2013 Reno Jazz Festival - University of Nevada, Reno | Jazz and Improvisation Music Program

The University of Nevada, Reno Program in Jazz and Improvisational Music
At the University of Nevada, Reno Program in Jazz and 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.

Our program addresses both historical precedents and emerging trends within jazz (and beyond). Balancing the old with the new, we emphasize a grounding in standard repertoire and styles, and also encourage less-conventional forms of playing and composing, allowing each student to develop his or her own creative voice. And we ask much of our students: Our graduates possess highly developed and diverse 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 and Improvisational Music can expect:

Excellent one-on-one instruction with our creative and committed private teachers
Classroom instruction geared toward creating solid fundamental skills in harmony, rhythm and ear training
The opportunity to participate in a variety of performing and recording situations: six-eight small ensembles, two big bands and a yearly student CD project
Exploration of the music’s current trends and possible future manifestations

My fellow members of the jazz faculty, all outstanding performing artists, include David Ake, Ed Corey, Larry Engstrom, Hans Halt and Andrew Heglund. In addition, renowned visiting artists supplement the jazz festival and curriculum, providing vital interaction and collaboration with students.

If you or your students would like more information about the University of Nevada, Reno Program in Jazz and Improvisational Music, or the Composition and “All-Star” performance categories at the festival, feel free to contact me at (775) 784-1501 or by email: pepstein@unr.edu. I look forward to seeing you at this year’s festival!

Peter Epstein,
Director of Jazz and Improvisational Music