Rodney Jordan
- Professor of Jazz Bass
- Coordinator of Jazz and Music Industry
Jazz
A vibrant environment where creativity and tradition intersect.
The Jazz Studies program at Florida State University provides a wide variety of opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing a career in jazz performance and/or jazz music education, and offers a full curriculum of study from theory, arranging, music business, jazz history, jazz pedagogy, and film scoring, to private instruction on jazz drum set, guitar, double bass, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and piano.
Strong Community
Our professionally renown faculty are performers, teachers, composers and producers of music. These include multiple Grammy winners, leaders of well-known musical ensembles like the Count Basie Orchestra, and well-known composers and arrangers.
Our students are part of a large comprehensive college of music that develops countless collaborations. Graduate students and guest artists enrich a community that features close collaboration between students, faculty, and music professionals. Teamwork is stressed with students serving in the many roles required for a successful recording product.
For more information about the Jazz program, contact Rodney Jordan.
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Music (Jazz Track)
- Students in all degrees study privately with some of the best performer/teachers in the world
- Versatile degree that allows students to pursue their wide-ranging interests while receiving musical training in one of the country’s top music programs
- Weekly private lessons and studio classes with world-class faculty
Bachelor of Music in Performance (Jazz)
- Prepare for a jazz career in this comprehensive program that includes:
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- Weekly applied lessons and studio classes
- Large and small ensembles of all genres including combo and big band.
- Improvisation, pedagogy, jazz history and jazz piano included
- Graduates can be found through the fields of performance, teaching, and research, recognized nationally and internationally for their high level of excellence and professionalism
Graduate Programs
Master of Music in Performance (Jazz)
- Students who wish to continue their professional development as performers, composers and teachers.
- Competitive admission for high-level musicians.
- Prepares students to excel in a career with hands-on, real-world experience.
- Solo improvisation with combo and jazz ensemble.
- Teaching and pedagogical experiences in a variety of settings.
- Jazz theory and history.
- Composition and arranging.
- Abundant performance opportunities in a variety of settings.
