At the University of Nevada,Reno Program in Jazz & Improvisational Music, our ultimate goal is to provide undergraduate and graduate students with comprehensive knowledge of the multifaceted range of sounds, practices, and meanings known as jazz.

The Program addresses the divergent historical and emerging trends within jazz and beyond. Balancing the old with the new, standard repertoire is emphasized, but so too are less conventional forms of playing, original composition, and creativity in general. And we ask much of our students: graduates of the Program in Jazz & Improvisational Music possess highly developed performance skills, as well as a thorough knowledge of the music’s rich history and the scholarship that surrounds it.

Students in the Program in Jazz & Improvisational Music can expect:

• Excellent one-on-one instruction with our creative and committed private teachers

• Classroom instruction geared towards creating solid fundamental skills in harmony, rhythm, and ear training

• The opportunity to participate in a variety of performing situations: 6-8 small ensembles; 2 big bands; yearly student Cd project

• Exploration of the music’s current trends and possible future manifestations

• Interaction with renowned visiting artists. Recent guests include: Don Byron, Ralph Alessi, Scott Colley, Kneebody, Jim Hall, John Hollenbeck, Ravi Coltrane, Drew Gress, Randy Weston, Robin Eubanks, Nancy King, Fred Hersch, and many others.

• Participation at the annual Reno International Jazz Festival. Recent headliners include John Scofield, Maria Schneider, Dave Holland, Kenny Garrett, and Joshua Redman

Members of the jazz faculty, all outstanding performing artists, include Peter Epstein - saxophone and Director of Jazz Jazz & Improvisational Music, David Ake - piano, Ed Corey - guitar, Larry Engstrom - trumpet, Hans Halt - bass, Andrew Heglund - drums, and James Winn – piano/contemporary improvisation

If you would like more information about the University of Nevada, Reno Program in Jazz & Improvisational Music, please contact Peter Epstein at (775) 784-1501 or e-mail: pepstein@unr.edu