Hello all! I was fortunate enough to be accepted into Harvard yesterday and am quite excited at possibly attending! However, jazz music is one of my greatest passions and I plan on continuing it through my college years with a possible jazz minor. I was wondering if anyone could describe what the Harvard jazz scene as like, or if there are any good opportunities with Berklee that don’t require the dual degree program (I did not apply for it). I know the jazz department at Harvard is not world renowned or anything close, but am still hoping for there to be enough quality faculty and respurces for me to continue being able to explore/grow my passion.
Call Berklee
They won’t bite
I would be really surprised if you couldn’t apply for the joint degree program after you had been there a year. In a way, that would be a much better time to apply, because you would have a better sense of what was involved, and what you wanted to do.
Also, in addition to Berklee you may want to check out the New England Conservatory of Music, which has a longstanding joint program with Harvard.
I don’t think you are going to find a “jazz department,” a “jazz minor,” or anything like that at Harvard. There’s probably a jazz person. I think they do have a basic year-long course that includes performance, and there are probably some other music courses or African-American Studies courses that address jazz, at least somewhat. There will also be some other people like you – students who love jazz and want to play and perform but are not dedicating their lives to it, at least not yet.
One younger friend of mine went to Penn with a very similar attitude. In addition to playing with other students, in formal groups or impromptu jam sessions, he had a great time hanging around jazz clubs in Philadelphia, going to open-mic nights, getting hired sometimes to fill in for missing band members in gigs. He was very satisfied with his experience . . . but he more or less abandoned playing jazz on a regular basis after he graduated.
Look up Vijay Iyer, who is on faculty.
Harvard has increased applied music in recent years,with credit for lessons and performance. The music department also changed the curriculum recently to be more inclusive and diverse, so that students can follow their own path so to speak. So it could be a fit.
Also:
You can apply to dual degree next year
You can study with Berklee or NEC or Boston Conservatory faculty privately, on your own.
Harvard Monday Night Jazz Band alum here. While the students in the jazz band here won’t be as focused (all that pesky schoolwork), you will have plenty of opportunities to play. And if you don’t find enough, you’ll be able to create them for yourself. A few big names have come out of Harvard, like Joshua Redman and Don Braden, but most students in the band see it as a sideline. I know numerous successful doctors, bankers, and lawyers that were HMNJB alums. Give the director (Yosvany Terry) a call. I’m sure he will be willing to talk to you. Make an appointment to see him at Visitas.
Vijay Iyer – wow! I didn’t know he was on the Harvard faculty. That’s a heck of a “jazz guy.” (Obviously, they have at least two, counting Terry as well.)