<p>We are looking for schools for a singer (junior in hs) who is good at all styles and cannot seem to decide what she wants to do/sing ultimately. Has made All-Northwest Jazz Choir and ranked as Soprano for state. In many choirs, plays piano, also has done studio singing and loves it. She would like a program with jazz/contemporary music but ALSO with classical voice training. Does not want to be an opera singer so that rules out most voice performance programs. Definitely will major in music, and conservatory–type programs are OK, but parents would prefer her to go to a LAC. Programs we have found which come closest -- with possibility for mixed classical/contemporary study -- are U Miami (studio music and jazz vocal major) UNT (jazz includes classical training first 2 years). Berklee and New School do not seem to do classical voice training (Does belt hurt your voice??) tho good on jazz/contemp. Also no guarantee of dorm housing which is a concern. Other schools like USC, Michigan, NEC seem to have one jazz vocal prof on faculty. Any suggestions of schools or advice would be appreciated. Any location!</p>
<p>Christine Solerno at Lawrence has had good success with jazz vocalists. They offer a BM degree with an emphsis in Jazz and Improvisational Music. The conservatory is within the LAC and music students are required to take a core liberal arts curriculum in addition to their music courses. I would encourage you to review the conservatory website for more information. Good luck.</p>
<p>Ditto Lawrence. They have had consistently strong vocal jazz with individuals receiving Downbeat Awards in the last couple years. Because of the smaller size of the conservatory, the teachers by necessity tend to be cooperative in their sharing of students who wish to pursue more than one musical area. I had the impression from my son that many of the top jazz vocal students were combining a BM in Performance with the Music Ed program. </p>
<p>This is a residential university so housing is guaranteed. The students enjoy a high quality of life as they have the benifits of a small LAC combined with the amenities of a medium sized city. Transportation to shopping, movie theaters, and airport are readily available.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reference to Lawrence. Sounds good but this can't be the only quality music department that lets you mix jazz and classical voice...Any others? Will any schools let you design your own music major after you get there? Any other schools where the faculty are known for cooperation or letting students follow a slightly different path?</p>
<p>My son is a music industries major at Loyola University New Orleans. Despite a rocky start his freshman year (he was a Katrina evacuee and spent fall semester at a university in CA), he is very pleased with the school, the program and the faculty. </p>
<p><a href="http://music.loyno.edu/music/%5B/url%5D">http://music.loyno.edu/music/</a></p>
<p>The College of Music has a vocal performance major. From their website:
The Loyola Chorale, Chamber Singers, and University Chorus perform demanding repertoire and afford many solo opportunities for qualified students. Loyola Opera Theatre provides stage experience in a wide variety of repertoire extending from musical comedy and operetta to fully staged opera productions with an orchestra.</p>
<p>My son is the drummer in the Loyola Jazz Band and he is having a fabulous experience. Last spring, the group performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazzfest) and we will be heading down there to see it happen again this April. The jazz legend and head of the Marsalis Family, Ellis Marsalis, is on the faculty, as is his son, Delfeayo Marsalis (trombone), who was my sons jazz combo teacher. They have weekly forums open to the public that feature speakers from all areas of music. Recent speakers have included executives from Warner Brothers and Carnival Cruise Lines as well as the great jazz musician, Terence Blanchard.</p>
<p>Loyola requires all students to complete a Common Curriculum in the liberal arts in addition to their major. Freshmen are required to live in campus housing.</p>
<p>Also a plug for New Orleans
it is not the total disaster that you see on TV.
As noted on one of their local restaurant sites, the day before Hurricane Katrina, there were 809 restaurants open. (The total included only restaurants that cook and serve a menu of food on premises, and not be a fast-food operation.) As of yesterday, 709 were open. </p>
<p>I have been to NOLA twice since Katrina: October 2005 and April 2006. I have certainly seen untold devastation. But the entire city is not in shambles and some areas, like the Quarter and Uptown (location of Tulane and Loyola), had minimal damage. The St. Charles streetcars are scheduled to resume in January. Snug Harbor, Tipitinas and the Spotted Cat are open for music. I urge you to support the rebuilding by visiting.</p>
<p>Nice post JDM. Thought I'd put in a plug for the Jazz Archives at Tulane, literally right next door to Loyola.</p>
<p>Nice post JDM. Thought I'd put in a plug for the Jazz Archives at Tulane, literally right next door to Loyola.</p>
<p>Sorry about the megaposting as the computer hic-upped and must be running on its own meter today!!!!!</p>