This sounds so great! It puts me at ease as well as gets me even more interested in him going to Loyno. I love that they were helpful and spent time, which seems like a good indicator of what the program is like and how a student will be respected and helped when needed. And NOLA! How can a jazz major go wrong? Right? 
We’ve only been there once for a few days, but it’s obviously an incredible city. I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me about the size of the school and your experience. I’m glad to hear your daughter is back.
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Yes, going to school in New Orleans for jazz is a dream come true! My daughter is a talented jazz singer and she was lead vocalist for some local jazz bands in high school, but her passion is pop music and she wanted to focus on her singer/songwriter skills. She loves her songwriting classes which challenge her to write new material and think of new ways to express herself. It’s a collaborate vibe vs. competitive but they still push students hard but in a supportive way if that makes sense. Best of luck to your son! Hope he ends up at LoyNo!
Does anyone have experience with scholarships at Hartt? The website says it costs $68,000/year and that a good talent scholarship could bring it down to $46,000. That would still be way out of our reach and so I wonder about applying. Is it actually common to get more than that from the music program? (My son has a 3.9 GPA, is taking AP Music Theory, is bilingual, honor roll, and a talented jazz guitarist.)
I am not familiar with Hartt specifically, but music merit award money at all conservatories is based solely on talent. GPA, test scores and non music ECs will not be a factor. Basically the higher the candidate ranks on the audition, the more scholarship money is offered.
At university based programs, students are eligible for academic as well as music merit scholarships.
Conservatory scholarship amounts can vary from the $5-10K range to full tuition. A few programs (Colburn, Curtis and Yale Graduate) offer full tuition to anyone admitted.
Hope this helps!
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My impression is that a strong candidate might be offered 25K/yr off tuition. A really strong candidate whom the dep’t wants, especially if they play a needed instrument that is underrepresented, might lead to a higher than that merit scholarship. It will help if the teacher he wants to study with advocates for him.
Hartt is a really good conservatory, with a warm, collegial atmosphere. Especially if the student has identified a teacher there with whom they would like to work, it’s worth an application.
A low cost alternative, especially if you’re in-state for CT (which with West in your moniker, I bet not) is Western CT State U, one of the 4 state colleges, located in Danbury area, right over the NYS border into CT. They will probably offer your student a very substantial merit scholarship. The reason that I mention WCSU is that a lot of music luminaries from NYC teach there, since it’s easily reached by train from NYC, so they have a strong jazz program. Other options are U Michigan (they admit to the jazz program by audition, less emphasis on academics, which I think he has anyway), but the money might not work, and U North Texas, which has a strong jazz program and might give him major merit money. I suggest you post your own thread regarding recommendations for jazz guitar programs that might give merit to bring cost down to your budget.
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This is so helpful, thank you! I am really hopeful for some good money from a few of the schools he’s applying to, but I know every parent probably feels that way. He’s applied to North Texas, and it would be quite affordable if he goes there. I had not heard about Western CT and I will look now. You’re right, we’re not from the East Coast, but I grew up there and so did my husband, and I’m familiar with New England and how beautiful it is, so that’s a plus.
It’s interesting, their website is careful to say that it’s a state school and already less expensive, and therefore they don’t give many scholarships. I wonder if that’s true when you get down to reality. I have a feeling more would be offered for a kid with a great GPA and talent in jazz. At 40K, the school is still a lot less expensive than some we are looking at. I might ask some questions about where and how the students can perform outside of school. I think my kid should definitely apply. I appreciate it.
For a kid with a great GPA and jazz - you should definitely look at Temple. Award winning jazz and very generous merit money. It ended up being almost the same price as our flagship in-state school for my good ACT score, mediocre grade kid.
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I am familiar with Salve Regina and U of Hartford/Hartt. Both of my boys applied to Salve, both had interest in continuing to play their instrument, but neither intended to major or minor in it. In terms of academics, it’s more of a small LAC. After touring several times, it is definitely in our top 5 for most beautiful campuses. It’s literally stunning in Newport, on the Cliffwalk, surrounded by the ocean and glorious mansions. The people are friendly and it has an overall warm, nice, sporty, New England vibe. As far as music, I would say do your research, but my sense is that it would be for more of a general music education that one might later choose to specialize more deeply via grad school. Not being focused solely on music, it’s a good choice if he thinks he might change is major or make music a minor.
University of Hartford is definitely suburban. It’s in Hartford, but is closest to West Hattford which is a separate, affluent suburb of Hartford. It has a vibrant downtown with lots of restaurants and bars, shops etc. 2-3 miles from campus. Hartt is more of an intensive music school that what you would find at an LAC like Salve, with opportunities to specialize and many more students studying music. They have a strong music production concentration and a decent music ed program as well. I wouldn’t say the campus is particularly striking, but it’s clean and orgnaized. My husband is a music teacher and lots of students end up applying and attending. And he feel like they get a pretty solid education. Of the 2, this is the better option if you know with all your heart your mind will not change and music is your thing. Because otherwise, you will need to love uHa as much as you love Hartt.
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Your kid’s academics are head and shoulders above the level at WCSU. I do think that they’d offer him a lot in merit. I agree that Temple is an excellent choice, too.
Again, I think that you’d get more info, and more useful info, if you would create a thread specific to your student’s situation (high GPA/scores, jazz guitar music major, chasing merit money), rather than piggy backing onto this already long thread.
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Late to the game, but I want to mention University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. Great music business program, amazing chorale, esports team, and flag football! I know because my son does all 4! He has traveled to Europe with the chorale (subsidized by the school) and has amazing gig opportunities to earn extra money singing on the weekends. Good luck! I’m sure by now your son’s applications are all submitted!
I’m so glad to hear this! Congrats to your son. Mine has applied/auditioned EA for Frost this year, and one of my questions is whether it’s feasible to do anything outside the coursework and rehearsal for the jazz degree. I know it’s not the same as music business, but I do hope that if he’s admitted and ends up there, he could do something like chorale (he absolutely loves choir) and some kind of fitness or clubs. I couldn’t figure out whether that was possible when we visited. I only met one former student.
Jazz instrumental or voice? I think all Frost students take the same classes the first 2 years, give or take, so there are similarities in the schedule. His social circle includes students from most of the Frost majors and they have similar schedules/commitments. It is like a conservatory so there isn’t a ton of free time, but being part of the university does make it easier to access the ‘fun’ stuff! Because of the ensembles/studio time/masterclasses, they can have 7 or 8 classes a semester since some are 1-2 credits, so that makes them busier than students only taking 15 credits/5 classes per semester. Its all about time management! My son fits in plenty of gym time, jamming with his buddies, and a few clubs/intramurals…but ultimately they are musicians and just love to be making music! I don’t think there is alot of clubbing/partying going on because that time is spent making or experiencing music any way they can! Good luck!
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Thank you! I’m so happy to hear your kid is doing well. My kid is so not into partying. He would love all the things you mention. It’s really helpful to know.
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To answer your question, jazz guitar. 
Hey there. Just checking in on this thread. My musician is a first year music ed/ performance double major at Ithaca College and it has been just wonderful. The faculties and instruction are absolutely top-notch. Wonderfully supportive atmosphere. He is growing and being challenged in so many ways. In the back of his mind, however, he has been wondering what would have happened if he had gone to UNT. Well lo and behold, the UNT director of bands has accepted the director of bands position at Ithaca, beginning next fall. What a happy coincidence and a reassurance to him that Ithaca is on par with UNT in many ways, although quite different. Good luck everyone and any questions about Ithaca, please let me know.
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