just wanting to know if anyone has thoughts about how one finds good programs…for summer, for HS student…and is it too late…for auditioned ones? I have no background in music and am just trying to find things for my S’16 to do. He plays trumpet
My son did summer jazz programs when he was in high school at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, Eastman and Skidmore, and thought all three programs were worthwhile. All three required auditions (he did the Jazz Institute at Stanford, which requires an audition for participants 17 and younger, but they also have a Jazz Camp which does not require auditions). All three get excellent faculty and fairly serious students. Eastman was probably the most intense of the three. I think there’s still time to apply, but sooner will be better than later. Links below. You might also do a forum search for summer jazz programs, as I think there have been other threads on this.
Stanford Jazz Institute is very strong, Litchfield (in CT) is okay, and there used to be a pretty good program at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. Of the three, I’d rank Stanford as the strongest.
No it is not too late and there are many good programs out there regardless of his level. I believe the magazine Jazz Times does an annual list of summer programs, but I might be wrong.
Sorry I only know the one’s on the East Coast but I am sure others will chip in with the programs they know.
Boston- Berklee 5 week (expensive and can be intimidating and a bit competitive…students who do well are self motivated and determined to squeeze everything they can from the experience).
New England Conservatory- It is a one week program and it is smaller and a bit more personable than Berklee.
Camp Encore Coda- Not sure if HS students are CITs or not. It is a very nurturing environment.
Eastman- I can’t speak for this program
Litchfield Jazz Camp - Can also be very nurturing. There is a huge range of students at Litchfield. The staff is top-notch and the environment is considerably more structured compared to Berklee’s 5 week.
stanford…like in california!? I’ll look at the links. Thanks. Yes, I looked on the internet…and I find lots of things…but difficult to know how to choose what is worth looking into. Son looked at eastman and was a little intimidated by the website, I think…but, will look again. I think Skidmore does have one…all are auditioned, I think. How “perfect” do these audtion tapes/videos (whatever) have to be? I think that is what is partly causing him to feel intimidated…
@StacJip thank you for your information too. I will look up Litchfield; yes, east coast is better for us. someone elsoe not on CC recomended Interlochen? and some place in Vermont??
Yes, Stanford as in California - we’re east coast based too, but you can often get some great airfares to SF (we ended up being able to get a frequent flyer ticket for him, so the airfare was free - even better). And the faculty lineup there is one of the best (if not the best) around. The Institute faculty list this year includes, among others, Peter Bernstein, Taylor Eigsti, Larry Grenadier, Eric Harland, Ingrid Jensen (absolutely fabulous trumpet player), Aaron Parks, Matt Penman, Josh Redman, Dayna Stephens - these are all people I would happily pay to see. At the Institute, the students get to work with them directly. Here’s a link to the full list: https://stanfordjazz.org/jazz-camp/faculty/
In terms of the intimidation factor, when my son first started applying to programs like this, he had no idea what to expect or whether he would be competitive, but he just put together the best audition tape he could and hoped for the best. There are programs that don’t require auditions, so probably good to apply to one or two of those as well. But the auditioned programs tend to draw the most serious students, which is part of what my son found so appealing about them. It was the first time he was surrounded by students who were as passionate about the music as he was.
As for Eastman, I posted a little about my son’s experience there (four years ago now) in this thread: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/10922263/#Comment_10922263
It may be that I am the one intimidated…this is a new world for me…and for him too…but, he really loves it. I’ll show him the links…and see what he wants to do!
In the case of Berklee 5 week and Litchfield and even NEC the audition tape is less about how good the student is and more about figuring out If they can put together a Jazz ensemble that is appropriate for that particular child. It is more about balancing the student population so all students can be an ensemble that is right for them. Students who attend these programs come in with wide range of abilities and nobody expects a high school student to be at the top or sound perfect. These are not college auditions as much as they are placement auditions.
Oh one more thing…one nice thing about Litchfield if your son is interested in taking his music to the next level is they offer a great college fair and they have some faculty that are very good at advising students about the college conservatory and music process. Berklee has a college fair but it is more just colleges visiting and students walking around talking and gathering material. NEC has some individuals who have helped many students through the process, but given that the program is only a week they might not get to know your student well enough to be that useful.
ahhhh this is very helpful to know! I think S is hesitant to send auditions out or work on them for fear of not being perfect…—like for all states or region band audtions…but it makes sense, for the camps…what you describe! thank you!
UNT has a jazz combo workshop that my son did last summer (Texas). Also, a big one on the west coast is the Port Townsend Centrum jazz festival in Washington state. They have really big names in all areas in residence. My son did that one 2 years ago. He had terrific experiences at both of these.
Son attended Skidmore jazz back when he was in high school and it definitely had many different levels. As StacJip mentioned, the auditions were more to balance ensembles. Son did have some friends who weren’t accepted. He learned quite a bit and enjoyed Saratoga Springs. They attended the Jazz Fest and were able to play in one of the local pubs during the camp. As a bonus, he earned 1 college credit that his college accepted.
that sounds cool I’ll encourage him to send in his recordings…
I called “Litch” they sound really nice…but they have to call me back with info…S has his heart set on Interlochen…hope he gets in!
I’m a big fan of New York Summer Music Festival, both my kids went there and flourished. Though tere’s also a famous classical side,the Jazz faculty is really fabulous and top shelf. http://nysmf.org