Trying to narrow down options for music major

[RussianMom]

I was going to mention USC and Rice, thank you, @MMRose!

[jazzpianodad]

My son was in the Columbia-Juilliard program - he was in the jazz program at Juilliard but knew a number of the Columbia-Juilliard students on the classical side. He’s now making a living as a full-time performing and teaching musician.

I’m sometimes reluctant to offer advice, as every student and situation is unique, but with that caveat, a couple of thoughts based on our experience with our son:

1. I would encourage you to let him find his own way. (I think a few others in this thread have offered similar advice.) Be there to support, and to advise if asked, but ultimately it’s his life and he needs to decide what direction he wants to take.

2. Don’t be afraid of a gap year. My son took a year between high school and college, and while some of our friends recoiled in horror (only a slight exaggeration), it was an important year for his musical development. I’m not advocating it, just saying that it’s there as an option and you shouldn’t be afraid of it.

3. A dual degree program can be a great choice for a student who wants the full academic college experience in addition to the intensive music, but it’s also a ton of work and requires a very high level of time management. For someone who is sure they want to make music their career, the music school / conservatory route is a more direct path.

Feel free to send me a PM if you have specific questions about the Columbia-Juilliard program - I can do my best to answer based on my son’s and his friends’ experiences.