Jazz Institute

The 2024 program schedule can be found here.  While schedules vary year-to-year, this will provide insight into the programming provided. 

Eligibility

The MPulse Jazz Institute is open to students entering grades 9 (nine) through 12 (twelve) in the Fall of 2025. 

Piano, Guitar, and Bass

Upload a recording including the following:

• Walk a bass line or comp chords for an F or Bb blues, either with a combo or play-a-long recording.
• Improvise a solo to either a blues, rhythm changes, or standard jazz tune, either with a combo or play-a-long recording.
• Compose and play your own created solo on the song “Lady Bird.” A PDF file of this song is provided here. Please download the file in your instruments key.

Note: Rhythm section players must be able to read the appropriate clefs for their instruments.

Drums

Upload a recording of you playing the following styles:

• Swing (sticks and brushes)
• Bossa nova
• Samba
• Ballad

All other instruments (excluding piano, guitar, bass, and drums)

Upload a recording including the following:

• Six major scales of your choice.
• Three harmonic and/or melodic minor scales of your choice using eighth notes (quarter = 120).
• Perform a melody (head) AND improvised solo to either a blues, rhythm changes, or standard jazz tune, either with a combo or play-a-long recording.
• Compose and/play two choruses of your own created solo on the song “Lady Bird.” A PDF file of this song is provided here. Please download the file in your instrument’s key.

Application Fee Waivers

Those who qualify may reach out to the Acceptd Support team to request a waiver code to waive the $75 application fee. Please view this page on how to apply for a waiver and the documentation you will need to provide. Fill out this fee waiver form to request a code.

Merit Awards

A limited number of scholarships are available for extremely talented students based on Faculty discretion. Consideration for these scholarships is automatic for applications received by the priority application deadline.

Need-Based Awards

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $120,000 or under in the previous calendar year, or with special circumstances due to the pandemic. To be considered you must upload your financial aid materials by the application deadline as part of your application. This includes:

• Monthly Expenses
• Previous Year’s Tax Return
• Statement of Need

Watson Scholarship (For Michigan Residents Only)

In the spirit of the life of a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School (1942) and Michigan physician, the Watson A. Young Scholarship promotes academic excellence and college aspiration among students with financial need. These need-based scholarships support middle and high school students’ participation in summer opportunities at U-M that seek to develop students’ interests and abilities in academic disciplines and expose students to the experiences and possibilities provided by higher education.

• Information about the Watson Scholarship can be found at: ceo.umich.edu/youthhub
• The Watson Scholarship Application opens in February.