Jazz Drums/Deciding

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hello, I'm a long-time viewer of this site, but brand new member. The knowledge which I see the members of this site express is incredible, and I would love to get some help, if anyone is willing.
I'm a junior in Little Rock, AR, and I'm interested in being a jazz studies major. I'm a drum set player, and I would love to study jazz in college. Arkansas isn't a state which is very focused on the arts, so I am inherently at a disadvantage, but, I do my best to overcome it. I'm an A student with a 3.9 GPA, and so far, I've only taken the SAT twice, yielding a 1970 and a score which I don't yet know (test was last week). I've taken the ACT once, yielding a 30 (36 English, 30 Math, 27 CR, 27 Science). I don't have a desire to go to a great jazz school that doesn't have a stellar education to go along with it; above all, I wish to live in an enlightened manner, even before living in a talented manner. So, I wish to go to the best school I possibly can. What I need is some specialized advice from members concerning each individual school I'm interested in.</p>

<p>Here's my list, with top choices on top.</p>

<p>Northwestern University. I know enough about this one. I love this school, and it's my top choice. What I'd really like to hear about this school is thoughts on the overall quality of life.</p>

<p>Columbia University. I haven't become interested in this University until recently. I'm speaking of the NY Columbia, not the Chicago College. Is the jazz program legit? How are the teachers?</p>

<p>University of Miami. I'd like to know how the non-musical curriculum works for music majors.</p>

<p>DePaul University. I'm clueless on this one, as far as its legitimacy. Help please?</p>

<p>Belmont University. I like this school a lot. I'd just like to know how life is there.</p>

<p>Thank you all. I love this website.</p>

2

<p>You will be best served by hitting the report problem post button and requesting the mods move this thread to cc’s [Music</a> Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/]Music”>Music Major - College Confidential Forums). You’ll reap the benefit of a vast pool of music program specific knowledge and experience. All of the schools and programs are discussed in varying detail. </p>

<p>For your reference, Northwestern’s jazz program has been in a state of flux for a few years. Some links within the music forum <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/777895-ba-music-jazz-ba-liberal-arts-northwestern.html?highlight=northwestern[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/777895-ba-music-jazz-ba-liberal-arts-northwestern.html?highlight=northwestern&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There is plenty of info on Belmont, Miami/Frost.</p>

3

<p>Daughter goes to DePaul School of Music and LOVES it!!! It is very legitimate and although she is not in jazz, she says the jazz program is awesome. Definitely worth a look.</p>

4

<p>Check out Oberlin College. It has an excellent college of arts and sciences and a renowned music conservatory, including a strong jazz performance program.</p>

<p>[Overview</a> - Oberlin College](<a href=“http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/jazz-studies/index.dot]Overview”>http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/jazz-studies/index.dot)</p>

<p>The new Litoff building, scheduled for completion in spring 2010, will include specialized digs for the Jazz Studies program.</p>

<p>[Oberlin</a> College](<a href=“http://oberlin.edu/litoff/]Oberlin”>http://oberlin.edu/litoff/)</p>

5

<p>OP, please take the time to read through this <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html&lt;/a&gt;. Depending on your level of experiences, private instruction and musical network you may be at a disadvantage in just the requisite knowledge in choosing schools for a music major (with or without a strong academic criteria, a double degree pursuit, or the other requirements you list.)</p>

<p>From a music admission standpoint in a performance or related discipline, it’s typically audition results that will seal an admittance, but many of the schools you list use a combined approach of an academic threshold in addition to audition outcome. It throws a completely different perspective on researching and selecting potential choices. The audition based parameters also typically brings another component when it comes to receiving talent based scholarships.</p>

<p>BassDad’s post provides a good overview, and we’ve addressed many of the aspects he outlines in far greater detail within the music major forum.</p>

<p>While you will get excellent advice from CC’s general forums in terms of the typical aspects of choosing a school, financial aid, etc., the depth and breath of knowledge when it comes to performance and other arts related disciplines is beyond the scope of those not having gone through it.</p>

<p>Please avail yourself of that resource.</p>

<p>Without knowing any of your musical experience, training and background, citing programs names that may or may not fit your level of competitiveness within a specific audition pool does not necessarily benefit you.</p>

6

<p>Hey, Clayton–my son, a jazz drummer first year at Oberlin–could be your twin, but two years older. We went through your selection process this past Spring, and were intimately acquainted with Northwestern and Columbia. I’d like to echo Violadad and recommend you come on over to the music major forum–and that you begin your College Confidential journey with the links he provided. Though there is a lot of non-jazz info, much of it applies to all forms of music. I would also start exploring the idea of a summer program this coming Summer, which is a great way to gauge how you might measure up outside of Arkansas. If you want to talk via private message, I’m happy to help with questions/advice there as well. Welcome!</p>

7

<p>My son is a junior in hs and a jazz drummer. we’re looking around at possible schools and very interested in oberlin. has your son finished? also, i’m curious how much teaching billy hart does. if you’re willing, maybe we could talk offline. thanks, Carl Weinberg</p>

8

<p>Have you considered NYU? I have a friend there who is a very high-achieving student, but is majoring in violin performance. She picked the school because of its rigor and the general atmosphere- perhaps you should look into it. I’ll be auditioning there for violin in two weeks, and I had similar SATs (1980) and GPA (3.8 unweighted).</p>

9

<p>I don’t know a lot about the program itself, but University of Michigan has a jazz studies program. My son is at the School of Music there in a different program (Performing Arts Tech - Music comp, but former jazz player) and loves it. Know they have some fabulous staff, lots of ensemble opportunities and improv training, and know they very much like stats like yours ; )
I also believe they are quite committed to the jazz program. My son has a friend auditioning this year. If you need more info, I can ask him later in Feb. Let me know and good luck with your search!</p>

<p>PS Here’s a link to the BFA Jazz Studies Degree. They also offer improv degree and contemplative studies degrees. Not as much theory required, which must be why it’s a BFA instead of a BMUS:
<a href=“http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/jazz_improv/bfa_jazz.htm[/url]”>http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/jazz_improv/bfa_jazz.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>For Jazz Drumset, if you consider yourself a relatively strong player, I’d investigate the following -</p>

<p>Manhattan School of Music
U Miami
University of North Texas
Oberlin
NYU
The New School
USC
Cal State Long Beach
University of North Florida
University of Oregon
California Insitute of the Arts (Cal Arts)</p>

<p>Always check to see who’s active faculty in the jazz studies department - things change with drum set instructors fairly often</p>

11

<p>The only program you listed that I know much about is DePaul. I think Bob Rummage is the jazz percussion guy there. If he is, you’d be in good hands. He’s a very well respected drummer.</p>

<p>Indiana comes to mind for jazz percussion. Steve Houghton is amazing, and Michael Spiro is there for Latin.</p>

12

<p>USC has Peter Erskine and Ndugu Chancler. Erskine was drummer for Weather Report and Maynard Ferguson among others and has authored books and even has “signature drumsticks”. Chancler has a very impressive resume also, including being the drummer on Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”. Also can consider or crossover with popular music performance program.</p>