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Jazz Studies

Division News

Catch up on the latest news from the division of Jazz Studies.  
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Rachel Spencer on Jazz Education

Rachel Spencer talking into a mic with a bookshelf behind her
May 19, 2025 | BSOM BODY

In this episode, we talk to Rachel Spencer, a D.M.A. student in jazz trumpet performance, about the upcoming tour of Japan. Rachel not only discusses the tour, but also shares insights into what jazz music education looks like in the United States, particularly in K–12 schools. She reflects on her experience teaching jazz at the middle school, high school, and now university level, and explains why jazz education is fundamental to developing lifelong musicians.

From Campus to Stage: A Tiny Desk Story 

Paolo Santos holds his flute wearing sunglasses in front of the Tiny Desk set at NPR.
March 19, 2024

Paulo Santos (B.M., Jazz Studies, 2021) recently shared the stage with Juwan Elcock–better known as Blk Odyssy–for a Tiny Desk concert, the flagship live concert series from NPR Music. We had a chance to sit down with him and delve deeper into Paulo's journey as a Jazz Studies student at the Butler School of Music to the Tiny Desk stage.