<p>Hi! I just found this site last night and I am thrilled, but also overwhelmed. So much to know and so little time.....My son is an entering junior in high school interested in majoring in jazz studies. I have gotten some great ideas about good colleges for this major, but wondering if anyone can tell me if there are specific schools that might be better for jazz piano versus other instruments.</p>
<p>Take a look at the jazz piano teachers at different schools. There might be a school that isn’t known as having AMAZING Jazz Program, but your son knows the teacher(s) and would like to study with him/her for four years. </p>
<p>That being said, here’s a list of some great jazz schools:</p>
<p>NEC, The New School, Oberlin, University of North Texas, USC, Miami, Indiana, SUNY Purchase, Hartford, Berklee (though more contemporary, including jazz though) Juilliard, Michigan and Michigan State, McGill, University of Toronto, UArts, Temple, NYU…</p>
<p>The list goes on and on but those are some good schools to get you started. </p>
<p>Keep in mind, that my research has not been focused on jazz piano. Maybe the teacher at one or a few of these schools isn’t great or isn’t the best match for your son. </p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p>
<p>I’m sure the “Dads” will chime in with some links to many threads regarding jazz and others’ research. In the meantime, tell us a little about yourself, your interests, experience and what kind of college experience you might be interested in–conservatory or music program within a larger U? We love to help people in their journey!</p>
<p>Thank you! Yes, I am getting familiar now with all those schools you mentioned after reading posts on this site! I guess the problem is my son at this point does not know any teachers he would like to study with!! We are hooking up (hopefully) with a jazz piano teacher for private lessons at Ithaca College, maybe he will have some favorite schools/teachers to recommend. Ithaca has a jazz studies program but I havent seen it mentioned much in these discussions. Here in upstate NY, Ithaca is well respected for their music progam.</p>
<p>To STGH, my son will be a JR in high school this year. I am not sure if he has narrowed down what type of college environment he wants, he has mentioned that he does not want to go too far away and we are in upstate NY. He just spent two weeks at Eastman summer jazz studies program and I can tell you I dont really want him going there. I know their reputation is stellar, but the school is kind of isolated in the city of Rochester, which is not the most happening city. Also, you could almost cut the competitive atmosphere with a knife.</p>
<p>mollysc, welcome. I suggest starting here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html</a>. These may be useful as well:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/901390-2010-collective-experience.html?highlight=2010[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/901390-2010-collective-experience.html?highlight=2010</a></p>
<p>Using the title search method from my “tips” thread, there are 99 titled jazz threads. Excluding school specific discussions, these are the general info, broad info or jazz piano specific threads. Plenty of jazz knowledgeable folks here, -Allmusic- and SJTH among them that can provide insights. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/154774-best-university-jazz-programs.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/154774-best-university-jazz-programs.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/731719-looking-good-jazz-school.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/731719-looking-good-jazz-school.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/607962-peabody-jazz.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/607962-peabody-jazz.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/878262-looking-great-jazz-studies-program-my-son.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/878262-looking-great-jazz-studies-program-my-son.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/817382-any-non-classical-jazz-piano-auditions.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/817382-any-non-classical-jazz-piano-auditions.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/807072-looking-good-jazz-studies-performance-program.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/807072-looking-good-jazz-studies-performance-program.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/714814-jazz-studies-pros-cons-these-schools.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/714814-jazz-studies-pros-cons-these-schools.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/481926-jazz-guitar-schools.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/481926-jazz-guitar-schools.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/744958-jazz-piano-william-paterson.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/744958-jazz-piano-william-paterson.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/679637-audition-tips-jazz-piano.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/679637-audition-tips-jazz-piano.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/579299-jazz-piano-lac-suggestions-cc-newbies.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/579299-jazz-piano-lac-suggestions-cc-newbies.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/486329-inside-scoop-jazz-programs.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/486329-inside-scoop-jazz-programs.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/373796-schools-strong-jazz-programs-well-pre-med.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/373796-schools-strong-jazz-programs-well-pre-med.html?highlight=jazz</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/340535-difficulty-getting-into-jazz-music-conservatory.html?highlight=jazz[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/340535-difficulty-getting-into-jazz-music-conservatory.html?highlight=jazz</a></p>
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<p>Your comment is a potential red flag. If this is your son’s first experience in an immersion program, he may not be ready for music 24/7. Realize that in most performance programs, these “kids” live, sleep and breathe music. What you perceive as competitiveness may well be intensity. Understand that there is a difference. This is indeed a highly competitive arena, but at the same time there is much to be gleaned and learned by being surrounded by intense, highly accomplished peers. My observation is that for the most part a good musician will acknowledge, respect and appreciate the benefits of healthy, cooperative competition. Just my $.02, and some food for thought side reading <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/843278-stand-partner.html?highlight=stand[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/843278-stand-partner.html?highlight=stand</a></p>
<p>Yes I understand that! I think maybe it was me more than him who was sensing it…And intensity might be a better word. He totally wants to go back…I just dont think Eastman would be a good fit for him or our family for four years!</p>
<p>Hi Molly,</p>
<p>I’m a little confused–is Rochester too far away, or was it its isolation that was the problem? I’m assuming it was the latter. Is your son interested in east coast only, or would he venture to Michigan or Ohio? Oberlin and UMich are two very different schools that offer outstanding piano faculty–there are many more, but these are schools that great young jazz pianists we personally know have chosen over the past year. I’m glad your son attended Eastman–my son found going to that camp defined for him his desire to go to a music school. Your son probably made some friends with kids he feels comparable to–and, because most Eastman kids come from the East, they probably spoke about programs they’re interested in. </p>
<p>If you search back on this forum over the past two years, there is a list of “Final Decisions” made by seniors about which schools they’ll attend. There’s also a list of acceptances by school name and students name (and you can see their instrument) </p>
<p>Look for jazz piano, and contact those CC people about their choices, and I’m sure you’ll get some great information! Good luck and come back often for lots of great advice!!</p>
<p>No Rochester is def. NOT too far away, that is why I mentioned that I was not thrilled with it (would be the closest school!!) Thanks for the tips. I think it would be very helpful at this point to talk to students or recent grads in jazz piano. I am still learning how to use this site! And yes, the experience itself was great, and has helped him to refocus. My husband and I would prefer that he go somewhere where he would have some other options…but we’ll see! He is on track to be valedictorian or salutatorian of his class, so I’d love for him to go somewhere that had a pretty strong academic program as well…</p>
<p>Oberlin would be perfect then - very good academically and they have an outstanding conservatory.</p>
<p>just wondering, how does your son feel about these schools? does he not like eastman, or want a school with strong academics, or do you want them for him?
not to offend you, but you seem to be making decisions for your son that are not yours to make; he goes to the school for 4 years, not you (though I’m sure hes extremely greatfull that you’ll be paying for/helping him pay for school).</p>
<p>jazzguitar19 makes a good point. Also, regarding Eastman: perhaps someone who currently attends for jazz piano can answer specifically, but we found the Eastman atmosphere to be very very nurturing. My D will attend for voice/music ed. She has many other friends who will attend in various instruments, all of whom found the atmosphere at auditions (where there really IS major competition) to be extraordinarily encouraging and supportive. Of course these students are used to music nearly 24/7, as they attended a performing arts boarding school. Most of them have been to numerous summer intensives. Is it your son who can’t handle the “intensity” of music school or summer immersion? Music study, especially a BM program, will be intense no matter where. There are thousands of very good jazz pianists competing for gigs and for places at music schools. Add into the mix the MANY great jazz pianists who do not have music degrees or any degree at all, and you really see the competition. It might be a good idea to visit a number of different types of programs to see what your son likes. Will he be inspired by being surrounded by amazing musicians, or will he be intimidated? How did HE feel about the summer at Eastman? What does he ultimately want to do with a music degree? Good luck, this is a complicated but fun process. I hope your son enjoys wherever he lands.</p>
<p>Wow!! I’m done with this site you people are nuts. I asked a simple question to see if anyone had specific information about jazz piano programs. Now I’m being judged about what kind of mother I am and my gut feeling on one music school?? I am very well aware about the rigors and competitive nature of the music field, I was almost a music major myself, but chose to make it a heavy hobby instead. I think you all need to do more listening and less mouthing off! Thank you funkydrummer for your direct answer!</p>
<p>While some of us may indeed be a bit “off the wall”, my observation is that no one was judging you. This site has a broad spectrum of posters, from the extreme neophyte to those who have been involved in the process for well over a decade and more, and a number with high level training, and professional affiliations. </p>
<p>In the absence of a fairly detailed introduction, the assumption is that there is a minimal knowledge of the music admission, selection process. In most cases, a few posts are necessary to establish background. Most of those who take the time to respond to questions have seen the tenor and nature of the structure of questions from new posters, and are aware of the basic types of questions and issues that are brought forth. Among these are questions such as “am I (my kid) good enough?”, “is music for me?”, “conservatory or university?”, “double major?”. Questions addressing level of experience, geographic preference, financial needs are commonplace. </p>
<p>The choice is yours to stay or go. Success in whatever path your son chooses.</p>
<p>Again, my observations, nothing more.</p>
<p>mollysc, my D will enter college as a freshman music major this fall, so I know firsthand how overwhelming this process is - I figured by the third child, I’d have this college application thing nailed down, but it turned out that music is a totally different animal. </p>
<p>I know nothing about Eastman or jazz or piano…but I can share that we know a very good pianist who left Eastman as an undergrad. This was several years ago, but her feeling was that the atmosphere was too cut-throat for her taste. YMMV.</p>
<p>Eastman isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I couldn’t wait to get out of there either, and could be heard (quietly ;)) asking my son after his camp experience, “You don’t really want to go there, do you?” I know a lot of people love Eastman, and that is where the expression, “different strokes for different folks” comes from!</p>
<p>In terms of jazz programs, there are a lot of good ones listed here. I would say that the teacher is important, but AT LEAST as important is the quality and caliber of other players, since jazz is all about collaboration. So, when looking for programs, aside from lessons, don’t forget to have your son sit in on jam sessions or combo/ensemble practices. You really want him to get a feel for the overall caliber of student, which is completely separate from the teacher.</p>
<p>Hi there. Provided you’re still reading, I just wanted to add that since you mentioned you were hoping your son would choose a school with other options available and a good deal of rigor, you and your son may really like University of Michigan. I also know jazz piano students who were fond of both Oberlin and UMich, even though they’re completely different in terms of size and atmosphere. Due to the size of the School of Music at UMich, there are also a lot of options available, as well as dual degree opportunities (that truthfully will take 5 or more years and are for those inclined to embrace rigor ;)</p>
<p>My son attends UMich in a different SOM discipline but please do not hesitate to contact me if I can assist you in any way.</p>
<p>I didn’t find this thread (or this site) until now, so I don’t know if anyone is still following this one, but I also have a son who did the Eastman jazz program this summer and thought I’d offer my two cents. He loved the program and loved the faculty, but really didn’t like Rochester. If the school were located somewhere else, it would very likely be on his list for college/conservatory applications, but he can’t see himself spending four years in Rochester. </p>
<p>I can understand the comment about competitiveness - they auditioned everyone the first day and then “ranked” them and used the rankings for placement into combos and the two big band groups - and only four of the dozen or so pianists were placed into the big bands. It also seems like it’s a very intense program. My son loved the intensity. It was really his first opportunity to be surrounded by kids his age who are as consumed by jazz and music as he is and to play with really talented musicians, and he felt that he learned a lot. But I could see how the intensity might not be to everyone’s taste.</p>
<p>He’s now in the process of trying to figure out what to do about college - including whether to go the straight conservatory route or to try to find a program that combines academics and music. The latter is his preference (his parents’ preference too), but it seems like a challenge, so I’d certainly be grateful for any suggestions. Oberlin is one place that looks like it has a good joint program between the college and the conservatory - and it just opened a new jazz building that looks pretty cool. Are there other suggestions for this? kmccrindle, if you’re still around, it sounds like Michigan also has a joint program that’s serious about music and academics. Can you tell me a little more about it. My son is not daunted by the notion of five years as he tells me that this is standard for a dual degree.</p>
<p>My son is not a piano student, but we visited the Hartt School at the U. of Hartford last spring and were very impressed with its jazz studies program. Its jazz ensemble has won a lot of competitions and performs regularly in New York City. Seemed like a good school too, with more of a full college experience rather than a strictly music school.</p>
<p>I am happy to report that my son will be attending Univ. of North Texas as a jazz piano studies major in 2012. It is quite far away geographically, but it felt right to him and to my husband and myself. It is a highly ranked jazz studies school.</p>
<p>For those of you who are looking/deciding on schools now, just thought I would pass some info along about UNT. The most important piece for out of state students is that MOST of them will receive in state tuition. At UNT, if a student receives a $1,000 scholarship of ANY kind (music, grades, leadership, etc.), he/she is automatically entitled to in state tuition. (savings of about $20,000/year.) The music dept. understands this, and typically grants out of state students who qualify the $1,000 award to provide them with instate tuition. Also, UNT has a very strong academic program, and my son received scholarship awards for his grades, SAT scores, etc. This is not what happens at music conservatories. UNT has an honors program, which my son will be a part of. In fact, 90% of the music students there are honors program students. Our cost per year will be between $10,000 and $15,000.</p>
<p>The cons: The distance is far and location somewhat remote. Gig opportunities off campus will be somewhat limited. We decided that this point was outweighed by all the positives, especially since my son plans on getting his Masters and possibly PhD, and will be able to relocate to a large city (hopefully NY) for this. </p>
<p>Good luck to all who are looking now! I hope this info was helpful. We combined his audition in January with a visit and that worked out fine. Lets hope he is as happy there next year as we are right now!</p>