<p>My son has been accepted to Oberlin Con. and Michigan State as a jazz studies major, piano. (he is wait-listed at UMich). He has played piano since 1st grade, but only got interested in jazz about 2 1/2 years ago, and really has an ear. Chops need some work. </p>
<p>Oberlin would be a great place for him. He got a $6,000 merit scholarship. He fits in with the students, likes the professor, practice rooms (with Steinways) are amazing, could get a double degree pretty easily in non-music as a backup plan to making a living as a jazz musician, and would love to go here if money were no object. Cost $52k - $6k = $46 k, for probably 5 years</p>
<p>MSU - piano teacher is great and enthusiastic about my son, MSU is a good school, more difficult to get a double degree than Oberlin, practice rooms and pianos seem crummy (small rooms, old pianos). Merit scholarship $8k, so cost $20k - $8k = $12k</p>
<p>Oberlin would be a big sacrifice $-wise, but doable for us. Is it worth it over MSU?</p>
<p>As for my own $.02, if the disparity in costs is not a major stumbling block, then I would seriously consider Oberlin. It would depend of course on how “doable” is “doable”. More jazz knowledgeable folks may well tell you otherwise, and I would bow to that opinion.</p>
<p>Speaking from a classical double-degree parent’s experience, I can vouch for the fact that the double degree program is definitely doable at Oberlin - about 30-40 are accepted into the program each year, and about half finish it.
It requires careful planning to fit in all the courses - there is a 17 unit maximum per semester and, at least in classical music, 4 or more per semester are taken up by applied studies (lessons/studio). Historically a few students have finished in 4 years, probably because they maxed out on AP’s, which Oberlin accepts to meet breadth requirements. Most take 5 years.<br>
The new jazz facility is giving a huge boost to the jazz department - in terms of practice and recording space, visibility on the campus, and prestige for the program.</p>
<p>Absolutely brilliant thinking, sagiter. Btw, I know of an excellent singer who turned down Curtis for a free ride at Michigan State. His career is going along just fine, rather excellently, really.</p>
<p>^That offer is one way to get some skin in the game
I live in Michigan and have read several stories about Michigan State’s fiscal woes, which might concern me were I in your shoes, given the music therapy and jazz vocal cuts already made to the department. (I should note U of Mich is not having the same problems because its endowment is generous enough to maintain funding without being overly harmed by the state’s drop to a mere 22% operational contribution – so there’s still time to get off that wait list
What type of second degree would interest your son, and is it available at Oberlin? Nice liberal arts program. But if he were the type to look at Engineering or some such, then Michigan State might make more sense.
“Doable” is not the same as “preferable” I know, but Oberlin seems to have some awesome advantages, eg. the TIMARA courses, etc, (Technology in Music and Recording Arts) and if they have elections across fields the way U. Mich does, I would think a jazz pianist might enjoy access to those courses.</p>
<p>If TIMARA courses at Oberlin are a point of interest, I would recommend asking some detailed questions. I have heard students say that they are often oversubscribed and can be difficult to get into for non-TIMARA majors.</p>
<p>;) Only my own lens, BassDad. The OP did not mention same. That said, those type of courses are over-subscribed at Michigan as well, particularly for non-majors, since once musicians actually get there, they all realize the value of technological currency. Pianists are particularly well adapted to muck around with electronic composition/sound synthesis, and I cannot tell you the number of times McSon has wished he’d had early and proper training in same (as he prepares tonight for a piano exam worth 30% of his grade, according to his latest text ;)</p>
<p>There’s been a winter term Timara course, intro to electronic music, for the past several years; from there, it is easier to gain entry into the TIMARA courses, as I understand it.</p>
<p>Sopranomom92, we know a timpanist (sp?) who turned down Curtiss for UMich, he wanted a big school experience and is having an absolute ball at college.</p>
