few universities in the country where the vocal curriculum focuses on the development of vocabulary and language for improvisation. Of course, we offer performance classes, where practical performance tips are offered, but the cornerstone of our jazz vocal curriculum is the development of musical content, based on the transcription, assimilation, and application of melodic ideas.

I hope that through this blog, many young singers and their families will discover the jazz vocal program here at The City College of New York during the college application and audition process. Please feel free to consult the Music Department website – http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/prospective/humanities/music/index.cfm – where you can learn more about our incredible jazz faculty: Dan Carillo, Ray Gallon, Mike Holober, John Patitucci & Scott Reeves, and where much of the information you need about our programs is resident.

Musically Yours,

Suzanne Pittson

Assistant Professor of Jazz Vocal Studies

212.650.7656