<p>With son #1 a happy sophomore at a conservatory, we are beginning the journey with hs junior son #2. He is a good student and likely, a conservatory-level classical and/or jazz bassist. He is more interested in writing and communications career-wise than music, although he wants to go somewhere he can play with other advanced-level musicians. We know the dual-degree options and he "may" consider those, but for now, seems more attracted to the LA path with music on the side, possibly as a minor. He had a weighted GPA of 3.9 and a projected SAT (based on PSAT) of about 2100-2200. Broad extra-curriculars, very well-rounded. He'd like to stay in the East/Northeast and he's interested so far in Tufts (and MAYBE NEC), which might be a reach instead of a match. I think Oberlin would be a good fit except he doesn't want to follow his brother, who is there. We are eying schools like Bowdoin, Colgate, Hamilton, Skidmore. Also, bigger schools like NYU, BU, University of Rochester and Miami. From my experience with son#1, many of the smaller good schools have "circuit-rider" faculty, only there part-time to teach jazz band, etc. He likes cities, although he says he would favour a busy college town with the "quad" feel to it.</p>
<p>I know there have been several similar threads already ..but I am looking for suggestions based on his particular potential fit. Thanks in advance for any recommendations you might have.</p>
<p>BU is a destination school for bassists. If he is not committed to 2-3 hours of daily practice there, he may find that he is not up to the standards for getting into the better ensembles even if he is playing at conservatory level now. I am not all that familiar with the Rochester/Eastman scene, but would want to know whether the Eastman students take all available seats in the best groups there as well.</p>
<p>He may want to have a look at Bard. I know a couple of students there who are not in the conservatory but are very interested in music and they seem to like the place a lot.</p>
<p>A lot of the bigger and better known schools also have a fair share of circuit-rider teachers who have a very active performing career and teach at a couple of different schools.</p>
<p>Thanks BassDad. Do your comments about BU apply to jazz as well as classical? I don’t think he wants to practice at that level, despite his talent. </p>
<p>Son#1 was advised that Bard had a very active music program for noncon students but I’ve heard the campus is isolated (remember those old Steely Dan songs?) and that the students were “wealthy NYC metro hipsters.” I heard the same about Oberlin and found it not to be accurate. So we’ll add Bard to the list.</p>
<p>Sorry, I’m not familiar with the jazz scene at BU or Boston in general, but I know that there a lot of good bassists in that area. I would try to find out from someone who goes/has gone there whether or not he would have the kind of opportunities he is looking for.</p>
<p>I didn’t recommend Bard on this thread because of its location - it is isolated, there is no active college town - so if your son wants that - it’s not there. On the other hand, there is a really active music scene, both in and out of the conservatory, and the jazz faculty are full time. There are some great bass players in the college, at least one of whom plays in my son’s ensemble which is made up of students both in and out of the conservatory. Because of its isolation, there is always something going on on the campus - concerts all the time. It is possible to go to NYC for the occasional concert - but it’s a trek and expensive, which isn’t to say my son never goes! He just booked an entire section at the Met to hear Nixon in China with friends from colleges all over the northeast. As for being entirely NYC wealthy metro hipsters - the college is 14% international, they have the Posse program bringing in a great array of kids, they have lots of merit scholarships, as well as good financial aid, and kids come from all over the country, including my own - so, no, not everyone is wealthy or from NY. Are there some? Of course.</p>
<p>As for writing, Bard is fantastic for that.</p>
<p>We also have a musician at Oberlin, and a student at Colgate. Colgate is VERY isolated, and I would say your son would definitely have a harder time finding jazz musicians there playing at a super high level. It is a very preppy school, very very different from Oberlin. A happier medium would probably be Skidmore or Tufts. The schools you originally listed are great, but visits will be critical.</p>
<p>With senior hs year about to start, I thought I’d post an update. Son liked UMiami quite a bit, and Boston U also although we visited in the summer. It’s close so we will go back with school in session. If anyone here can comment on jazz at BU in general, and jazz bass in particular, I would appreciate it. Others visited: Tufts (not a good fit), Bates (a better fit but music did not dazzle), Bowdoin (not a great fit), Weslyan (a good fit -too close to home). We will visit older son at Oberlin in the fall and try a lesson with the excellent bass teacher there. I have no trouble imagining him as a double major there in writing/jazz bass.
Hamilton College- Michael Woods- Jazz Ensemble…a bass player -anyone know anything about jazz there? Bass? Jazz minor?</p>
<p>I’m looking for more schools like Oberlin…strong in musicand the arts…but not necessarily with a conservatory. I guess I am biased but Oberlin 's programs and facilities seem unmatched among smaller LA schools. Older son attended Skidmore summer institute so we are familiar with the school, also having met several of the regular p/t jazz faculty there. We will visit there, along with Bard, and Hamilton. Older son applied to Lawrence so we are familiar with their “jazz emphasis” but younger son won’t consider Wisconsin.
Other suggestions welcome.</p>
<p>I am the word’s worst typist- no apology required. </p>
<p>Thanks for the tips. </p>
<p>I have not been able to generate much enthusiasm from him for Bard. But, I am encouraging him to at least look at every place that could be a fit and the rest is up to him. I know the jazz scene there is supposed to be great.</p>
<p>He’s probably not enthusiastic about Bard because of its isolated location - since he feels he wants more a college town/city scene - which I can understand. But, as you have an older S at Oberlin, you know isolation can have its advantages.</p>
<p>Ithaca pops in my mind: Park School of Communications and their School of Music. The Bass teacher, Nick Walker is amazing. Plus the college town is fun.</p>
<p>SpiritManager: your comment is so true. My older son does not mind living in a bubble. I assume Bard is similar and we will visit, even if to satisfy my curiousity more than his.
Momofbassist: Good suggestion; we visited with older son and took notice of the bass teacher too; although older son is a pianist and they had no jazz piano teacher. Is this still true? And, I am wondering if son would have access to that teacher if he wasn’t a con student.</p>
<p>Jazz-parent: The Jazz program is open to all students. The students minoring in music do need to audition but you would have to check with Ithaca how they work lessons for students minoring in music. The bass studio is very competitive. They’ve had 100% yield for the last couple of years. Last year they had 36 audition and only accepted 4 who all chose to attend.</p>
<p><<last year=“” they=“” had=“” 36=“” audition=“” and=“” only=“” accepted=“” 4=“” who=“” all=“” chose=“” to=“” attend.=“”>>
That is amazing. Again, when we visited 2 years ago with older s, they had an acting jazz director and no jazz piano faculty or teacher. I mean no disrespect to the jazz program at Ithaca, just noting what I saw at that time. Nor have I looked to see what may have changed since then. We did see a performance by the bass teacher and he was impressive.</last></p>
<p>While I obviously can’t predict how S would do audition-wise in place or the other, I suspect he would get in to a good con or two somewhere. That said, I started this thread because he has the talent and ability, but not the requisite interest, in a con education and/or the music major. Conversely, we have found the level of jazz instruction and student ability wanting in some of the top LA schools we have visited. Older S was unsure of the conservatory route when it came time to choose, and is very happy with the decision he made 2 years ago.</p>
<p>The Ithaca’s 4/36 was for the Bass Studio overall not Jazz… The jazz program didn’t seem as strong. And they would let your son play Jazz without being in the school of music. It would be worth a shot. Nick Walker has been very busy working at summer programs and attracting Basssists from across the country. He also was one of the featured performances at this years Intl Society of Bassists convention. Ithaca was son’s first choice but he was waitlisted.</p>
<p>How about something like Furman? Good classical and jazz bassists there as well as strong LA. Decent scene in Greenville, Asheville is close. Could be a strong scholarship opportunity there. Belmont? University of Denver, Lamont school of music? USC?</p>