Juilliard Research -- Reference Document¶
[Research compiled March 23, 2026. Real-world Juilliard data for worldbuilding accuracy. Not an in-universe document.]
Jazz Studies BM -- Full 4-Year Curriculum (145-149 credits)¶
Year 1 (37-41 credits)¶
| Course # | Course Name | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUILL 101 | Discover Juilliard | 1 | Freshman orientation |
| JUILL 102 | Essentials of Entrepreneurship in the Arts | 1 | |
| [Major] | Instrument (Saxophone) | 10 | 15 one-hour lessons/semester |
| -- | Annual Jury | 0 | End-of-year faculty assessment |
| PFENS 511J-512J | Juilliard Jazz Orchestra | 1/semester | Full big band, all 4 years |
| PFENS 521J-522J | Jazz Ensemble | 2/semester | Small combo, all 4 years |
| ETMUS 111-112 | Ear Training I | 2/semester | |
| THMUS 111J | Jazz Theory I | 3 | |
| THMUS 211J | Jazz Theory II | 3 | |
| MHMUS 111J | Jazz History I | 3 | |
| JZMUS 500 | Creative Ideas | 1/term | Runs all 7 UG semesters |
| KSMUS 540J | Jazz Piano I for Non-Pianists | 1/semester | Required 2 years |
| JZMUS 100R | Doubles for Saxophonists | 0 | Flute -- with major lessons |
| LARTS 111 | Foundations of Knowledge | 3 | |
| LARTS 112 | Society, Politics, and Culture | 3 |
Year 2 (44-46 credits)¶
| Course # | Course Name | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Major] | Instrument | 10 | |
| -- | Annual Jury | 0 | Faculty review for continuation |
| PFENS 511J-512J | Jazz Orchestra | 1/semester | |
| PFENS 521J-522J | Jazz Ensemble | 2/semester | |
| ETMUS 211-212 | Ear Training II | 2/semester | |
| THMUS 311J | Jazz Theory III: Chromatic Harmony | 3 | |
| THMUS 411J | Jazz Theory IV: Form | 3 | |
| MHMUS 211J | Jazz History II | 3 | |
| MHMUS 311J | Jazz History III | 3 | |
| JZMUS 500 | Creative Ideas | 1/term | |
| KSMUS 542J | Jazz Piano II for Non-Pianists | 1/semester | |
| JZMUS 541-542 | Jazz Improvisation I and II | 2/semester | |
| JZMUS 200R | Doubles for Saxophonists | 0 | Continued |
Year 3 (40 credits)¶
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| [Major] | Instrument | 10 |
| -- | Annual Jury | 0 |
| PFENS 511J-512J | Jazz Orchestra | 1/semester |
| PFENS 521J-522J | Jazz Ensemble | 2/semester |
| JZMUS 411 | Intro to Jazz Arranging and Orchestration | 3 |
| JZMUS 412 | Jazz Arranging and Composition | 3 |
| MHMUS 211 | From 1700 to 1850 | 3 |
| MHMUS 311 | From 1850 to the Present | 3 |
| JZMUS 500 | Creative Ideas | 1/term |
| JZMUS 510 | Jazz Business I | 2 |
| JZMUS 511 | Jazz Business II | 2 |
| JZMUS 321 | Jazz Seminar | 1 |
| LARTS electives | 6 |
Year 4 (33 credits)¶
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| [Major] | Instrument | 10 |
| -- | Graduation Jury | 0 |
| -- | Recital | 1 |
| PFENS 511J-512J | Jazz Orchestra | 1/semester |
| PFENS 521J-522J | Jazz Ensemble | 2/semester |
| MHMUS 411J | Jazz History IV | 3 |
| Music Elective | 3 | |
| JZMUS 500 | Creative Ideas | 1/term |
| JZMUS 421 | The Jazz Community Project | 0 |
| LARTS electives | 6 |
Piano BM -- Full 4-Year Curriculum (151 credits)¶
Year 1 (32 credits)¶
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PNKMU 000 | Piano | 10 |
| MSMUS 100 | Piano Topics | 1 |
| MSMUS 221-222 | Piano Performance Class I | 1 |
| -- | Annual Jury | 0 |
| ETMUS 111-112 | Ear Training I | 2/semester |
| THMUS 111 | Theory I: Diatonic Harmony | 3 |
| THMUS 211 | Theory II: Principles of Form | 3 |
| MHMUS 111 | From Antiquity to 1700 | 3 |
| LARTS 111 | Ethics, Conscience, and the Good Life | 3 |
| LARTS 112 | Society, Politics, and Culture | 3 |
Year 2 (42 credits)¶
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PNKMU 000 | Piano | 10 |
| MSMUS 221-222 | Piano Performance Class II | 1/semester |
| -- | Annual Jury | 0 |
| ETMUS 211-212 | Ear Training II | 2/semester |
| THMUS 311 | Theory III: Chromatic Harmony | 3 |
| THMUS 411 | Theory IV: At Tonality's Edge | 3 |
| MHMUS 211 | From 1700 to 1850 | 3 |
| MHMUS 311 | From 1850 to Present | 3 |
| KSMUS 111-112 | Keyboard Skills I | 2/semester |
| MLMUS 133-134 | Piano Literature I | 2/semester |
| LARTS 212 | Citizenship, Art, and Politics | 3 |
| LARTS elective | 3 |
Year 3 (42 credits)¶
Chamber Music begins (4 cr). Theory V. Music Theory + History electives. Piano Lit II. Keyboard Skills II + Advanced. Liberal arts electives.
Year 4 (35 credits)¶
Chamber Music continues (4 cr). Departmental Seminar. Piano Lit III. Music electives. Graduation Recital (1 cr). Liberal arts electives.
Faculty Lists¶
Jazz Studies Faculty¶
Director: Wynton Marsalis Chair/Associate Director: Aaron Flagg
Saxophone: Ron Blake, Dan Block, Bruce Williams Trumpet: Tatum Greenblatt, Christian Jaudes, Joseph Magnarelli Trombone: Jason Jackson, Elliot Mason Guitar: James Chirillo, Doug Wamble Piano: Geoffrey Keezer, Dan Nimmer, Ted Rosenthal Bass: Gerald Cannon, Ben Wolfe Drums: Billy Drummond, Kenny Washington, Paul Wells Voice: Carla Cook, Charenee Wade
Specialized: - Mark Vinci -- Doubles for Saxophonists - Mark Sherman -- Doubles for Drummers - Andy Farber -- Advanced Jazz Composition/Arranging - Marc Cary, Donald Vega -- Jazz Improvisation - Michael Mossman, Sean Smither -- Jazz Theory - Fredara Hadley, Loren Schoenberg, Kenny Washington -- Jazz History - Greg Scholl -- Business of Jazz - Jerome Jennings -- Jazz Orchestra conductor/Resident Conductor
Piano Faculty¶
Emanuel Ax, Sergei Babayan, Hung-Kuan Chen, Stephen Hough, Yoheved Kaplinsky (Susan W. Rose Chair), Soyeon Kate Lee, Jerome Lowenthal, Julian Martin, Robert McDonald, Orli Shaham, Shai Wosner
Keyboard Studies Faculty¶
Conor Hanick, Henrique Eisenmann, Ryan Jackson, Mika Sasaki, Arthur Williford, Aaron Wunsch (Chair), Yiheng Yang
Audition Requirements Summary¶
Jazz Saxophone BM¶
Prescreening: 4 tunes (1 per category), recorded with accompaniment/metronome - Cat I: Hymns/Folksongs -- "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," "Goodnight Irene," "Aunt Hagar Blues" - Cat II: Swing/Songbook -- "After You've Gone," "I Remember You," "Like Someone in Love" - Cat III: Jazz Standards -- "Wail" (Powell), "In a Capricornian Way" (Shaw), "This is for Albert" (Shorter) - Cat IV: Spanish Tinge -- "Influencia do Jazz" (Lyra), "Wave" (Jobim)
Live audition: Prescreening tunes from memory with Juilliard Jazz alumni rhythm section + big band excerpts + Etude V "Autumn Leaves (Georgia O'Keeffe)" by Alyssa Morris
Callback: Same + creative project discussion + possible sight-reading/improvisation
Jazz Trumpet BM (Ezra)¶
Same prescreening categories and tunes as saxophone. Different etude: Etude No. 6 from "14 Characteristic Studies" by Jean Baptiste-Arban Trumpet-specific: encouraged to use plunger mute and vocal effects
Jazz Double Bass BM (Peter)¶
Same prescreening categories and tunes as saxophone. Different etude: Etude No. 21 in F minor by Franz Simandl Bass-specific: Must perform melody using both plucked (pizzicato) and bowed (arco) techniques on two of four selections. Solo and bass line accompaniments should be style-appropriate (walking bass, two-feel, groove, etc.). The arco requirement connects directly to Peter's classical Pre-College training.
Jazz Guitar BM (Riley)¶
Same prescreening categories and tunes as saxophone. Different etude: Bb Melodic Minor from "Daily Exercises" by Barry Galbraith, page 34 Guitar-specific: Must demonstrate three-octave triad arpeggio at quarter = 120 (quarter notes then eighth notes) before tunes. Each tune requires a chorus of melody (single string/chord melody/combination), then half chorus improvisation, then half chorus accompanying using style-appropriate rhythm. Evaluated on three guitar roles per tune: melodist, improviser, accompanist. Program emphasizes "solo and early rhythm guitar styles."
Classical Piano BM (Jacob)¶
Prescreening: 3 pieces, all from memory, hands/feet visible 1. One Chopin Etude 2. Complete sonata (Beethoven excl. Opp. 14/49/79, or specific Haydn/Mozart/Schubert) 3. Substantial Romantic composition (Chopin/Schumann/Brahms/Liszt/Mendelssohn -- no etudes/nocturnes/short pieces)
Live audition: 5 pieces, minimum 45-minute program, all from memory 1. Bach major work 2. Complete sonata (same options as prescreening) 3. Substantial Romantic composition 4. Virtuosic Chopin etude 5. Applicant's choice (6+ min, different style/composer)
Plus written musicianship exam + in-person musical skills evaluation
Jacob's specific audition repertoire is documented in TWoS manuscript -- to be extracted.
Classical Violin BM (Travis Yoon, attended 2023-2025)¶
Prescreening: 3 pieces 1. Slow + fast movement from a 19th/20th/21st-century concerto 2. One movement from unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita 3. One Paganini caprice
Live audition: 4 works, all from memory (post-1960 memorization encouraged but optional) 1. Slow + fast movement from 19th/20th/21st-century concerto (2 movements total) 2. Two contrasting movements from unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita (Chaconne alone satisfies this) 3. One brilliant concert piece -- if concerto is pre-1960, this MUST be post-1960. Faculty encourages works by historically underrepresented composers. 4. One additional virtuosic unaccompanied work by Bartok, Ernst, Milstein, Paganini, or Wieniawski
Teacher preferences required. Faculty includes: Stella Chen, Hilary Hahn, Frank Huang, Itzhak Perlman, Midori, Joel Smirnoff, and 15 others. Travis studied under fictionalized "Professor Eun-Ji."
Key Program Facts¶
- Jazz BM accepts ~7-9 instrumentalists per year (total, all instruments)
- Piano BM: ~150 classical instrumentalists/vocalists admitted per year (piano share unclear)
- Pre-College Division is classical only -- no jazz offered
- Juilliard also has Music Advancement Program (MAP) for ages 8-17
- Jazz students undergo Year 2 faculty review for program continuation
- All jazz instruments share the same curriculum (different instrument lessons + instrument-specific doubles)
- BCJ Program allows cross-registration with Barnard/Columbia
- Degree must be completed within 7 years of enrollment
- Application deadline: December 2 annually
- Application fee: $110 (fee waivers available for financial need)
- Same essay prompt used for all music applicants (jazz and classical)
- Disability accommodations through OASDS -- requires documented diagnosis
CRATB Members at Juilliard¶
| Member | Program | Start Year | Instrument | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Rivera | Jazz Studies BM | Fall 2025 | Saxophone | Freshman. Doubles: flute |
| Peter Liu | Jazz Studies BM | Fall 2025 | Bass (double bass) | Freshman |
| Riley Mercer | Jazz Studies BM | Fall 2025 | Guitar | Freshman |
| Ezra Cruz | Jazz Studies BM | Fall 2024 | Trumpet | Sophomore when others arrive. Already established. |
| Jacob Keller | Piano BM | Fall 2025 | Piano (classical) | Freshman. Different track entirely. |
Ezra's start year (2024) means the Juilliard org file's "2025-2029 period" needs updating to "2024-2029" to include his first year.