@bassdadjazz == you haven’t mentioned your son’s GPA and ACT/SAT. Those aren’t factors for the conservatories, but will be a major factor for Frost. Since your son has a friend there, you may know that already, but figured I’d mention it.
Also, spreadsheets to track school requirements and optimize song-choices for pre-screens is typical. Best of lcuk.
If I could impart an opinion, if going for just the electric bass, it could be good to also (learn to) sing and have nice stage movement.
Hi, Just wanted to chime in as a jazz parent (tenor sax)! My S ended up doing six auditions — one in-state (Rutgers Mason Gross in NJ), three reaches, and two solid programs where we thought he’d get in/get at least some money. One of these (NYU) was in NYC, but he really didn’t want to be there undergrad so in retrospect, we could have saved the effort and done five. (They also lived up to their reputation of offering very little money. I know people at the New School who did much better.)
In the end, his biggest reach also gave him the most money, so you never know. Good luck, your list sounds great!
Thanks so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it.
Unless I’m reading this wrong, Frost just announced ACT/SAT will no longer be a factor for music students. https://news.miami.edu/stories/2019/08/um-adopts-test-optional-admission-policy-for-music-and-architecture-students.html
I had a discussion with admission not too long ago, at that time the admissions rep transferred me to a counselor, who said they only use SAT/ACT to determine math placement. If your score is very low, you take a remedial math, if it is high you take an advanced class, and if it is in the right range, then no math is required at all. It’s an odd way to use scores, but she said that it is an agreement that the music department has had with the university for a long time.
@WestOfPCH - my son is a jazz drummer as well, heading into senior year. I would love to pick your brain about his list. Would it be ok if I sent you a PM?
@bassdadjazz some thoughts to consider from the longtime former Director of Admissions at Berklee (me!):
@arkham I did not know of that development. Thanks for sharing.
@212121 Happy to help in any way I can. Please feel free to PM me or post your question on this thread, whichever you prefer.
Sure, please do.
Hi WestofPCH,
My son may have some similar restrictions to yours. His opinion is still fluid, but he
is definitely more interested in jazz drum than classical percussion. More specifically, he’s not so fond of marimba which many classical programs seem to emphasize (he’s
not so opposed to timpani or snare, but he still likes modern music better). So I was
hoping you could share the list you developed of schools for your son (BTW, my son is
a high school junior, so not competition 
) Thanks! Best!
Hi @daddrumexpat:
My son is a college freshman now, so no competition at all. He applied to the following schools:
@slipman2 , thank you for your detailed response. My son spent time with Jeff Campbell this summer at Birch Creek, when he went he tried out and got into their Jazz Ambassadors program and also had the opportunity to take a few private lessons with Jeff. He really hit it off with Jeff, and Jeff said he would be honored to have him at Eastman. That was encouraging, but my son is going to an arts high school downtown Chicago now, and he really would like to stick to a large urban area if at all possible. (Nothing against Rochester, I am sure it is a lovely town)
My son and I talked about adding the City College of New York into the mix. Do you have any feedback you can give us on City College?
I have heard about “Queens College” jazz program. Anyone knows about this???
Jeff Campbell is one of my son’s professors this term! He loves him!
I did want to respectfully offer my thoughts that it would be very difficult to gig in NYC from Rochester. We live in the NYC area and it’s a solid six-hour drive each way to Eastman. SUNY Purchase is much closer, as is William Paterson, if you want to be near the city but not in it. Even Syracuse and Ithaca are substantially closer than Rochester.
That said, Rochester is a city of 200,000 people and my son has already had an opportunity to gig locally. So it’s not like being in a suburb or the country (though for my NYC kid, anything smaller than 8 million is a quaint hamlet).
@JeJe, Queens College is part of CUNY (City University of New York). City College (another part) has a well-known jazz program; don’t know as much about the Queens College program. Btw, the colleges are named after boroughs of New York City: Brooklyn, Queens etc. City College is in Manhattan.
You’re most welcome, @bassdadjazz!
City College musically does not really come up to the level of the well-known music conservatories in NYC. They offer concentrations in jazz, popular music, classical vocal, sonic arts. The faculty in these depts are small but reputable (Michael Holober is a phenomenal composer and arranger).
Being a City school, their ability to award scholarships isn’t as broad as the more expensive, well-endowed, independently run music colleges/universities. Also, their admissions requirements are more liberal compared to the private conservatories. That said, if a student cannot afford to attend NYU, MSM, or New School, then City College is absolutely a good place to start out and take advantage of all that NYC has to offer musically and otherwise.
@JeJeJe Queens College has a Jazz program but it’s a graduate program. They don’t offer jazz as a major for undergrads.
The only CUNY that offers a BM in Jazz Studies is City College and the only SUNY that does is SUNY Purchase. If you’re considering options outside of a conservatory style education, two other SUNYs (Fredonia and New Paltz) have Jazz as a concentration for their Music BA/BS degrees.
Thanks for the feedback on Queens College. My son is already a freshman at private conservatory studying jazz. It all worked out financially so he is very happy so far with his decision not being in NYC and not sure yet if he wants to do MM. But if he does, he will probably go to NYC.
@bassjazzdad - your son’s list is almost exactly the same one as our jazz bassist. She was very stubborn about only being in a large city - so although I tried (with no avail) for her to add Oberlin or Indiana, it didn’t happen. So - she auditioned at NEC, the New School, Berklee and the SF Conservatory. In the end, she chose Berklee (it’s more like they chose her, as they gave her a very good tuition scholarship) mainly because of Terri Lyn Carrington whom she had studied with during the summer program. She lucked out because the instructor that she wanted to study with (Linda Oh) now teaches at Berklee. She is so excited!!!
I would say that 4 was enough for our daughter to make a decision. She might have auditioned at USC or UCLA had she had the grades - but she didn’t put much effort into her grades - for her, it was all about music, practicing and playing. She didn’t audition at Frost because she had a pre-conceived (and IMO wrong) impression of it. I think her grades might have been an issue there. They had no impact on the places that she applied and auditioned at.
I wish you luck on your audition year. GoForth and I both have jazz bassists - so if you have any questions - we are here to help.
I forgot to mention - I think that toward the end of our daughter’s audition season - she heard that there was more interest in Peabody for Jazz this year (there is a new Director) - this came from meeting jazz musicians at the various auditions. So - another place to add to your list. I think our daughter would have been happy at NEC or the New School as well - although she only had eyes for Berklee.