<p>I've just been accepted into the Harvard Class of 2016. I'm really excited, but one of my hesitations about going to Harvard is my fear that the band program isn't that great. Band has been really important to me in high school and in college (even though I don't plan to major in music) I want to continue playing jazz and classical saxophone in Jazz Band, jazz combos, Wind Ensemble, and small ensemble groups. I'd like to take saxophone and piano lessons, and also study composition.
How good are the Harvard Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble? How easy is it for Harvard students to participate in musical groups and/or lessons at Longy, Berklee School of Music or the New England Conservatory? Are there many instrumental music student groups (jazz or classical) at Harvard?
Thanks so much for your help</p>
<p>I can’t speak about jazz but there is a thriving classical scene. There are a number of opportunities from the HRO (professor led) to the Bach Soc (student conductor) and a variety of smaller groups such as the Dunster and Lowell House Opera Societies, Gilbert & Sullivan society, The Harvard Piano Society and I am sure I am merely scratching the surface. As a brass player of course there is the Harvard Band which is both quite excellent and fun. </p>
<p>Outside of Harvard student musicians gig and jam with musicians throughout the city-- and Boston has a thriving music culture-- you just need to jump on the T.</p>
<p>My S is a composer and there is the Harvard Composers’ Forum that meets a number of times each semester. Several times each year selected members get their works performed by a professional ensemble of new music folks. In addition there will be a program starting next year for freshmen to enter a lottery to get a Yamaha AvantGrand for their room so they can practice on a real piano (but with a headset so as to not disturb their roommates and others in their building) rather than having to find an open practice room.</p>
<p>I hope someone can address jazz for you–but I can tell you there is an increasing commitment under President Faust and Dean Hammonds to advance the arts.</p>
<p>Second Etondad! There’s a dual program with New Engaland Conservatory but you would have had to have applied along with your Harvard app…brutally hard to get admitted to. Possible to take classes at Berklee, know someone who did that for jazz guitar. He thought there was a great jazz scene. don’t know anything about Longy. Also certainly possible to get private instruction. And that is not even touching on the Boston music scene. There are in fact so many options, one can live, breathe music fulltime if that is your desire.</p>
<p>Not a great program, which is why my son isn’t going to Harvard. He didn’t want to do the NEC program. The jazz bands are sort of an after-thought at Harvard. The director runs the marching band as well. Son sat in on a jazz history class at Veritas. The instructor only covered cursory subjects, and the class wasn’t very engaging. Small class and yet she never tried to encourage discussion until the very end. All the kids were on Facebook or surfing the net. Actually, that was the case for almost all 10 classes he attended-large and small. Needless to say, he isn’t attending. 800 kids in an econ class! No thanks.</p>
<p>^
oy</p>
<p>Jazz Band Tenor alumni include Joshua Redman and Don Braden</p>
<p>They have two jazz bands - sax line in first band has been conservatory caliber</p>
<p>Call the directors to see how you will or won’t fit</p>