BM Jazz - Percussion at Indiana University Bloomington

Programme overview

The Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies with a percussion focus at the Jacobs School of Music trains students in improvisation, jazz history, arranging and composition, small and large ensemble performance and pedagogy, with a weekly private lesson with a faculty mentor. Jazz students must perform in an ensemble; Jacobs lists three big bands, a Latin Jazz Ensemble and various combos.

Faculty: Jacobs School of Music | Department: Jazz Studies Department | Duration: 120 credit hours (major ensemble and I400 excluded) | Location: Bloomington, IN, United States

What you will study

The degree includes 31 credits of jazz major courses (jazz history, theory, harmony, arranging, improvisation and a capstone), 11 credits of core music courses, performance study of at least 3 credits per semester until the senior recital, jazz chamber ensemble, secondary piano, general education and 12 credits of required electives. Sample courses include O214 Jazz Harmony, O321 Jazz Improvisation 1, M390 Jazz History 1 and O316 Jazz Arranging 1.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Jacobs School of Music undergraduate applicants: IU application plus the Jacobs Supplemental Application; preferred deadline November 1 and final deadline December 1 (supplemental application and any prescreening by December 1); audition or interview on the January-February 2027 audition weekends or by recorded audition (final recordings due February 15); non-native English speakers submit TOEFL or IELTS by March 1; admission decisions by April 1 and enrollment deadline May 1. Jazz percussion prescreen video (due December 1): one snare drum solo or etude; on drum set one prepared piece and demonstration of time and soloing in medium swing, up-tempo swing, rock, bossa nova and samba; vibraphone and world percussion optional.

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Freshmen can start in the fall or spring semester; freshmen applying for the spring semester should apply by November 1 (priority deadline).

Transfer students can start in fall, spring (January start) or summer.

Freshman early action (non-binding) deadline is November 1 (response January 15); regular decision deadline is February 1 (response March 15); after February 1 applications are considered on a space-available basis. The enrollment deposit of $100 is due May 1. IU Bloomington is test-optional (SAT, ACT and CLT scores are optional). Apply with either the Apply IU application or the Common Application.

Transfer priority deadlines: fall start June 1, spring (January start) November 1, summer start March 1; School of Nursing applicants for fall must apply by April 1 and Kelley School of Business applicants by June 1. Apply with either the Apply IU application or the Common Application.

The undergraduate application fee is $65 (US citizen and international); the Jacobs School of Music application fee is $95.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.indiana.edu/apply/index.html

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