<p>We’ve since done a brief visit, in October, of the conservatory and spent a night in the neighborhood, which is very nice [Mount Vernon Square]. Not many students around when we were there, as it was a Sunday morning, and I think they were on their fall weekend. But we talked our way in and did a self-tour of the buildings; as much as possible, that is, as most of the performance spaces were locked. The buildings are very elegant.</p>
<p>I later sent my son down to spend the day with jazz trumpet professor Dr. Alexander Norris and to meet some of the other jazz students. Apparently it went pretty well because he now has Peabody on his A-list.</p>
<p>Read this, if you haven’t already: [Jazz</a> Articles: Michael Formanek: Practice What You Teach ? By Geoffrey Himes ? Jazz Articles](<a href=“http://jazztimes.com/articles/26517-michael-formanek-practice-what-you-teach]Jazz”>http://jazztimes.com/articles/26517-michael-formanek-practice-what-you-teach)</p>
<p>The jazz program is dwarfed by the classical program there, but, from what I’ve gathered, it’s on the way up. Upper classmen encountered by my son said there are plenty of chances to gig in Baltimore and Washington.</p>
<p>It was an easy and inexpensive fight to BWI [from Providence], and he took the light rail right from the airport to the Mount Vernon Square neighborhood.</p>
<p>None of us have visited the JHU campus yet, which is a couple of miles away; maybe when he auditions next year.</p>