<p>Hi. I was wondering how the jazz program is at W&M. I would be interested in playing in whatever jazz ensembles/combos they may have if I apply and am accepted. I play alto and bari sax. Are the ensembles good, hard to get into? Are they well respected on campus? How about the jazz professors in the music dept? Are the current bands good?
Thanks!</p>
<p>there is a jazz combo run by Harris Simon: [William</a> & Mary - Directory Page Title](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/as/music/directory/simon_h.php]William”>William & Mary - Harris Simon)</p>
<p>There is a jazz ensemble that is a 1 credit class, meeting twice a week. It is run by the same professor who runs the Wind Symphony. There is also a student run jazz band that was started a couple years ago and is still going strong (though the kid who started it has since graduated).</p>
<p>As for the quality of the ensembles, my impression is that most W&M students are very talented. The ensembles are fairly high quality, BUT they will not be the same as at a school with a big and strong music program (like JMU). Generally speaking, the people who play in ensembles at W&M are not music majors, so they play because they enjoy it. A lot of students are from northern virginia, which has a lot of very good high school music programs.</p>
<p>There are more students who minor in music than who major in it and they may be a large part of the various vocal and musical ensembles. W&M students who are artistic tend to carry on their artistic endeavors on campus even if they don’t opt to major in those subjects.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that all of W&M’s fine arts programs are open so you do not have to be a major/minor to take classes in the fine arts. If you do decide to major/minor, there’s no audition process. You simply register your major just as you would a history major. </p>
<p>Should you come for a campus visit, contact the Music Department and see if you can meet with jazz instructors or sit in on a jazz ensemble class.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! It sounds very good. </p>
<p>I’d be interested in knowing what any current students think of the jazz bands on campus too. Are they well received when the play, etc.? Do they play many gigs during the year?</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>you might want to check out Evette’s blog ([W&M</a> Blogs Evette Becker](<a href=“http://blogs.wm.edu/author/edbecker/]W&M”>Evette Becker, Author at Blogs)). She’s not actively blogging at the moment but is very involved in music at W&M. You can also browse our blogs by category and there’s a category on the arts and culture ([W&M</a> Blogs Arts & Culture](<a href=“http://blogs.wm.edu/category/arts-culture/]W&M”>http://blogs.wm.edu/category/arts-culture/)). Not sure if any one blog speaks directly to jazz bands at W&M but they might be a good source of info</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Of course. That’s what we’re here for</p>