Welcome to "Jazz at the Beach!"

A productive pre-professional atmosphere awaits you as a Jazz Studies major at CSULB. In 1975, California State University, Long Beach became the first four-year university in California to offer a BM in Jazz Studies. In 1993, the MM in Jazz Studies was added to the CSULB list of graduate degrees. Our jazz degrees are offered to assist players and composers in the development of jazz skills, plus other musical studies that build the necessary skill set to address the rigors of today’s professional music scene. Located just minutes from the heart of Southern California’s numerous studios and sound stages, students become acclimated to the expectations of this competitive professional environment and enjoy increased performance opportunities.

Our jazz studies graduates have made significant contributions to the music industry. Some of our alumni include Mark Turner (saxophone), Chad Wackerman (drums), Stan Martin (trumpet), John Patitucci (bass), Andy Martin (trombone), Bill Liston (saxophone), Sal Lozano (saxophone), Basil Poledouris (film composer), Tom Kubis (saxophone/composer), Cecilia Coleman (piano), Jay Anderson (bass), Jeff Kashiwa (saxophone), and Richard and Karen Carpenter of "The Carpenters"—just to name a few!

Recently, our jazz students have worked with Wayne Bergeron, Wycliffe Gordon, Gary Foster, Dena DeRose, Bob McChesney, Dena DeRose, Bob Mintzer, Ron Stout, Tom Kubis, Shelly Berg, and more. The Concert Jazz Orchestra was awarded First Place honors at the 2007 Monterey Next Generation Festival and was invited to perform at the 50th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. Our premier vocal jazz ensemble, Pacific Standard Time, was invited to perform at the 2008 International Association for Jazz Education Conference in Toronto. At the 2009 Monterey Next Generation Festival, both the Concert Jazz Orchestra and Pacific Standard Time were awarded First Place honors and were invited to perform at the 52nd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival.

If you want to be part of a living, thriving jazz scene that intersects with the world’s largest entertainment center, come to "Jazz At The Beach."