Register
Login
About the course
Jazz & Improvisation is an honours specialisation within the Bachelor of Music (Degree with Honours), designed as an intensive, highly specialised one-year capstone to undergraduate music study. It emphasises advanced improvisational practice and the development of a major project and dissertation in a practice-led research environment. Admission may involve a research proposal and an audition (or exemption for eligible University of Melbourne Bachelor of Music graduates).
What you might learn
Students develop advanced performance and/or compositional capability with a strong focus on improvisation and creative craft. They learn to define and articulate a substantial practice-led research project through a research/project proposal and to contextualise their work within contemporary creative and scholarly frameworks. The program supports students to plan and realise a major project that integrates artistic practice with critical reflection and research writing.
Career outcome
Graduates may pursue careers as professional jazz performers, improvising musicians, composers/arrangers, and collaborative ensemble artists. The honours research and project focus can support pathways into postgraduate study, practice-led research, and academic or artistic development roles. Skills in project design, performance craft, and creative research are applicable across performance, composition, recording, and independent artistic practice.
Entry requirements
Start Year 2027: Applications open 3 August and close 31 October. All applicants must meet the standard eligibility for the Bachelor of Music (Degree with Honours) plus additional requirements. For graduates of other institutions or University of Melbourne students without at least H2A (75%) in Individual Performance Studies 6 (MUSI30228), a 30-minute audition is required, including presentation and discussion of a research project proposal. University of Melbourne Bachelor of Music students with at least H2A (75%) in MUSI30228 do not require an audition. All applicants must submit a direct University application and a supplementary application. Supplementary application: submit at least one research/project proposal (100–250 words) framing the intended major project and dissertation within a practice-led research environment, and a video-recorded audition where required. Audition: upload a video of two contrasting pieces (preferably with an ensemble) aligned to the proposed research project focus; approximately 10–15 minutes total. Applicants must demonstrate high-level instrumental/vocal/compositional skill (especially improvisation), frame work in a creative context, use their own accompanists if required, and shortlisted applicants proposing performance/composition of new work must present a folio of original works (scores) at interview (recordings may be included). Record each piece in one continuous take with no editing; recordings must be no more than 6 months old at the application closing date. Interview: shortlisted applicants attend an online Zoom interview to assess project scope and capability to realise it; accessibility requirements are collected during interview booking.
Average Salary***
