<p>My son plays electric and upright bass. He recently completed the Five Week program at Berklee. He feels that he would not be able to get a scholarship to Berklee, and we can't afford it without one. </p>
<p>Our current college list includes Hartt, Suny Purchase and U Mass Amherst (our state school). We are going to look at College of St. Rose this weekend. My son likes Suny Purchase, but thinks it is a long shot, and is concerned about the level of the academics there. </p>
<p>So far, we haven't really found the perfect fit. I think that what we are looking for is a school that has (1) a jazz studies ot jazz based program, (2) near a major urban area, (3) where a good solid developing player who is not "top tier" could get a scholarship, (4) possibly has a music business/industry program and (5) solid academics. </p>
<p>DS’s best friend is starting this semester at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, ([About</a> The New School College for Jazz and Contemporary Music](<a href=“http://www.newschool.edu/jazz/about-jazz-college/]About”>http://www.newschool.edu/jazz/about-jazz-college/)), with an emphasis on bass. I have no idea about the financial implications or scholarship opportunity there, but does have four of those five criteria you list.</p>
<p>Except for the “solid academics” Hartt could be a good fit. The bass studio is quite strong, and the jazz program good. D3 just mentioned last night that many of the jazz students regularly gig at places in Hartford (which almost meets your “urban” requirement). As you know, Hartford is a do-able trip into both Boston and NY.</p>
<p>Here’s my issue with the academics. Within the Hartt school, the academics are solid. The liberal arts side at Univ of Hartford, on the other hand, er, accommodates a wide range of abilities. HOWEVER, there is a decent honors program and one can contract to take any class (such as distribution requirements) at the honors level.</p>
<p>University of Vermont, New School in NYC, UArts (Philly) are the other jazz schools in the Northeast that come up a lot besides Berklee. I would still encourage him to apply to Berklee because he will get better and he likely has audition experience if he auditioned this summer. My D did the 5-week and did not get a scholarship on her first accept, but when she applied to transfer after her freshman year of college, she improved significantly and was offered a scholarship. So, if that’s his first choice, and he plays bass, he may have better chances than he thinks if he keeps practicing and doing ensemble work to push himself.</p>
<p>USC Thornton? Not sure where he’d stand audition-wise, but it’s got everything else. A less competitive option might be University of Miami -Frost.</p>
<p>SUNY Purchase jazz is a tough admit. Todd Coolman, the Bass prof, is great to work with son worked with him at the Skidmore jazz institute. Son’s friends from the camp were targeting Purchase and the New School for Jazz for college.
Son loved Hartt when he auditioned and visited but the money didn’t work out. If he is primarily interested in music vs academics and money is an issue look at Schenectady Co Community College when you come to visit College of ST Rose. Son has had several friends go to Schenectady Co Community and transfer after a year to Berklee in Boston (one a bassist). They have a phenomenal success rate for getting students into 4 yr. programs.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. Keep 'em coming if you have other thoughts. I have to say that when we went to visit Purchase, Todd Coolman could not have been nicer. He even stayed after an evening concert to meet with us.</p>
<p>Also, SUNY Fredonia and Potsdam have good music industry programs along with Jazz minors for some cheaper and easier admit choices. Son got to do an impromptu jam session with the jazz prof at Potsdam(Crane) after his classical audition that along with the fact that the bass prof at Crane is a well regarded Canadian jazz bassist (and the cheap price plus scholarship $) made him choose Crane over other choices.</p>
<p>A little far away from home it seems, but UMiami has a Music Business program that still requires an audition and includes instrumental study (it’s a BM I think) and from what I’ve heard it’s one of the better places to go for bass.</p>
<p>electricbassmom, if your son is interested in sound recording as opposed to music industry, you may want to look at UMass Lowell (which also has the industry program). My son starts there in 2 weeks…2 weeks…where does the time go!</p>