<p>I play saxophone and will be going to college next year. I went to a jazz horn camp at North Texas during the summer and it was pretty good but I felt like the focus there is totally on big band music. I enjoy combo style play much more. Denton doesnt really seem like a jazz city either. </p>
<p>I was wondering what other schools have a good jazz program and are near a city that has somewhat of a jazz culture. Also are most jazz schools big band focused or is each school different? Also, if anyone went to North Texas and could tell me more about it there it would be much appreciated. Thankyou!</p>
<p>Look at the Schulich School of Music at McGill (more combo than big band). Montreal is a good jazz city and the Schulich has a great jazz program.</p>
<p>Check out Michigan State University. They do have three big bands, but also octets and combos. My son was accepted in Jazz Studies there but the drawback for him was there is currently no jazz trombone professor. I think it is a very good school for saxaphones though.</p>
<p>Son is a freshman at UNT and is loving it. He is getting together on his own some players for a combo, so that is always an option for you whatever school you go to, of course though it wouldn’t be like having a faculty coached combo. I believe UNT students (many have cars) go to Dallas (within 40 minutes of Denton) for gigging or for more of a jazz scene.</p>
<p>NEC, The New School, and William Patterson seem to have, from my experience, very combo-driven programs - Berklee as well. MSM, Juilliard, UNT, and Peabody seem to have more of a focus on big band. Please correct if my wrong though.</p>
<p>Oberlin is definitely more combo-driven as well, with faculty coaching each semester. There is a particular requirement per year, but my son (a 3rd year) has had a coached combo each semester. The big band requirement is that 2 semesters out of four years you have to be in the Oberlin Jazz Orchestra, which is amazing.</p>
<p>Check out University of the Arts in Philadelphia. It’s School of Music is jazz focused and has on its regular faculty very well regarded pros with ongoing careers as working musicians in a broad variety of professional orchestras and ensembles in the Philadelphia area as well as across the country during the summer. There is also a lot of collaboration with the School of Theatre for those that are interested in playing in the pit. My brother-in-law, who had a successful career as a touring musician with name bands and is now the president of a local of the American Federation of Musicians, has nothing but good things to say about the quality of the instruction and the performances he has heard, including the brass sections. The school is pricey but offers large merit/talent scholarships.</p>
<p>Also check out Temple University’s School of Music. Very strong reputation, again lots of local working pros on the faculty, more liberal arts requirements and opportunities than UArts and tuition is lower because it is a state supported school.</p>
<p>What is meant by combo vs big band? Is it the size of the ensembles or the style of music? Don’t most jazz programs have both large and small ensemble requirements?</p>
<p>Big band vs. combo in the jazz world is sort of like orchestra vs. chamber ensemble in the classical world. It has mostly to do with size, but can influence the type of music played, and definitely impacts the solo and improvisational opportunities of the members. Big bands have a specific make-up of 4-5 trumpets, 4-5 trombones, 5 saxophones, and the rhythm section, which is bass, guitar, drumset, and piano. They are typically known for playing jazz standards, though they certainly play other types of jazz, as well. A combo is a small group that might play jazz standards or original compositions, or whatever the group decides. They vary in size from 3 to maybe 8 players, and always have a bass and drumset, typically a piano or guitar, and a couple of horns, though the combinations vary. In a college environment, they are coached by one of the jazz faculty members.</p>
<p>Most college jazz studies programs have two or maybe three big bands. IU Jacobs School of music has four, and UNT has nine, hence the OPs reference to the big band focus. Some programs require 8 semesters of participation in a big band and 4 semesters in a combo, and others, which are more combo oriented, may only require 2 4 semesters in a big band, and 8 in a combo. The schools emphasizing combo playing are generally looking more toward the reality of professional working jazz musicians since most jazz musicians dont usually end up playing in a big band as a profession. Nevertheless, the big band provides an important foundation for the study of the jazz genre.</p>
<p>jazzkat’s post brought to mind a recent interview I saw with Tony Bennett on the Travis Smiley show (plugging his latest Duets II CD). TB mentioned that he was really impressed by the training, preparation and professionalism of young musicians today from their college music school experience. Very heartening for a parent to hear!</p>