Help me please, I am pathless...

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Ok, so about 6 months ago, I was SURE that my life had to be music, and I wouldn't be happy doing anything else... But, as you'll see below, my interests have shifted around and now I'm not really sure what my interests are. Please keep in mind as you read this that I am a JAZZ musician (because it's a lot different being a classical musician).</p>

<p>The issue is that I really still don't know what I want to do with my life, which is fine, but it makes me feel less and less certain about going to a music school or something like that. I just have so many interests and I feel that I can't absolutely express myself with music... I want to write, I want to act (theater or film), I want to do scientific research, I want to help people, I want to teach and most recently, I really want to do more work with the special needs, as volunteering and working at a special needs camp over the summer has changed my life... all of that stuff in addition to music, of course. And having all of those other passions and commitments makes me not ready to give them up for music, so I doubt I would be happy in a conservatory. That's not quite true though; I know I would be happy in a conservatory, I just don't know for how long...</p>

<p>But I don't know of any jobs that will let me "do it all." I would be very happy as a professional musician, but also very happy as a high school band director (this was going to be my long term goal), but also with being a doctor, and with being a politician advocating social change, etc... Most importantly I really want to CHANGE THE WORLD, which sounds more cliche than it really is. I really want to leave feeling that I've done something with my life which has substantially improved the lives of others, especially those that have been less fortunate than I have been... If I can be financially stable doing it, that'd be an added bonus, but probably not necessary...</p>

<p>I know this is different from the majority of other music school kids, who want to do music and nothing else, maybe one or two classes on the side or something. So it just doesn't seem like a good fit for me, maybe? Not sure. But at the same time, I need to be making music with a stimulating, talented, fresh, etc... group(s) of musicians! If I am playing with people who don't share my drive for music (like a lot of those at the high school), I'll probably go nuts! I have been playing with kids that go on to Eastman, NEC, Berklee, Manhattan, North Texas, etc... I'm certain they are all going to go far with music, but although I'm confident in my talent, I'm not sure I can keep it up while doing all this other stuff...</p>

<p>My thinking was a few routes: Do a dual degree. This made the most sense to me from the get-go, but I understand it is VERY challenging and you really have to make it work for you. Tufts/NEC has been my dream or awhile, and I should get into Tufts I believe, but what about NEC? Now there's a crapshoot... Oberlin came up in the mix, but it's also a 10 hr. drive (I'd like to keep 5-6 hour maximum from the Boston area), and I wasn't a huge fan of the rural campus when I went there. My other thought was to just go for a top level school which would leave me academically satisfied, would surround me with other like minded people, and hope that the performance opportunities are good there. I've been working my butt off in music through NEC prep school stuff, playing with really hot cats, so I really want to maintain playing with amazing musicians like them. I thought Columbia would be cool, 'cuz there's bound to be a few players in New York I can catch up with, but a friend of mine there who plays trombone says I may find it limited... I thought about big state university settings, but that wasn't my cup of tea academically. The best university programs are also quite a distance away, besides Umass, which I've heard mixed to negative reviews about. Should I suck it up? Anyway, if I went to a school that didn't have a performance based (BM) program, there's still a chance at grad school for an MM later on right? I feel that may be best, so I could have some time to weigh things out, figure out my life, what I want to be doing, rather than jump into music without looking back... I am not worried about finances or anything like that, but I am worried about being truly satisfied in my life....</p>

<p>Thanks so much, I'm experiencing a teenage crisis. </p>

<p>-Jazzguitar</p>

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<p>Both my s & d had no real issues in determining their paths of study, so I have no personal experience here.</p>

<p>Oberlin might have worked for you, but you seem right now to have put it off your screen due to location. As far as easternish schools, you mention Tufts/NEC (difficult prgram, few selected from my remembering discussion here); Eastman/Rochester will probably not rate high geographically for you; Hopkins/Peabody (strength of jazz?) a possibility? Berklee does not offer you academic options. Columbia can satisfy many music needs, but it's not a formal program as extensive as many others. Have you looked here
<a href="http://www.newschool.edu/jazz/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.newschool.edu/jazz/&lt;/a>... perhaps there's a way to tie studies in with other schools within the New School umbrella.</p>

<p>You might need a year or two at a good LAC with a strong music program taking a mix of courses across your interests, and letting your future clarify by this experience. If you need to limit yourself geographically around Boston, the Tufts/NEC option might be your best bet.</p>

<p>Yes, you can do MM grad if you can audition your way into the program by maintaining your chops without a BM or performance concentration.</p>

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<p>Thanks. I mean obviously I am still considering Oberlin, it really does have what I'm looking for, but I'd rather go to Tufts/NEC. Oberlin actually might even be tougher for me to get into because at the information session the counselor told me there were about 10 jazz guitarists enrolled, which is HUGE, meaning there will only be 1-2 acceptances in the years ahead. Ouch. </p>

<p>With regards to New School, do you know anything about the academics there? I mean, it is possible to dual degree there, but I know nothing about the LAC there. Anyone with insight?</p>

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<p>Lot's of existential angst which just might be a career path...of a jazz musician. Take the Strong-Campbell test to see where your interests really are:</p>

<p><a href="http://careerplanning.about.com/od/selfassessment/a/self_assessment_2.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://careerplanning.about.com/od/selfassessment/a/self_assessment_2.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Best of luck!!</p>

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<p>Hey Jazzguitar,</p>

<p>It's great that you're asking these questions at this early stage. You'll be glad for it later.</p>

<p>I agree that a dual-degree program like Tufts/NEC is ideal, but know also that a conservatory education, tied with a full-time liberal arts (or engineering!) education is not for the weak at heart, or those who are in doubt, as you are now.</p>

<p>However, know also that you can go just to Tufts, for example, and take advantage of their stellar Music Department (and brand-new, kick-a$$ music facilities), while still double-majoring in some other subject of interest to you.</p>

<p>I'm a Tufts alum (07!) and can tell Tufts wuold be a great place for you, not only due to your interest in music, but in your interest in making a positive difference in the world. As you know, Tufts' mantra is "active citizenship" and i feel you'd get the opportunity to tie your musical and other academic interests into making positiev change.</p>

<p>Good luck, and know that you have to apply to NEC and Tufts individually and be accepted by both for the dual-degree program. If you get into both, then you can try it out and always drop out of one or the other if you feel an inclination to one type of study more than the other.</p>

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<p>jazz- I know of New School only as the "parent" of the Mannes School of Music. I suggested it because of the jazz program, which was mentioned in another thread.</p>

<p>At the bottom of the page of the link I posted are links to other New School schools... you might want to read through and see what they offer.</p>

<p>You can always call and speak with an admissions counselor. Many schools allow you to design a specific program around your interests. The New School might be one of them. </p>

<p>You might want to look at Hartt (UHartford and their Jackie Maclean Institute of Jazz. <a href="http://harttweb.hartford.edu/adm-programs-music.asp?id=10%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://harttweb.hartford.edu/adm-programs-music.asp?id=10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>My son is an '07 Hartt grad, BM viola perofrmance, so his experience is classical.</p>

<p>You can get academics through University of Hartford, but if you want/need the academic level of Tufts or Columbia, you won't get it there unless you want to check into the honors programs.</p>

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<p>Thanks again! I will be looking into this stuff more thoroughly. </p>

<p>Lola - glad to hear the support of Tufts. I actually know all about the program because I have two friends in it right now, and I do NEC prep school. I also know that you can be accepted at both places and then denied the program, which is not the case for Oberlin. What I didn't know, though, is something I just found at their site: <a href="http://www.tufts.edu/as/music/program/nec.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.tufts.edu/as/music/program/nec.htm&lt;/a>
Apparently, you can take a small number of courses from NEC, which would be absolutely awesome. Also, it says that if you are enrolled at one of the institutions you can still apply for the dual-degree later on, but I'm not sure how that would work. I suppose it's up to me to really work hard with my guitar chops and make them pay off. I'm going to be getting lessons once the school year starts with NEC guitar faculty Joe Morris, so that should be very helpful. I am also planning on auditioning for both jazz studies and contemp. imrpov. to increase my chances.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>It is easier to find a very fine academic school with music as the secondary interest than a solid music school with strong academics. We all end up listing the very same ones (Harvard or Tufts/NEC, Peabody, JHU, etc), because it is a finite list.</p>

<p>If you have great stats, you also might want to look at Princeton, which houses an amazing jazz band. No jazz studies major, but you might find some great players there.</p>

<p>I also think looking into Tufts music program (with or without NEC) would make sense.</p>

<p>It's tough out there for rhythm section players, since there are so few spots, except at the giant programs like Berklee or UNT. I'd also try to get some advice and counsel from your NEC teacher, as to your competitiveness for an undergrad program like theirs.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

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<p>Great, it sounds like you know a lot! And yes, you can definitely, as a Tufts student, take courses at NEC even though you aren't a dual-degree student; just as you can take fine arts courses at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, if you aren't a dual-degree student with them.</p>

<p>I agree with the above poster that it's a lot harder to find great academics at a conservatory than finding a good music program at an academically-renowned institution. That's probably why you're so interestedi in the Tufts-NEC program. ;)</p>

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<p>How about Temple?
We're looking at it for my DD, who is interested in jazz vocal performance. It seems to be a pretty happening place academically, as well.
Philadelphia would just squeak into your distance parameters.</p>

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<p>My band director has been urging me to look at Temple for awhile. I can't find anything about a double major there, although the music looks great.</p>

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<p>I don't know anything about it, but a number of schools have music therapy degrees, which would involve helping others through music. I don't know if jazz guitar works with that education/career path, but it might be worth a look.</p>

<p>Bassoonmom</p>

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<p>I think you should look into good liberal arts colleges, that have strong music programs, opposed to conservatories with strong academics. You will have the opportunity to try out whatever it is you like, while still pursuing your passion for music. Additionally, once you have a firmer grasp on your individual career path, you can study it further in grad school, ideally. Good Luck!</p>

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<p>Jazzguitar --
Why don't you email Temple admissions directly with your questions?</p>

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<p>I already did Vic, thanks.</p>

<p>One of my thoughts was to become a band director, that way I would be able to gig professionally on the side, and make an impact on my students' lives. Then I might be able to work with special needs over the summer, maybe becoming a camp director or something like that. I just think I want to try some other things before that. So I guess this is really a decision for me to make (duh!). There's also nothing saying I can't transfer out of a conservatory, or out of an LAC, if I feel it isn't right for me. And after reading the Peabody articles a million times, I know it's true that I can go on to other things with a BM, and I can go on to music with a BA... I just really need to cool off for a little while, apply to schools, see where I get in, go from there...</p>

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<p>Jazzguitar,
You’re right…teaching/directing high school (someday college level?) musicians provides two unique opportunities: a tremendous chance to make a difference in many young lives, paid summer months off to explore and further your other passions. Almost everyone has experienced their own or someone else’s life direction dramatically influenced or profoundly changed because of the inspiration of a truly great teacher or director.
You already have passion and enthusiasm to make a lasting impression on people. Whatever path or school you choose, I am sure that you will have an impact.</p>

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<p>My 17 year old son is a jazz drummer and is seriously considering William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. Several of his teachers and a performer that he has been following closely have all graduated from their jazz school and highly recommend it. Other options are Berklee, NYU, New School and Cal Arts. Might want to check out WPU - close to NYC jazz scene. Not terribly expensive either.</p>

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<p>William Paterson has an excellent jazz program that shares some teachers with better-known music schools in New York City. They run a very good summer jazz camp for high school age students that would be a great way to explore the school for those not already headed into senior year. Be aware that it is a moderately large school (about 10,000) which can be good or bad depending on what you want, and that it is by and large a commuter campus with something like 98% of their students coming from within the state of New Jersey. More than half the freshmen commute from home and very few students continue to live on campus after freshman year.</p>