CJC Spring 2024 Registration Open!
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CJC Spring 2024 Registration Open!

The only private music conservatory in the country solely devoted to the African American art form, jazz

Our Programs

The California Jazz Conservatory offers degree programs taught by artist-educators who share a proven track record of success in transforming musicians into artists. With a small student body by design, CJC offers maximum individual attention at a competitively-priced level of tuition.

The California Jazz Conservatory offers degree programs taught by artist-educators who share a proven track record of success in transforming musicians into artists. With a small student body by design, CJC offers maximum individual attention at a competitively-priced level of tuition.

“The California Jazz Conservatory is an exceptional institution, fostering the next generation of artists and educators, many on the cutting edge, performing, composing, teaching, and touring throughout the world.”

—Dr. Jeff Denson, Dean Of Instruction

Program Highlights

The California Jazz Conservatory offers students a synergistic, comprehensive program of jazz education and performance for today’s professional jazz instrumentalist and vocalist.

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The California Jazz Conservatory admits the musician and graduates the artist

California Jazz Conservatory students and alumni perform at top level venues, are featured on foremost recording labels and are admitted to the country’s top graduate programs.

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A 100% jazz-relevant curriculum taught by preeminent resident and visiting artist-educators

In addition to the core music curriculum, the California Jazz Conservatory’s General Studies Department offers courses 100% relevant to the aspiring professional jazz musician, including the History of Jazz, Public Speaking for the Professional Musician, Statistics for the Professional Musician, the Physics of Sound and Music, Protest Songs and more

Download the Catalog
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Small classes taught by professional artists and experienced educators

CJC degree program faculty comprise of local, national and international artists and artist-educators of note in the field of jazz and related styles of music.

Our Faculty
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Performance opportunities at prominent Bay Area venues

Students perform at end-of-semester concerts, various clubs and jam sessions throughout the Bay Area, in addition to tour and competition opportunities in various jazz festivals across the country and around the world.

Autumn Salvo, CJC Graduate

“The California Jazz Conservatory is a community where musicians flourish…developing your own gifts and creativity into something that expresses your own uniqueness.”

—Autumn Salvo, CJC Graduate
CJC Student

“The true expertise of the faculty and their deep knowledge of their subject has put me on a straight line to developing my own jazz chops. They care very much about their students and getting them to their chosen musical destination,”

—CJC Student
CJC Student

“Each teacher brings so much to the table and it’s honestly remarkable to see so many amazing musicians and educators around each other every day. Susan Muscarella and the entire CJC staff have done so much for me and I feel incredibly grateful to be a student here.”

—CJC Student
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Visit CJC

The CJC campus is located in two buildings on Addison Street in the heart of the Downtown Berkeley Arts District with many arts and performance venues nearby. Public transit, located within a block of CJC, offers easy access to the San Francisco Bay Area arts, entertainment, cultural, and performance offerings.

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Explore the CJC

Explore our degree programs, take a class or workshop at our community music school, the Jazzschool, or come hear one of more than 100 live concerts a year at our campus and around the Bay Area.