<p>I'm going into my senior year this fall and being set on being a music major, it is time to start preparing auditions.
However I don't know what degree I want to pursue, being both a Classical piano student and playing Jazz. I love both styles of Music and am very interested in both. My question is, is it feasible to study both in college? Could I pursue a jazz studies degree and take private lessons with classical faculty on the side? Would the opposite of this work? (Study privately w/ the Jazz faculty and still take all the standard classes for a traditional Music Degree) Is their another way to facilitate both my interests? </p>
<p>Right now I'm leaning towards being a classical major and doing what Jazz I can on the side, but I'm open to alternative suggestions. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>Check out Hartt, Ithaca and Crane School of Music. As you visit the schools, ask about crossing genres. Son found that each of these schools was willing to accommodate crossing genres. Ask the schools you are interested in if they will allow and encourage you to do both. We looked at 6 music ed schools and these 3 were the most flexible but all were willing to work with my son. Many schools of music realize that performers need to be flexible and perform various styles to make a living and will try to help you pursue this goal.</p>
<p>My son, who is a Jazz Bassist, had a similar question. Although he did not want to be a classical music major he valued his classical training and wanted to continue with it. Eastman has a program where Jazz musicians actually spend a semester as a classical music major. During that semester they are in Orchestra and chamber ensembles rather than Jazz ensembles.</p>
<p>My son ended up at NEC where in his words, “There are no genres”….but that is a bit deceptive because he clearly is a Jazz major. That being said he is building his own program and this past year studied with teachers whose primary instrument was NOT Bass in order to improve his musicality. He talked about studying with a classical bass teacher for next year but I am not sure what he decided.</p>
<p>My son’s roommate is a Jazz/Contemporary improvisation Piano major who is focused on composition. He collaborated with a classical composer in their class and wrote a piece that I adore. <a href=“Tarm/McCarthy: So Yeah for Trio (2013) - YouTube”>Tarm/McCarthy: So Yeah for Trio (2013) - YouTube;
<p>I agree with momofbassist you need to find a conservatory where students are regularly moving outside their genres and where there is a lot of creative exploration going on. There are plenty of conservatories where that is happening. The goal will be to find one that is right for you and has the right amount of balance between formal training and flexibility.</p>
<p>Many schools will expect you to audition for classical as well if you enter as a jazz piano major and you follow pretty much the same syllabus for the first two years before branching off into a jazz or classical concentration for the last two years. You take the same theory and music history classes. Look at the Jazz Studies program at Oberlin, and the Jazz and Contemporary Program at CCPA/ Roosevelt University. </p>