<p>I know that Rice University has a very prestigious music program in Texas, but what other colleges in Texas are a good program for instrumental music education?</p>
<p>UNT, UT and Houston Moores School of Music.</p>
<p>Lesser known but decent are Lamar and Stephen F Austin.</p>
<p>Austin College in Sherman and Trinity in San Antonio both have excellent programs.l Sam Houston State in Huntsville has a strong program with a rising Musical Theatre department and they are the only school in Texas that offers an undergraduate Music Therapy degree. Texas State in San Marcos has a very nice program and I understand that composition is a specialty there. </p>
<p>But the most highly regarded program is the one at UNT in Denton. Their jazz program is one of the best in the country and the lab bands are legendary. The only thing negative I’ve heard recently is that they are feeling the economic pinch and there is not a whole lot of money flowing through the program–at least that’s what I hear from my daughter’s voice teacher who got her BM and MM there. And UT-Austin’s Butler School of Music is working very hard to raise the profile of the music school: they received a 50million dollar endowment a couple years ago (thus the name of the school!) and they are spending it. Since my daughter is guaranteed acceptance at the Univeristy we are going to audition early in November–I can tell more later!</p>
<p>Sadly, despite all my best efforts I cannot get her to consider UNT as it is right down the road from us! But it is extremely affordable, they take AP credit with scores at 3 and above and it is well worth pursuing!</p>
<p>UNT is legendary for music and has a phenomenal program that encompasses everything from medieval ensembles to electronic music. The music facilities, private practice halls and performing arts center dominate the campus. The jazz studies program, as others have mentioned here, is arguably the finest department at a public university and also the largest, with 400+ majors. Despite the size, most UNT music majors would attest that they receive plenty of individual instruction. For international and out-of-state students is also an affordable choice, with scholarship recipients (over $1000) receiving in-state tuition rates.
The downside? Denton is a modest town with little culture to offer, except for a few clubs that host “jazz” jam sessions
UNT should be a “must see” school for anyone interested in a great music education.</p>
<p>With two student musicians growing up in the Houston area, I can vouch for the quality of the instrumental Music Educators that U of H is turning out.</p>
<p>Any comments regarding recent experience or knowledge of UNT vs UT for the jazz performance (sax) program? Son is leaning more to UNT due to reputation and large #s of great players to learn, play and compete with. Thanks!</p>
<p>My daughter is a sax player (plays all woodwinds) and knows a number of sax players who went to UNT. They all speak very highly of the program, but it has been more than 20 years since any of them attended it. Look up the degrees of the sax professors in Texas and elsewhere and you will find many UNT graduates. If your son plans on doubling (which he will have to if he wants to be a jazz sax player) you will find that many of the legendary doublers (i.e. Dan Higgens) got their degress from UNT.</p>
<p>My daughter will get her performance degree in classical sax or oboe, but if she was going to study jazz, she would definitely have put UNT as one of her top choices.</p>
<p>kingcurtis,</p>
<p>My son is finishing up his freshman year at UNT in jazz studies and it has been everything he could have hoped for. Good instruction and much opportunity for playing. It is competitive, but in a good way, makes you practice and get better. I was surprised when he came home at Xmas break that Lab Band auditions are done every semester, so you get a chance to move up (or back :-P)), they don’t let you rest on your laurels. My only disappointment is it is so far away that we parents wouldn’t be able to see a concert without making a plane trip…but I guess that’s not what it’s all about!</p>
<p>Dear JazzTromboneMom and Woodwinds,</p>
<p>Great info, thanks so much!</p>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I’m getting a head start on all my school searches and have come to two different schools but can’t find anything saying that one music school is better that the other. I have been looking at UT’s Butler School of Music and really like what is said about it and what it has to offer. I’d like to get some kind of degree in Piano performance. Specifically the piano. I want to really take it as far as I can and make something out of it. Their instructors clearly have the credentials to teach and they have also graduated many students who have gone on and become world known concert musicians. The other school is Texas State at San Marcos School of Music. I really haven’t been able to find a lot about this school other than the general information that they try to sell you one. Does anybody have any thoughts? Everything is pointing towards UT that it is a better School and choice. Please respond with any comments about these schools and how they compare musically. I have seen their academics and where they size up nationally and UT has a whole bunch to offer with a lot of their degrees ranking in the top 10 in the nation.</p>