Jazz

Designed for students of outstanding potential, this specialist programme is led by internationally-renowned jazz saxophonist Professor Tommy Smith, and offers tuition from some of the best jazz musicians in Scotland. Through 90 minute one-to-one lessons each week you’ll benefit from their professional advice and understand what you need to know to get work and how to keep working.

This advanced programme is versatile and challenging. You’ll not only explore standard jazz repertoire but also a number of styles including contemporary and Latin jazz music. There’s a real variety of material experienced and you’ll get used to playing in lots of different ways at a very high level. This programme is delivered to only six students each year and, through class-based teaching in our dedicated ensemble jazz studio, you’ll become part of a band for four years and create a network of contacts and professional performance opportunities together before you graduate.

As this programme is new, there’s lots of focus on the department and lots of opportunities to perform. In the last year jazz students have played in the annual Swingin’ into Christmas concert with the Conservatoire Big Band and Musical Theatre students, collaborated with actors on providing the music for a show in the New Athenaeum Theatre, and worked with Masters Musical Theatre students for their Candid Cabaret performances. There’s also freshness to the Glasgow jazz scene and the Royal Conservatoire Students’ Union regularly host jazz nights around the city using students from our jazz programme. There’s a large pool of professional performers working in Glasgow, and professional contacts can be easily made through weekly gigs around the city.

Every month we present a Blue Monday performance. Open to the public, they have a growing reputation. They showcase students on the programme and are directed by one of our specialist jazz tutors. Often they include standard jazz tunes that have been developed in workshops and classes and feature original music too. We’ve also built close working relationships with other UK conservatoires to form the Conservatoires All-Star Big Band which performed to critical acclaim last year.

Built into the course are many opportunities for professional exposure with regular features including the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra and BBC Jazz House. We also have excellent recording facilities, with three refurbished studios, and a new Conservatoire/Nimbus Alliance recording label, so you’ll benefit from a professional working environment in all aspects of becoming a professional jazz musician.