Jazz com­po­si­tion, bachelor & mas­ter

Why study here?

You will develope into a versatile jazz music professional under the guidance of Finland’s leading musicians and top international names. We are known worldwide for our high-quality teaching, with a significant contribution from visiting international teachers.

As a student, you’ll acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for professionalism in Afro-American music and its performance practices.  Upon graduating, you can take on demanding roles as a composer, arranger, orchestra conductor and pedagogue. Graduates of Sibelius Academy’s jazz program, such as Mikko Hassinen, Kalle Kalima, Marzi Nyman, Jarmo Saari, Sampo Kasurinen, Outi Tarkiainen, Artturi Rönkä, Kirmo Lintinen, Pessi Levanto, and Valtteri Pöyhönen, have found success across both domestic and international music scenes.

During the first three years, you will study composition and instrument-related subjects, along with complementary courses in ensemble playing, music theory, rhythmics, and arrangement. Additionally, the curriculum includes elective courses, as well as language and music technology studies.

Content and objective of the programme

Bachelor studies

During the first three years, you will study composition and instrument-related subjects, along with complementary courses in ensemble playing, music theory, rhythmics, and arrangement. Additionally, the curriculum includes elective courses, as well as language and music technology studies.

Master studies

As a master student, you can choose almost a third of your courses freely. In addition to composing classes, you can choose, e.g., music business, music technology or pedagogical studies. During your studies, you will also participate in different musical projects, master classes and social events.

You can also choose courses organised by the other departments in Sibelius Academy or the two other Uniarts Helsinki academies. You can also complete so-called joint studies that are available to all students.

Doctoral studies

You can complete a licentiate and a doctoral degree at Uniarts Helsinki as a third-cycle degree. After graduating with a master’s degree, you can apply for doctoral studies in jazz and specialise in research-oriented, artistic or applied doctoral studies.

Some of the theses written by our doctors of music are available on-line:

• Sami Linna –  http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2019112243797
• Mikko Helevä –  http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-329-071-6
• Riitta Paakki –  http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-329-038-9
• Antti Rissanen –  http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2018050923728
• Jarno Kukkonen –  http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20052000
• Jari Perkiömäki –  http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20031086

Teachers

The Sibelius Academy’s teaching staff represents the top of the Finnish jazz scene. In 2018-2020, international teacher guests included:

• Jim Beard
• Seamus Blake
• Peter Bernstein
• René Marie
• Christie Dashiell
• Sinne Eeg
• Jamie Baum
• Jeff Hirshfield
• Aaron Parks
• Tony Malaby
• Guillermo Klein
• Marquis Hill
• Frank McComb
• Tim Hagans
• Craig Taborn
• Mark Soskin
• Billy Cobham
• Aaron Goldberg
• Matt Penman
• Leon Parker
• Jonathan Kreisberg
• Martin Bejerano
• Phil Markowitz
• Jeff “Tain” Watts
• Paul Bollenback
• Pedro Martins
• Godwin Louis
• Samora Pinderhughes
• Terell Stafford
• Jason Moran
• Dana Hall
• Ralph Alessi
• Ashley Kahn.

We collaborate with the Manhattan School of Music via video conference. These video-streamed master classes have been held, for example, by John Riley, Dave Liebman, Phil Markowitz and Gretchen Parlato.

Videos of our students