California...music school question?

College Majors Music Major
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<p>As a CA resident, our son applied to several UC's and CSU's, in additon to USC which has not yet responded. If USC is not an option, does anyone have any suggestions/advice re. the following where he has already been accepted:</p>

<p>Interests, trumpet performance and jazz studies</p>

<p>UC Irvine;
UC Santa Barbara (not much jazz there);
UC Santa Cruz;
UC Davis (only M.A. degrees at UCD, so not a likely choice)
San Diego State SDSU;
Long Beach State CSULB;
Sacramento State CSUS</p>

<p>What complicates matters is that the academically higher-rated UC schools seem not to emphasize music; while the less prestigious California State schools have a larger music component, due to their historic roles as teacher's colleges with music education programs. We are having a hard time sorting this situation out!!!</p>

<p>Anyone have any specific knowledge of good trumpet teachers, composition and theory prof's, jazz programs, etc. at any of these schools? Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>Cal State Northridge has always had the reputation of being one of the best music schools. I don't know if that still stands. Don't forget, your son can always get his undergrad at a state school and then shoot for the top when it comes to grad school.</p>

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<p>Maybe he could look at the bios of the (trumpet) faculties and then choose a couple of schools and go in for a "practice lesson?" </p>

<p>Also, he should look at the events calendars and try to figure out what pieces the jazz band has performed, and how often etc. He could also probably just email the jazz band directors for further information.</p>

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<p>Too bad our state is so spread out! Living in northern Cal., it's hard to get down to San Diego, LA area, and Santa Barbara for trial lessons given school/work schedules,though that would be the ideal way to proceed. We visited several of the schools in Feb. for auditons, but auditions were scheduled "back to back" with little time to meet the faculty. At UCSB, the trumpet instructor wasn't even there on audition day :-(</p>

<p>We had heard CSU Northridge was good--I think their jazz band took first place among collegiate groups at the Reno Jazz Festival recently. But the Northridge campus location, and overall low exam scores/GPAs of that school, weren't too appealing to us. Son probably should have applied anyway, we were late to the music scene and somewhat operating in the dark. </p>

<p>Anyway, the CC community has been so helpful, we'll spend more time tracking down bios, ensemble schedules and so on. If anyone has had any experiences with any of these programs we'd love to hear it.</p>

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<p>One idea, I would look and see what "teachers" are based at a school. Many of them travel around between schools.</p>

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<p>CSU Northridge had a killer big band when I was there 3 years ago! I know some professional musicians who graduated there years ago, and I know that "used to be" the place to go- Gordin Goodwin went there, other "big name" jazzers too. USC is supposed to be "hot spot" I guess now, but I went there and it's not really anything spectacular. UCLA not on your list?? Good players there. CSU Monterey Bay has some really good faculty for jazz- Ray Drummond on bass, but other academics aren't too hot. UCSB has a cool program- CCS- the College of Creative Studies, and SB is beatiful city. I've been to that dept a couple times too and it seems really cool- you kind of create your own major- learn composition on your own with one on one from faculty. I think it's a really good option for someone pursuing composition...not much jazz in particular at UCSB though. Irvine's also got some good players and more jazz going on there. Nice facilities too. UCSD doesn't really have a music program, but they've got killer science and engineering. Don't go there for music! UCD doesn't have music really. I've got 2 friends at UCSC - good players but they told me that the music department is no good for jazz. It's apparently really classically oriented with lots of opera singers. UGH! </p>

<p>Just throwing it out there as an option: DON'T GO TO SCHOOL AND START PLAYING. One of my friends moved to New York to play music and studied privately with respected musicians on the side w/o going to school. He seems to be doing more musically than any of my USC friends or even Manhattan School of Music or New School friends(one alumni who is now coaching football)...The music biz is about connecting with people, playing every night, and doing it. I'm not advocating that you drop out of school, but honestly I think school is not the best route to a professional career in jazz performance.</p>

<p>People switch majors ALOT which is another thing to consider- wanting to study jazz now deosn't mean jazz is gonna be a big thing in future(I switched to economics and then just took music electives after that) so I would recommend going to a school with good stuff all around- classical, composition, music, other depts outside of music, etc. I think if you want to get into the entertainment world, you should go to LA, near LA, or somewhere in So Cal. Check them all out and make sure it is a good fit- like USC urban setting might be too much for some, others like it): </p>

<p>These are the music programs I know to be good(from personally visiting, knowing people who go there, etc). The other CSU's might be good, but I have never known anyone who went there.</p>

<p>UCLA or USC(only if you get sufficient financial aid)
UC Irvine
UCSB only if you are accepted to CCS
CSU Northridge</p>

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<p>riparian -- I know it's probably too late for this coming Fall semester, but thought I would at least throw the option your way regarding the University of North Texas School of Music in Denton (Dallas area), which is pretty much considered the best school in the country for jazz and performance. If your son applied and was given even a very nominal scholarship by the School of Music, then he is eligible for in-state Texas tuition, which is pretty reasonable (around $10k for tuition/room and board). So that is something to perhaps look into if his California school doesn't suit him. I actually don't think it's too late to apply even for next fall; however, a scholarship might not be possible if they have awarded all of their money for next year.</p>

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<p>Check this out: <a href="http://www.trumpetguild.org/news/news05/362ntc05.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.trumpetguild.org/news/news05/362ntc05.htm&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

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<p>A couple years back, you might get the same teacher at the cal state or UC. The teachers traveled between UCSB down to UCI and CSULB. think big bad voodo daddy came from Northridge.</p>

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<p>Thank you everybody, your comments/suggestions are most helpful! </p>

<p>Re. the teachers who travel, that is true, for instance the jazz trumpet teacher at UCI also is an adjunct at UCLA, and Irvine's classical lecturer appears to have come over from Northridge.</p>

<p>itdoesn'tmatter.......Re. the "no-college" option, that is exactly what our son's jazz trumpet instructor did. He just decided (as an alternative to college) to play 8 hours /day for a year, after which he began playing professionally. However, our son is a little less focused on strictly playing; he also is eager to study composition, etc. so I think he'll want to try out college life. But you're right, to make it in music you need to be a 'go-getter", who gets out and lines up gigs.</p>

<p>violinmom--When I got your reply, I had just been looking at UNT site to see if it could still be added to the list. The application deadline for next fall is June 15th! In fact, there is even time to attend summer session. And admission to the univ. as a whole is ridiculously easy....as shown in their marketing pitch below:</p>

<p>"The average SAT score of an entering freshman at UNT is 1092 – considerably higher than the Texas average of 992 and the national average of 1026."</p>

<p>However, the music school is a whole different story, I've heard....very competitive, and I know they held auditions in Santa Barbara last Febr. or so....so I don't think they would consider latecomers now. We didn't attend their auditions before because we doubted our son would leap at the chance to move to Texas...we had heard UNT was very good, but didn't realize then HOW good, for music. Also, the audition schedule was already hellacious, 2 trips to LA, one to Santa Barbara and another to All-State in Fresno, all within a few weekends. </p>

<p>Well thanks again for the good ideas and options, I feel cheered up!!</p>

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<p>Check out this topic for more info:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=122857%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=122857&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>My little brother got into Fresno State, UCLA and UC Berkeley as colleges, and wants to proceed as a Music major at one of those institutions. Which one is the best for music, especially in Jazz studies and Theory and Composition?</p>

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<p>riparian--what group was your son in in all state, just out of curiousity? i played in the symphonic group (mallet perc)...just curious if i met him while there this year.</p>

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<p>He was in the jazz band; I'll ask him when he gets home. Are you considering majoring in music?</p>