Best School for Jazz Tromobinist, Musically AND Academically

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hi everyone, I'm a jazz trombonist and my issue is choosing a good jazz program of a school that is also academically strong. This is because I put a lot of effort into my schoolwork, and I don't want it to go to waste. Can people give me some suggestions for schools?
So far, I have compiled a list of possible choices as...</p>

<p>University of Michigan
USC
Rutgers
University of Texas - Austin
University of Miami
UNC - Chapel Hill</p>

<p>Does anyone else have other selections for me?</p>

2

<p>Based on your list it looks like you are leaning towards university based program. I would suggest you look at the Best University Jazz programs thread, where there is a exhaustive discussion of university based programs. </p>

<p>Several schools that you may want to put on your list to check out are NYU, Oberlin (where Robin Eubanks is on faculty), University of Illinois (Jim Pugh) and UNT in Denton (Steve Weist).</p>

3

<p>UNT just added Steve Wiest (former trombonist for Maynard Ferguson), and I think his presence will make that an exciting place to be. UNT itself is not known as academically rigorous, but they do have an honors college that may provide enough challenge. Western Michigan University also has a strong jazz program, with an honors college to offer more intensive academic challenges. Maybe Temple, in Philadelphia? </p>

<p>A Canadian friend of ours suggested that I look into McGill and University of Toronto for a good combination of jazz studies and academics.</p>

4

<p>Elliott Mason is the jazz trombone faculty member at Northwestern. Their newly-resurrected jazz studies program began this Fall, and they are an excellent academic school of course.</p>

5

<p>i would highly suggest a close look at northwestern</p>

6

<p>Maybe consider some of the double degree programs such as Rochester/Eastman, Columbia Juilliard or Tufts/NEC</p>

7

<p>University of Texas - Austin was tentatively on my list...does anyone have some first-hand experience there? Is it a good program for jazz? Is there a trombone professor?</p>

8

<p>UNT pretty much owns jazz down in Texas. However, UT-Austin did recently get a huge endowment for their music program, so they may become more aggressive about building their jazz program. I'd keep track via their website for the most up-to-date info.</p>