<p>Hi All:</p>
<p>I have lurked here for some time but this is our first post. Read Bassdad's exc piece (thanks!) and everything I could find. Here is our situation in the hope that some of you may have some helpful suggestions:</p>
<p>Our son is a HS senior, and has been playing and studying jazz piano for 6 years, having started with classic-oriented lessons at age 6. He is a fine jazz player with a great music resume, and his playing has been informally reviewed at the schools we've visited with enthusiam. Several schools have told him that he is "good enough to play jazz anywhere he wants." His HS Jazz Band is one of the best in the US.</p>
<p>Our son loves music and jazz but doesn't want to close the door on academic study, which he is finally beginning to appreciate. He has been an average student (3.1 GPA) from a top HS, just now taking 2 AP courses. Has 1200/1830 SATS and is hoping he got up to 1300 the second time with results pending. So, he is looking to get into a good music/LA school with the help of piano, but leaving room to develop interests in writing, photography, environmental studies and psychology. I know that is a wide range so we are just looking at good LA/Universities, rather than particular dual degrees. He would not rule out a BM in performance nor a music ed degree but he is 17 and unsure and we are not pushing him to decide.</p>
<p>We've been to Skidmore (he went to summer jazz institute there), Ithaca, Universty of Mass at Amherst (nearby), Oberlin, Knox and Lawrence. We are also contemplating U Miami but worry it may be too big for him. He does not want to go to a school like Eastman. He is laid back and dislikes competitiveness, is wonderful, but immature in the way of many 17 YO boys growing up, slowly but steadily. </p>
<p>We liked Oberlin, Knox (BA only) and Lawrence (we like Lawrence a lot!) but the opportunites to gig in those regions (as well as other cultural opportunities) are limited. SUNY Purchase has great access to NYC without the hassles of living in the city but seems weak in non-music/arts courses. Also, a lot of students don't live on campus. At Lawrence, he could enroll for 4 years, and come out with a BA in music, a BM in music, or a LA degree. This is very appealing and thre jazz faculty, although small, is utterly great.</p>
<p>NYU would seem to be a good fit if he could handle NYC (we live 2.5 hours away) but his grades don't seem nearly good enough. And, of course, he'd have to be able to handle the coursework.</p>
<p>Obviously, we've looked far and wide but are we missing any good choices?</p>