<p>I'm a high school junior and am interested in majoring in jazz studies in college. My primary instrument is drumset (which I'll probably focus on in college). I also play trumpet. I'm looking for a program in or near a city with a good jazz scene and that has a strong emphasis on small group playing as opposed to being primarly a big band school. I don't want to be in a school that encourages cut-throat competition. Schools I'm considering applying to are Cornish College of the Arts, The Peabody Institute, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, The Hartt School, William Paterson University, and CalArts. I would greatly appreciate any insights on your (or your child's) experiences at any of these schools. If there are other schools you would recommend checking out based on the criteria above, feel free to post (especially if there is a drumset teacher who you've heard good things about). If any of the aforementioned schools (or other schools) don't meet the criteria listed above, please let me know. </p>
<p>As far as drum teachers go, check out USC because of Peter Erskine and Oberlin because of Billy Hart. Two great players and great programs. Then again Oberlin, OH doesn’t exactly meet your criteria considering you want to be near or in a big city. The closest one to Oberlin is Cleveland and that isn’t a New York or Boston by any means. </p>
<p>As far as the schools mentioned, I do know that Bernard Purdie teachers an ensemble and lessons at the New School, but I’m not sure about the others mentioned. </p>
<p>I would recommend Ed Soph at North Texas, but because you mentioned you wanted to focus on combo playing, I’d stay away from UNT. </p>
<p>What about Temple University? Steve Fidyk teachers there, he’s a great player. </p>
<p>Also check out Manhattan School of Music and SUNY Purchase simply because John Riley teachers at both places - he’s an incredible player and educator. You may know his books (The Art of Be Bop Drumming and Beyond Bop Drumming) as well as his DVD. </p>
<p>Lastly, I want to throw Belmont University in there even though it’s not exactly a jazz program (the major is called “commercial music” focusing on jazz as well as rock/funk/pop/etc) because of the absolutely incredible drum teachers there. Zoro (Lenny Kravitz), Chester Thompson (Genesis), and Derico Watson (Victor Wooten) </p>
<p>I agree with those above. Peabody, however, is a great conservatory with a very very small jazz program. Though I love it as a conservatory, its jazz scene is so small that it isn’t very easy to get that collaborative jazz you’re looking for. Do check out Oberlin. Its jazz program is fantastic, campus is full of music and small combos, and Cleveland is only 30 minutes away. McGill (n Montreal) has a fantastic jazz program as well, and a great jazz scene too.</p>