Jazz and Popular Music

Jazz and Popular Music Studies at Glendale Community College provides opportunities for students to perform, compose, and collaborate with students and faculty to help them gain the necessary skills to achieve a professional career as an educator and performer. Jazz and popular music students perform frequently on-campus and in other professional clubs and music venues around the Valley.

If you are interested in pursuing a degree in jazz or popular music OR would like to follow a transfer plan, please contact the program director before enrolling in classes.

MUP 183 - Jazz Ensemble

The Glendale Community College Jazz Ensemble is an 18-piece jazz orchestra that focuses on learning big-band jazz repertoire ranging from Count Basie to more modern composers like Maria Schneider and Darcy James Argue. This ensemble enjoys collaborations with visiting guests as well as professional artists based in the Valley.

MUP163 - Jazz Combos

The Glendale Community College Jazz Combos are chamber jazz groups that range from the size of a quartet up to an octet. The groups focus on learning various styles of jazz including hard bop, bebop, fusion, and the avant-garde. Students will also learn different approaches to improvising and functioning in a small group jazz setting.

MUP 158 - Rock Band (Popular Music Ensembles)

The Glendale Community College rock and pop bands perform various styles of music within the vein of popular music. Students have the opportunity to learn and play music ranging from folk styles, to punk rock, soul, heavy metal, and more.

MUP 164/165 - Jazz Improvisation

Jazz improvisation focuses on learning different approaches to improvising over the blues, jazz standards, and other jazz and popular music styles. Students will study solos from iconic artists, learn solos and ideas by ear, and learn to become effective improvisers themselves.

MUC 181 - Popular Music Orchestration and Arranging

Popular Music Orchestration and Arranging focuses on learning techniques in arranging popular music ensembles. This includes learning music preparation skills using music notation software.

MTC 203 - Jazz Composition

Jazz composition allows students to work with faculty in a 1-on-1 setting to learn compositional techniques, create new music, and in some cases write music that the jazz combos and jazz big bands perform at concerts and record in Glendale Community College’s state-of-the-art recording studio.

Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and Rock Band Auditions

Glendale Community College holds jazz auditions at the beginning of each semester. Audition materials will be posted two weeks before the audition date. Please reach out to Dr. Benjamin Hedquist if you are interested in auditioning for any of the jazz and popular music ensembles.