The University of North Texas opened the door for jazz studies at the college level in 1947 when it became first university in the nation to offer a degree program in jazz. Today, the North Texas jazz program, housed within the largest music school in the nation, retains its role as leader in jazz education. It has earned an international reputation for excellence in both the music education field and the professional jazz industry.
The UNT One O'Clock Lab Band is the centerpiece of the program, which offers bachelor and master of music degrees in jazz studies. Eleven faculty, each renowned and respected in the field, instruct almost 400 majors in areas of applied instrumental performance, vocal jazz and composition/arranging. Almost 75 majors are recipients of endowed jazz scholarships.
Degrees
- Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies (emphases in instrumental, arranging, or vocal)
- Master of Music in Jazz Studies (tracks in performance, composition, pedagogy)
- Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance with local concentration in Jazz Studies (emphases in performance and composition)
Area Website
Faculty
- José Aponte - Latin Jazz Lab
- Tony Baker - Applied jazz trombone
- Jennifer Barnes - Director of Vocal Jazz, Director of Jazz Singers
- Alan Baylock - Director of One O'Clock Lab Band beginning fall 2016
- Rodney Booth - Applied jazz trumpet, Director of Two O'Clock Lab Band, Jazz Aural Fundamentals, Small group coaching
- Pat Coil - Applied jazz piano, Improvisation, Coordinator of Small Groups
- Tanya Darby - Applied lead trumpet, Director of Three O'Clock Lab Band, Introduction to Jazz Recordings
- Richard DeRosa - Director of Composition and Arranging
- Rosana Eckert - Applied vocal jazz, Vocal Jazz Techniques, Songwriting, Pedagogy for Non-Classical Voice
- Fred Hamilton - Applied jazz guitar, improvisation, rhythm section master class
- Brad Leali - Applied jazz saxophone, Three O'Clock Lab Band, jazz performance fundamentals for saxophone
- John Murphy - Division chair; jazz history, analysis, and research methods
- John (Jay) Saunders - Director of One O'Clock Lab Band, Conducting College Jazz Ensembles
- Lynn Seaton - Applied jazz bass, improvisation, rhythm section master class
- Ed Soph - Applied jazz drumset, rhythm section master class
- Michael Steinel - Applied jazz trumpet, improvisation, pedagogy of jazz, jazz trumpet performance fundamentals
Emeritus Faculty
- Dan Haerle
- James Riggs
- Paris Rutherford
- Neil Slater
Staff
- Craig Marshall
Lab Band Manager
craig.marshall@unt.edu
Contact Information
Katie Kinard, administrative assistant
940-565-3743
jazz@unt.edu