MA Music (Jazz)
Leeds, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 20,000
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
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Develop your artistry with our Music MA specialising in Jazz. This practical postgraduate degree is designed to develop your art form and enhance your musical skills, professional approach, and innovative thinking, equipping you for the dynamic nature of today's music industry.
At Leeds Conservatoire, students take charge of their personal, creative, and intellectual development, maturing into accomplished musicians and thoughtful professionals ready to achieve long-lasting success in the music industry.
Your unique passions and talents will be championed and you'll be encouraged to delve deep, experiment, and discover new ideas and approaches to your artistry.
You’ll also gain the confidence to produce your finest work and make your mark in the competitive international music arena.
Master Your Skills
Alongside developing your music practice as a performer and connecting with your audiences, we also encourage our students to embrace adaptability and explore new perspectives - essential skills for standing out from a crowded field.
Specialist tutors, peers, and industry guests provide invaluable support, constructive critique, and expert insights across a spectrum of disciplines.
You’ll also engage in theoretical and research activities that will place your talent within a range of philosophical, historical, sociological, industrial and critical contexts within your chosen discipline.
As a graduate, you’ll have developed the resilience and creativity needed for enduring success in the ever-evolving landscape of the creative industries.
A Collaborative Curriculum
When you enrol at Leeds Conservatoire you will join a lively community of creative practice. We celebrate creative diversity, fostering collaboration among practitioners from varied stylistic backgrounds to pioneer new musical frontiers.
Through dynamic group sessions, students from diverse stylistic backgrounds will collaborate, sparking innovation forging lifelong connections, and building foundations for sustainable careers in the industry.
Play your part in Leeds' lively jazz scene and connect with a thriving community of jazz musicians and enthusiasts through our new MA Music (Jazz) programme.
You’ll be guided and inspired by world-leading tutors who are active musicians and professional performers, focusing on your preferred jazz style—bebop, experimental, fusion, traditional, or modern.
You’ll have the opportunity to hone your skills as a composer and arranger as well as perform in big bands and the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. You’ll create original music and collaborate with other students to showcase your talent at jam sessions and regular gigs in Leeds' renowned jazz venues.
We proudly hold the distinction of being the first conservatoire in Europe to offer a dedicated jazz course. Benefit from this rich heritage and pioneering spirit in jazz education to launch your career as a professional artist, record your music, and build your audience with us.
Specialist Study
Specialist Study modules in trimesters 1 and 2 enable students to consolidate and develop their skills as they work towards achieving greater originality, technical proficiency and creative fluidity in their practice. Students will work towards submitting a performance or portfolio based on their chosen discipline.
In preparation for a performance, public sharing, or portfolio submission, students will, through collaborative investigations with tutors in both one-to-one sessions and taught group sessions, work on improving and refining their practical, creative, and presentational skills.
This work will draw from a range of inspirational sources including influential figures from minority groups. This process involves identifying and addressing technical weaknesses, exploring and analysing a variety of repertoire and/or original material, and developing coherent presentation skills that align with the demands of their chosen idiom.
Concepts in Music
Concepts in Music modules in trimesters 1 and 2 will facilitate learning by addressing and exploring relevant practical, theoretical and critical frameworks in lectures, group seminars and directed independent study. The module allows students to analyse and interrogate musical systems and approaches that relate to their chosen discipline.
The module will also focus on developing skills that relate to all pathways such as presentation skills, developing social conscience, ethical practice, intellectual property, funding applications, social media, location recording techniques and understanding national arts organisations.
Within the module, students will focus on a diverse range of influential figures, drawing from both global majority and minority group artists.
Major Project
The programme culminates in the 60-credit Major Project in Music module, in which students will embark on an ambitious, complex, and substantial project supported by small-group supervision.
With a deep understanding of the creative and industrial contexts within which your practice exists, as an alumnus, you will be prepared for a career as a musician.
Our postgraduate students have received commissions, performed at regional and international festivals including South by South West, The Reeperbahn Festival, Glastonbury and Live at Leeds, progressed to teaching positions, and created public installations.