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Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, Monash University
The Jazz and Improvisation program is based on the African American jazz idiom as a language for learning. While the focus remains on music in Australia, it also embraces a wide selection of musical styles including jazz, world music, Brazilian, Indian, free, electronic, popular, Latin and blues to name but a few styles. The philosophy of the course is to offer a strong technical and musical foundation that allows the student to develop a personal ‘voice’ which is a result of their broad musical education and an awareness of their social and cultural being.
Academically, there is a focus on learning research skills in performance (practice-based/artistic research), as well as musicology and ethnomusicology, which can lead to further study in the graduate research area. Students can partake in classes in jazz arranging/composition, ear training, improvisation materials, instrument-specific workshops, keyboard skills, Indian rhythms, Brazilian music (Choro–Samba), composition, performance workshops, stage bands, world music ensembles, guitar studies and small ensembles.