<p>Hi momofgtm,
My son is a first year drum set student at UNT. His required semester classes this fall include:
Aural Skills (sight singing and pitch training)
Keyboard 1 (basic piano)
Music Theory 1 (basic theory)
History of Recorded Jazz (music history)
Percussion Studio (must be able to play all instruments to the appropriate levels for jazz major - and there are about eighteen to twenty drum set players in this class)
Private drum set lessons (1/2 hour each week)
Private mallet lessons (1/2 hour each week)
8 Jazz Ensemble/Lab performance (by audition beginning each semester - I believe students are assigned a class group if student does not succeed with any audition into a public performance ensemble or lab band.</p>
<p>Hope that gives you an idea of what’s required at one school for first semester drum set players.
Cheers</p>
<p>At Oberlin, my drumset freshman son has: Music Theory I, Jazz Theory, History of Jazz, Aural Skills, Jazz Ensemble, Private lesson with drum teacher, private lessons with other jazz teacher (optional). He will have piano proficiency, but that doesn’t come into play until 3rd/4th years, and will have a classical requirement sometime during the 4 years. He did NOT have a classical component as part of his audition.</p>
<p>My son is a senior at UNCSA (North Carolina School of the Arts) and wants to continue pursuing his music education on double bass. Do you have any information you can share about the bass program, both jazz and classical? Thanks!</p>
<p>I assume that your son is interested primarily in jazz bass. Jeffry Eckels and Lynn Seaton at the University of North Texas are wonderful players and outstanding educators.</p>
<p>jnystrom, you could also look into the programs at Michigan State and Western Michigan University. MSU’s jazz department is chaired by Rodney Whitaker, who is a bassist in Wynton Marsalis’ jazz orchestra. Western Michigan has Tom Knific, who is a well-regarded bassist. Both jazz programs are quite small, so your son would be working intimately with them.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading this forum on and off for many months and appreciate the insights offered. My son ended up going to Humber College for Jazz/Contemporary Music, four year degree program, sax/clarinet/flute. Very happy so far. Was wondering what recommendations others might have for graduate programs in jazz performance/composition in Canadian or U.S. universities, primarily in eastern North America. Kind of leaning towards New York, Boston, Michigan options, but open to other possibilities. Thanks</p>
<p>In researching jazz programs for my daughter, I’ve discovered that The City College of New York has an incredible jazz program, both instrumental and vocal. John Patitucci teaches many of the bass students, and Suzanne Pittson has developed a curriculum that is vocal specific and from what I can tell, more rigorous and well-rounded than other programs. CCNY, which is part of CUNY, is one of the best deals around, has a highly-respected faculty (and students are free to study privately with many of the same musicians who also teach at the New School and Manhattan School of Music), and you’re in New York City.</p>
<p>That’s true, intrepid. That’s also something that parents-ready-to-research should look into. If your student doesn’t get into your “A” choice in a music school/conservatory, look into the local colleges near your “A” choice that also offer music studies. A lot of times, you’ll find an overlap in teachers. While you may not get the prestige name of your “A” choice, you’ll get the teachers, which is really more important.</p>
<p>I’ve read the entire 16 page thread on Best University Jazz programs and still find myself in a quandry. I’m looking for some final words of widsom. My S applied and was accepted to U. Hartford Hartt School, SUNY Purchase and Rutgers Mason Gross - all for Jazz Studies for the Double Bass. </p>
<p>Orginally he wasn’t interested in Rutgers and was just going on the audition for the practice but that changed once we got there and spoke with the lead prof on bass - he was the first person to indicate that my S could play both in Jazz and Classical emsembles at the school and would be encouraged to do so. He currently plays both jazz and classical and would like to continue to do so. Does any one have any personal experience with this?
Does anyone know what % of student in the Jazz program are from NJ vs the rest of the country?</p>
<p>He’s gotten a nice talent award from U Hartford putting it in-line financially with the other 2 schools. The Jazz program there doesn’t seem to be as well know as their Classical program. Will it matter when he gets out? I’m also concerned its too far from NY to take advantage of the Jazz scene there. Living in CT, I’m not under the impression there is much of a Jazz scene in Hartford.</p>
<p>His private bass teacher is really pushing SUNY Purchase but the impression of the campus is so dark and dismal its hard to get excited about it. Some of the student review site seem to indicate drugs are more prevalent on this campus than others. Is this true?</p>
<p>Please let me know if you can answer any of these questions or if there are other places I should be posting. Thanks</p>
<p>I think that Purchase probably has the best “reputation” and potentially the highest caliber students overall, but that does not mean it is the best program for your son. It’s just, in the jazz world, that one would stand above the other two. There is a small jazz scene in Hartford (we know a Hartt grad who is actually living, teaching, gigging and making a living in Hartford), but the Purchase kids escape that campus for NYC. I have heard that Purchase is a dismal campus, but don’t know that first hand.</p>
<p>It is very helpful to get perspective from those of you who are more familiar with these jazz programs. My s (jazz trumpet) is deciding between SUNY Purchase, Berklee and UNT. If accepted also New School. Money is not an issue as there are scholarships offered. He is leaning toward UNT because of the depth of talent and because the faculty have really reached out to him. His reluctance is the size. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>BassMom, living in the Hartford area we are very familiar with the Hartt School’s, Jackie McClean Institute of Jazz, our son has many friends that he jams with there and is familiar with most of the faculty as a result of studying many years at the Artist Collective a youth arts center also founded by the late sax legend Jackie McClean and his family. Our son’s friends are all very happy at Hartt and are the beneficiaries of a very vibrant jazz community in Hartford, his decision to bypass Hartt and leave the Hartford scene was a very difficult one, only an acceptance from the Manhattan School with it’s world renowned jazz program was able to pry him away.</p>
<p>Jackie’s son Renee McClean also an outstanding player in his own right is a driving force on the Hartt faculty. The faculty is outstanding and there is a very caring, nurturing environment for the young jazz musicians that attend. If your son attends Hartt BassMom he would study privatetly with Nat Reeves an outstanding Bass player and educator.</p>
<p>Jazztrumpetmom we can’t really speak to UNT, going to school in Texas was never considered an option of the other 3 in the Northeast we can say that we would choose New School, New York City is an amazing place to be for a young jazz musician. As far as the faculty goes our son, a trumpeter at the Manhattan School studies privately with Cecil Bridgewater who is also at the New School and we think very highly of him in addition multi grammy nominated percusionist Bobby Sanabria directs incredible Afro- Cuban Big bands at both schools, we recently had the opportunity to hear the New School group when our son subbed there and they were terrific.</p>
<p>UNT is amazing - my son is a first year student in jazz studies. He’s a California, “west coast sort of kid”, but the welcoming community spirit, serious student attitudes, quality of the program and faculty has been a perfect match for him. With a scholarship qualifying musicians for in-state tuition - UNT is a terrific bargain for a top-notch jazz studies program. Lynn Seaton and Jeff Eckels for bass, Ed Soph for drum set - simply outstanding. Plus, students strive for a shot in the One O’ Clock Lab band- earning a chance at Grammy nominations, recording dates and world tours. No complaints from this parent or my student about jazz in Denton, Texas.</p>
<p>Not sure if you have considered Inidana/Jacobs. David Baker is the head of the jazz department there and is very well respected. My son is a freshman Percussion Performance major at IU and is going to get a minor in jazz. I have been back for several of his concerts this year and students can play in both jazz and classical ensembles and many do. I know the school has many kids from the east coast who seem to love the IU experience and the Bloomington music scene.</p>
<p>Saw the jazz trombone choir from UNT last week at the Eastern Trombone workshop and was very impressed. If anyone is serious about jazz I think it has to be on your list. My son at IU thinks Dave Baker is amazing so is another good choice. If you are a bone player then Harry Watters has just started teaching at George Mason university and says they will soon have a new building and have money for music scholarships which may not be the case at every college. So as always plenty of choice out there…</p>
<p>Looking for any input on Jazz programs at Columbia College - Chicago and Chicago Conseratory of Performing Arts. Anyone have any practical experience from either of these schools in the Jazz program? My son was accepted to both and is in a quandry as to which direction to go - for Bass and low brass.</p>
<p>BassMom - - This is not likely especially helpful but I have known various Columbia college students with a wide range of views about the various programs – from “lame” to “awesome.” I do know of one who started out in the jazz program I believe and may have been mildly disillusioned and may have switched majors but is still enjoying his experience. I will attempt to get accurate info if possible. Please take my comments with a large grain of salt.
I don’t know anything about your son or the other Chicago program, but I do know that Columbia in Chicago is an open enrollment environment, so if the music student comes from a rigorous college prep background, they may not find a similar work ethic or inclination among their peers. (Just <em>may</em> – obviously I can’t say this with anything other than anecdotal support For the student who is able to handle a high degree of academic achievement, and has an expectation of working with peers who have the same capability for rigor, he or she might be happier or more challenged in an environment that considers academic achievements as well as instrumental achievements. </p>
<p>My son did consider Columbia - C, and after speaking to peers etc. determined he fell into the later category and selected a rigorous university setting with a school of music, wherein he is very happy. But it really is about fit, and in the end, your s. should likely go with his gut.</p>
<p>So, choosing a school to attend next year for jazz bass studies has proven more difficult than I had imagined. I applied to SUNY Purchase, William Paterson U, New England Conservatory, University of Miami, Eastman, and New School for Jazz. I was accepted to all schools, (Except for Eastman I have yet to hear from, they take a little longer with the letters) and since I would be more than happy to attend any of these schools, I am finding it impossible to decide. U of Miami gave me a full tuition scholarship which is definitely pulling me in that direction, and has pretty much eliminated WPU and Purchase from the list, as neither school can compete with the offer Miami gave me. New School is only covering 2/3 of my tuition at this point, which makes it still rather pricy, but it seems like a very cool place to be, and I can’t get myself to take it off the list just yet. Eastman is an excellent school, but I am looking to get out of Rochester next year (I live there now), and New England Conservatory has not informed me of financial aid yet, but that seems like an excellent option as well. Any advice you may have for me is greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read my rant!</p>
For the student who is able to handle a high degree of academic achievement, and has an expectation of working with peers who have the same capability for rigor, he or she might be happier or more challenged in an environment that considers academic achievements as well as instrumental achievements. </p>