Bachelor of Music in Global Jazz Performance
Students in this program study in Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute, under the artistic direction of Danilo Pérez. Students are given opportunities to explore their creativity at the highest level possible. Through applied lessons, ensembles, master classes, and coursework, students deepen their understanding of the harmonic and stylistic practices associated with contemporary jazz performance. As they are being mentored by jazz masters, students also have opportunities to travel and perform together.
Entrance to this major is by audition only. Students should audition with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute in their second or third semester at the latest.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- integrate global musical traditions and synthesize knowledge of jazz, Pan-African music, and other global musical traditions into performance, composition, and improvisation;
- develop a distinctive artistic voice and cultivate a unique creative identity that reflects personal expression, cultural awareness, and interdisciplinary influences;
- demonstrate technical mastery and apply advanced instrumental or vocal technique, posture, and sound production to their daily practice and performances;
- perform in diverse ensembles and collaborate effectively in ensembles of varying size, instrumentation, and cultural or stylistic orientation;
- compose and arrange original works and create, arrange, and interpret music that integrates traditional, contemporary, and global elements, informed by harmonic and rhythmic understanding;
- engage in music as social practice and participate in community outreach, therapeutic, or socially engaged musical projects, using music to connect, heal, and inspire;
- apply improvisational and creative concepts and use improvisation, tetrachord exploration, comprovisation, and other advanced creative concepts in performance and composition;
- connect music with interdisciplinary perspectives and explore intersections between music, art, culture, science, spirituality, and social activism, including participation in events such as the BGJI Symposium; and
- prepare for professional leadership and develop skills for a sustainable career in music, including project creation, collaboration, mentoring, and entrepreneurship in global jazz contexts.
There are 30 required credits specific to this major, in addition to the B.M. required core music courses (41 credits), liberal arts courses (40 credits), and general electives (9 credits), for a B.M. degree total of 120 credits. Major course requirements are as follows:
| Private Instruction: PIxx-311 Private Instruction Level 5, PIxx-312 Private Instruction Level 6, PIxx-411 Private Instruction Level 7, and PIxx-412 Private Instruction Level 8 (1 credit each) |
| Recital Preparation: RPxx-211 Recital Preparation 3, RPxx-212 Recital Preparation 4, RPxx-311 Recital Preparation 5, RPxx-312 Recital Preparation 6, RPxx-411 Recital Preparation 7, and RPxx-412 Recital Preparation 8 (1 credit each) |
| PSGJ-498 Preparatory Global Jazz Forum (1 credit) and PSGJ-499 Global Jazz Forum (1 credit); repeatable for credit, take 5 credits total |
| PSGJ-321 Global Harmonic Considerations (2 credits) |
| ILGJ-375 Danilo Pérez Workshop (1 credit) |
| PSGJ-333 Global Jazz and Music Activism 1 (2 credits) and PSGJ-334 Global Jazz and Music Activism 2 (2 credits) |
| ENGJ-404 Global Jazz Ensemble (1 credit) and ENGJ-406 Global Jazz Large Ensemble (1 credit); repeatable for credit, take 4 credits total |
| PSH-xxx Health and Wellness (1 credit) |
| PSGJ-322 Advanced Global Harmonic Considerations (2 credits) or PSGJ-375 World Percussion for Global Jazz (2 credits) |
| PSGJ-497 Directed Study in Global Jazz (1 credit) |