<p>jazz/shreddermom - Great to have the list of schools your son was looking at for jazz studies, my son who is a junior and plays jazz trumpet is also looking at the same list w/ exception of a couple. Do you have any comments about these programs, especially ones you’ve visited? We live in Austin, Tx and although UNT is not too far from us, my S wants to go to a combo-driven program which seems it will take him out of state. He would need a scholarship though to be able to attend any school out of state so we’ll see how that goes.</p>
<p>Any info on the schools you mentioned would be great. Thx!</p>
<p>Hmmmm. Not sure what exactly a combo driven program is, but I’m sure my son knows. </p>
<p>In S’s case the top considerations were geography (he really wanted to be in or near NYC or LA), that the program offered a performance degree (or BM as opposed to BA) and having as much of a “university experience” as possible without sacrificing his music education. But with no certainty that he would be accepted to top academic schools (his grades were good, but not amazing; he spent way more time on his music!), he applied to the straight conservatories just in case.</p>
<p>One of my son’s bandmates (in his non-school band, another reason he wanted to stay in LA was so that they could stay together) is very happy studying bass at Cal Arts.</p>
<p>With those things in mind, the first two choices quickly became NYU and USC. But all those schools I listed offer strong jazz programs, at least for guitar. After that, it’s about teacher, geography, campus vibe and uni-based conservatory or stand-alone conservatory.</p>
<p>Any other questions, which I may not even be able to answer for trumpet, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>My son is jazz trumpet, and a senior, so he’s in the midst of all the responses.</p>
<p>NYU has a nice new facility devoted to jazz. Beautiful practice rooms that are incredibly soundproof. And a freshman dorm is right above it, in the same building. The two guys who run the program [Dave Schroeder and Gabriel Alegria] are two of the most impressive people I ran across during our search. They’re very connected to the jazz scene in NYC. Still waiting to hear from them.</p>
<p>S didn’t pass the pre-screen at Northwestern, which surprised us…even more so now, since he’s gotten scholarships [a couple of them quite large] at all four acceptances that he currently has. Berklee is one of the four, as well as Temple U., Lawrence U., and Loyola U. New Orleans. Also waiting on Peabody. He backed out of a regional Oberllin audition due to illness, and decided not to re-schedule. He just couldn’t seem to warm up to Oberlin for some reason, which broke my heart. He was also a bit over-scheduled and over-tired at the time. They also have a beautiful new facility devoted to jazz, and a solid faculty.</p>
<p>Thx TrumpetDad and jazz/shreddermom. Both of you mentioned NYU, so I think we’ll look into their program to see if S wants to consider. In April we have a visit to U of Arts and Temple in Philly, first visit for S to check out jazz programs. Email communications trying to set up visit have been really poor w/ Temple Music Dept, and exact opposite w/ U of Arts - staff has been really accommodating and get back right away. Will be interested to see what schools are like in person, I’ll post here when we get back.</p>
<p>Other than these two, S interested in Michigan State, Univ of Miami, Oberlin, UNT, Berklee. And wow, really shocking to hear about the Northwestern experience TrumpetDad, great that he has other solid programs w/ scholarships to fall back on. I had never considered Loyola U.-- would be interested in your impression of that program if you have a chance since we’re not too far away.</p>
<p>…just wanted to add a few comments on Thornton at the University of Southern California. It is a large school of music which has a long tradition of jazz studies. Although the size offers many benefits, the freshmen class is just a bit over 100. The location in the heart of a huge entertainment industry is a plus. </p>
<p>Jazz Studies features:</p>
<p>Bass
Alphonso Johnson
Edwin Livingston
Darek Oleszkiewicz</p>
<p>Composition and Jazz Arranging
John Daversa
Jason Goldman
Vince Mendoza
Bob Mintzer</p>
<p>Percussion
Ndugu Chancler
Peter Erskine
Roy McCurdy
Aaron Serfaty</p>
<p>Piano
Dave Arnay
Russell Ferrante
Alan Pasqua, Chair</p>
<p>Saxaphone
Jason Goldman
Bob Mintzer
Bob Sheppard</p>
<p>Trombone
Jacques Voyemant
Bill Watrous</p>
<p>Trumpet
Gil Castellanos
Ron McCurdy
John Thomas</p>
<p>Vocal Jazz
Kristin Korb</p>
<p>Jazz History
Thom Mason</p>
<p>Studio/Jazz Guitar
Adam del Monte
Bruce Forman
Pat Kelley
Timothy Kobza
Frank Potenza-Chair
Richard Smith
Nick Stoubis
Steve Trovato
Carl Verheyen</p>
<p>There is collaboration with the USC School of Theatre and the USC School of Cinematic Arts.</p>
<p>USC offers merit scholarships and a strong financial aid program.</p>
<p>Ensembles are:
Thornton Percussion Ensemble
Thornton Jazz Orchestra
ALAJE Jazz Ensemble
USC Crescendo Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Thornton Jazz Honors Combo</p>
<p>Where’s the love for FSU? It’s very, very legit. I’ve learned from several of their jazz professors at a summer workshop and they’re FANTASTIC, particularly Leon Anderson (drums) and Scotty Barnhart (trumpet). In the South, anyway, it’s very reputable.</p>
<p>There are other programs that have quality education as well, good to prepare you for college. Check out New York Jazz Academy at [New</a> York Jazz Academy | NYC’s Fastest-Growing Music School | Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island](<a href=“http://www.nyjazzacademy.com%5DNew”>http://www.nyjazzacademy.com)
Their summer jazz intensives, for example, will definitely take your playing and understanding of jazz to another level. You will be surprised programs likes these with such amazing price exist.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading through thead and lurking quite a bit trying to get some of the ins and outs of the whole jazz search and audition process. We have a HS junior who is interested in Jazz drumset. The big name options seem obvious but at some admissions is a crapshoot and at others money is a crapshoot (and of couse there is overlap betwen those lists). As the prudent parent I am trying to get a list of some more financial and admissions safeties if such a thing exists. Kid thinks that it would be important to be near a scene of some kind and not at a safely that is out in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>I have found a few references to UNLV but nothing comprehensive. Does anyone know about their program either first hand or anecdotally. The Western Undergraduate Exchange rate combined with relatively low tuition and the possibility of performance scholarships make it attractive from that standpoint. It looks good on paper and looks as if it could be a financial safety while the location seems ideal for getting “out there” and gigging both in jazz and other styles. On the other hand, I searched some general academic reviews and campus feel there are quite a few negatives about the school from disgruntled students in other programs. If one is ensconced in a music program I’m not sure if that matters, but any information or impressions would be helpful. Is it worth a closer look?</p>
<p>Our son graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.
RU was not his first choice but he was very pleased with his experience at MGSA.
He really had minimal interaction in a few gen ed classes and was immersed in various performance groups and private lessons and study.
So, I do think it is worthwhile to consider a school with enticing geography and financials if the specific program is attractive.</p>
<p>BTW, our son went on to masters and is teaching in public school for two years now while also performing with several groups. It can be a successful path.
Wish you luck in your search.</p>
<p>If you’re looking at the Western Undergraduate Exchange, you might also look at Portland State University’s jazz program. Great, professional, working faculty and a great city that supports jazz.</p>
<p>Hi there. My son has an audition next month at Berklee for jazz bass. He’s interested in jazz composition. Does anyone have any experience with their jazz audition or any thoughts about their program? He’s also interested in The New School for Jazz NYC and the Steinhardt school at NYU. Any thoughts would be appreciated.</p>
<p>uprightmom,
my son is a Jazz bass player and he auditioned at Berklee and NYU, 2 years ago. His HS bass teachers were both excellent and neither would have let him audition at those schools if they felt that their program was not good. My son did not audition at the New School because I did not feel they had enough support for him in other areas (such as adjusting to living in NYC) but our son was interested in their program. He has a good friend who is a female Jazz vocalist who is at the New School and is very happy. </p>
<p>Berklee’s Jazz audition is very relaxed. My son said he felt like the drummer was purposely playing a bit faster and messing with time to see how my son reacted. </p>
<p>NYU’s audition is a group audition. Students arrive and then take turns jamming together with one professor watching. There was no solo audition for NYU.</p>
<p>My son auditioned at all of those places, but on guitar, three years ago (he’s a senior now - yikes).</p>
<p>There was some sight reading at Berklee that he had a little white to look over. </p>
<p>He loved the NYU audition - it was definitely the most fun (was for parents, too - we hung out in the director’s office and then listen to the kids playing). While there was no “solo audition,” they did solo in the jam session. Students had to “call” the songs they wanted to jump in on, or something like that. My kid really enjoyed it.</p>
<p>One thing that threw my son at The New School was that they really pressed him in the interview to name his first choice. He tried to tell them he hadn’t decided, but they wouldn’t let up. It made him uncomfortable. If they do that, my advice is have your son say "I want to see where I feel the most comfortable after my auditions are over; it may come down to scholarships; I want to know know what my options are, etc.</p>
<p>saintfan, have you checked out Cal State Northridge (CSUN)? We are local and their jazz program is tops, mostly because of the phenomenal teaching but also because we are in LA and the kids play everywhere. Many students around here say it gives Thornton a run for its money.</p>
<p>Thanks, soccerjazz! I haven’t looked deeply into it but gave it a quick look because the name keeps coming up. Do you know if they have any merit scholarships? For out of state the cost could end up being an issue if no scholarships available since it’s Cali. I will check it out, though.</p>