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Diploma of Music in Jazz Performance

BECOME THE MUSICIAN YOU WANT TO BE!

This 1-year full time music course will give you all the foundational theory, aural and performance skills to kick-start your career as a performing musician. You will spend the majority of class time playing your instrument, developing your technique, knowledge of harmony and skills in improvisation and performance.

Students will learn from some of Australia’s finest jazz educators and performers to develop the necessary skills to become a successful musician in the music industry. JMI’s faculty includes winners of the National Jazz Awards, performers who have extensively toured nationally and internationally, appeared regularly on television plus more. Find out more about JMI’s faculty here.

JMI students are exposed to many performing opportunities throughout the course, performing at a variety of venues, events and festivals gaining invaluable real-world experience. Students also get exposed to plenty of jam sessions and networking opportunities with current industry professionals.

Course Structure

The Diploma of Music in Jazz Performance is structured exactly the same as the first year of JMI’s Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance. The one year full-time course is divided into three study areas:  Performance, Core Studies and Creative Studies.

Students undertake practical subjects including Principal Study (individual lessons with instrumental teacher), Concert Performance Practice (weekly student performances), Improvisation Techniques and Ensemble. These subjects are supported by the theoretical subjects Jazz Materials (music theory), Aural and Analysis (listening and transcription skills) & Jazz in Context (jazz history).

Students learn a significant amount of jazz repertoire in both the practical and theory classes, equipping them with the ability to analyse form, structure, harmony, melody and rhythm from different perspectives.

Course Fees

For Domestic Students

THIS COURSE IS FEE-HELP APPROVED

Eligible domestic students can defer their fees to a HELP debt through FEE-HELP. Click here for more information.
2024 Fees
Fee per credit point = $250
Course fees per semester = $10,000
Total course fees: $20,000
For cost of each subject, please download the Schedule of units for 2024

For International Students

2024 Fees
Fee per credit point = $437.50
Average course fees per semester = $17,500
Average total course fees: $35,000
Prospective international students will need to go to the International Students page for information specifically regarding how to apply to JMI as an international applicant.

ENTRY requirements

To apply for this course, applicants will need to complete an audition. The audition process is outlined below.

The Audition Process

The audition process for JMI’s Higher Education programs is outlined below. Applicants will need to complete the Repertoire Performance, Scales & Arpeggios and Theory & Aural Exam.  This will take up to 30 minutes to complete in total.

Repertoire performance

All applicants will perform the repertoire performance with a JMI staff rhythm section in-person, or with a backing track or solo if performing the audition online.

Repertoire List A (Blues): Blue Monk, Tenor Madness, Blues by Five, Sonnymoon for Two

Repertoire List B (Standards): Autumn Leaves, All of Me, Exactly Like You, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You

Instrumentalists

(brass, woodwind, bass, guitar, piano)

  • Perform 1 piece from List A (Blues) and 1 piece from List B (Standards).

Applicants will need to perform the melody, play the arpeggios through the chord changes, take an improvised solo and perform the melody to finish.  NB: Bassists will be asked to play a walking bass line instead of the melody.

Vocalists

  • Perform 2 pieces from List B (Standards). Vocalists will be asked to sing the melody, take a 1-chorus scat solo or vocalise, then sing the melody to finish.
  • Play the root notes to the chord changes on piano while singing the melody to the 2 pieces from List B (Standards).

Drummers

  • Perform 1 piece from List A (Blues) with a swing feel and the song “Blue Bossa” with a Bossa Nova feel. In both pieces, drummers will need to play time and trade 4s with the JMI staff piano player.

If you would like to get the sheet music for the audition repertoire, please contact JMI directly.

Check out JMI’s Spotify Playlist for some great versions of these tunes.

Scales & Arpeggios

Instrumentalists

(brass, woodwind, bass, guitar, piano)

Perform the following:

  • Major scales in the keys of C, F, G, D, A, Bb, Eb
  • Major, Dominant 7th & Minor 7th arpeggios in the keys of C, F, G, D, A, Bb, Eb

NB: Guitarists are to demonstrate the above information in at least 2 positions.

Vocalists

Perform the following:

  • Sing Major scales in three keys of choice
  • Sing Major, Dominant 7th and Minor 7th arpeggios in 1 key of choice

Drummers

Perform the following:

  • Major scales in the keys of G, C, F & Bb on the piano at their own tempo
  • A sight-reading drum exercise
Theory & Aural Exam

Applicants will sit a music theory exam on basic music theory knowledge which will include

  • Basic rhythmic construction: quarter and eighth notes, and rests
  • Write major scales up to four flats/sharps
  • Write major, minor, augmented, and diminished triads
  • Write out the Circle of 4ths/5ths

Applicants will also sit a brief aural exam in which they will have to:

  • Distinguish between major and minor triads; major, minor and dominant seventh chords
  • Distinguish between major and minor seconds; perfect fifths and octaves; major thirds and perfect fourths

English Language Proficiency

In addition to the audition, applicants will need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements to enter the course.

English Language Proficiency requirements

Applicants will need to demonstrate an adequate level of English Language proficiency prior to gaining entry into this course. The following is deemed adequate and will require providing documentation (in brackets) at the point of audition.

  • A Pass in Year 12 English (Senior School Certificate)
  • Previous study in a VET course at Diploma level or above either complete or incomplete (Statement of Attainment)
  • Previous study in a Higher Education course at Bachelor level or above either complete or incomplete (Academic Transcript)
  • A score of 6.5 on a IELTS test
  • An overall score of 150 or better on the QTAC STAT test

If applicants cannot demonstrate an adequate level of English Language proficiency at the time of audition, they will need to undertake a STAT test at QTAC (www.qtac.edu.au) and gain an overall score of 150 or better prior to being offered a place in this course.

If you are unable to achieve this score then you will need to complete a preparatory course in English to be able to enter this course. Contact JMI for more information regarding English preparatory courses that are available.

More admissions information, including JMI Student Profiles and specific admissions information for different applicant backgrounds (school leavers, previous VET study, previous Higher Education study, work & life experience) is also available here.

If you are unsure of the specific information please contact the office for further clarification. You can also arrange lessons with staff prior to your audition. If you are unable to complete some of the following requirements, you may be offered lessons with staff or short courses after your audition.

Enrolment Process

If you are successful in your audition, you will be sent an offer for enrolment in the program.

Learn more about the enrolment process

This offer will include the following information:

  • the course for which they are offered a place
  • details of any advanced standing they may have received
  • process for accepting the offer
  • important upcoming dates including the date of required reply to accept the offer and
  • details of fees and options for payment of fees.

For JMI’s accredited courses, fee payment options include:

  • Defer all fees to a FEE-HELP debt
  • Defer some fees to a FEE-HELP debt and pay the remaining fees up-front
  • Pay total some of semester fees up-front

You will be given up to 30 days to respond to this offer and confirm your place in the course.  To confirm your enrolment, you will need to complete the Enrolment Form and send back to JMI as per the instructions in the Letter of Offer.  If you do not respond within 30 days, your offer may be withdrawn.

You are able to apply for Advanced Standing as per JMI’s Credit Transfer & Recognition of Prior Learning Policy at any point in time during the application process.  You can access this policy by visiting our Academic Policies page.

If you wish to defer your offer, you will need to contact JMI directly and in accordance with JMI’s Leave of Absence and Withdrawal Policy, also available on our Academic Policies page.

For more information regarding tuition fees and refunds, please see our Domestic Student Fee and Refund Policy available on our Academic Policies page.

Important Admissions Dates

15th July 2023 – Auditions open for 2024 entry
25th January 2024 – Auditions close for 2023 entry
19 to 23 February 2024 – Orientation week
26 February 2024 – Semester 1 2024 commences

Location & Contact Information

Below is a list of information regarding Jazz Music Institute for the purposes of admissions

Campus Location:
47 Brookes Street
Bowen Hills, QLD 4006

Contact Information
E-mail: play@jazz.qld.edu.au
Phone: (07) 3216 1110

Please call or e-mail for any queries regarding the course, enrolment, audition process, fees etc.

Alternate Pathways

No formal music education is required for admission to the course. Some prospective students may gain entry through completing AMEB grades, an Advanced Diploma, Diploma or other courses in music, whilst some prospective students may have no formal training but display an aptitude for performance.

Advanced Standing

Prospective students entering the Bachelor program after completing a Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Music may apply for Advanced Standing at the time of audition. In doing so, the prospective student should supply a certified academic transcript and supporting documentation detailing the units and content covered in the course. This application for advanced standing will be processed as per JMI’s Credit Transfer & Recognised Prior Learning Policy, available in our Academic Policies section.

additional admissions information

For more admissions information, including admissions processes from different educational backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the student profile at JMI, please download the below document

Additional Admissions Information Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this an accredited course?

The Diploma of Music in Jazz Performance course is currently accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.

This qualification is recognised under Level 5 of the Australian Qualifications Framework

Is this course CRICOS approved?

This course is CRICOS approved and available for International Students to study on a student visa. The CRICOS course code is 0100198.  For information regarding studying this program as an International student, please visit our International Students page.

Is there a financial support scheme available?

FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that assists eligible fee paying students enrolled at Jazz Music Institute to pay their tuition fees. FEE-HELP can cover all or part of a student’s tuition fees.  Over their lifetime, a student may borrow through FEE-HELP an amount up to the FEE-HELP limit to pay their tuition fees. To find out more, visit FEE-HELP.

You can also access student welfare benefits as a full-time student, to find more out more visit Centerlink.

What pathways are available once I complete the course?

Students who successfully complete the Diploma of Music in Jazz Performance will be able to articulate directly into the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance program, receiving 80 credit points towards the 240 credit point degree program.

Get Started

To apply for these courses, prospective students need to perform an audition. Audition requirements and the process of the audition are available on our How to Apply page.