<p>could anyone tell me what schools offer vocal jazz? Doesn't seem to be too many.</p>
<p>University of North Texas, an excellent school for that discipline.</p>
<p>University of Maryland is very well known for their jazz voice department</p>
<p>Our research from last year is posted here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1107026-searching-jazz-voice-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1107026-searching-jazz-voice-schools.html</a></p>
<p>Does U Maryland have jazz voice? They have VP and Jazz Studies for some instruments but I don’t think Jazz voice.</p>
<p>To help you narrow down the choices a bit: Berklee (Boston), New School (NYC), New England Conservatory (NEC, Boston … although I haven’t checked this out, def. have master’s in jazz voice), McGill (Montreal, Canada), Loyola (New Orleans), U. of North Texas and I believe Uarts (Philly). </p>
<p>My daughter transferred from Boston U, which has an amazing classical voice program, to Berklee College of Music, which has Jazz, R&B, Rock, Gospel, and other vocal styles. </p>
<p>The schools that have jazz studies and voice may or may not have the kind of jazz voice you really want, so be sure to check them out to be sure it’s what you want. Jazz voice is very hard to find for undergrads, unlike classical voice.</p>
<p>@sread1 - In other threads you mention that you are in Texas and that your DD is also considering VP and MT. It sounds like she is trying to figure out her specialty. The obvious school to start with would be UNT, which has VP, Theater Arts, and Jazz voice. Another school that has all three is CCPA in Chicago. </p>
<p>Maybe I’m reading too much into your posts but you & DD might be in the same boat that we were in a few years ago. My DD started lessons with a classical voice teacher back in elementary school days. She worked on a wide range of music but mainly broadway and classical. DD performed in many community theater productions including some leading roles. DD sang with the local symphony orchestra choir (youngest member for an entire season) and was a soloist in an oratorio. Through a series of events (long story), DD became interested in jazz mid-high school. At the beginning of the college search, MT, VP and Jazz were all under consideration, just like it is for your DD. The scary part is that all three are very competitive, have different training/preparation and more lead time is better. </p>
<p>For my DD the jazz specialization became clearer over time. Last summer we switched voice teachers and were lucky to find an amazing PC jazz program. She had a good audition season and ultimately decided to attend JHU/Peabody where she can explore jazz in a small, concentrated program with highly accomplished faculty in the context of a historic conservatory. She can also take classical voice lessons and even minor in VP, if she chooses. Next week she starts her Freshman year - I’m a little emotional so don’t get me started!</p>
<p>Another thing I can share is that schools outside our area that were suggested to DD for jazz were U Miami/Frost, Western Michigan and UNT. </p>
<p>Good luck in your search!</p>
<p>My daughter participated this year in NYSSMA Level 6 for Voice (Classical, Italian opera). She got a score of 97, but would like to switch to the Vocal Jazz competition. Her voice teacher has not had any students in the jazz competition yet. Is this something she can prepare for on her own? She is a rising high school sophomore. I’m wondering what selections she would have to choose from and what level she should start at? This is not something she’s planning on majoring in for college. Just something she’s good at and has fun with. Any suggestions are welcome!</p>
<p>It works a little differently in every state so YMMV in NY. We are in New England.</p>
<p>The adjudication of 100 points is 4 parts of jazz ballad, improvising, vocal etude and sight singing.</p>
<p>The biggest difference is the improvising. I’d recommend your D learn a blues scale to use in the scat.</p>
<p>All of our Allstate songs came from the Jamey Aebersold jazz series of play-a-long book & CD. One of those books would be a good source to practice some songs. Last year’s Allstate song for us was Embraceable You.</p>
<p>Best of luck to your D! </p>
<p>By the way I’d like to correct something I said earlier. It does not look like D will be able to add a VP minor because the conservatory will not allow two performance degrees. However she will be able to add a classical voice lesson and additional classes.</p>
<p>Thank you, LGS Mom. I am familiar with the Jamey Abersold series from my son who plays jazz guitar. I will take a look for a voice version. :)</p>
<p>Western Michigan has a really successful vocal jazz program. Recent grads are landing jobs all over, and two WMU grads jumpstarted the vocal jazz ensemble program at NEC in the past few years. Really, really worth a look.</p>
<p>FenderMom,</p>
<p>There are Aebersold books that are specific for vocals but there are also some that are for both instrumentalists and vocalists. If your S is using them you might have one on your shelf already!</p>
<p>Thanks, LGS Mom. I will pull them out and see. She really wants to sing the old standards. Whatever NYSSMA song she chooses, she can sing at her spring concert at school, so we’re choosing with that in mind. I’m most concerned about the vocal improvisation and the scatting for NYSSMA. Not even sure where I would begin to find someone who could teach her that. We’re limited in our area here in suburban NY.</p>
<p>FenderMom, how exciting. Don’t you just love the old jazz standards? Maybe this will be a whole new love for her.</p>
<p>When my DD is learning a new standard she often listens to a variety of versions from artists on youtube and itunes.</p>
<p>Also the book Scat! by Bob Stoloff is very good. You can watch Bob scat on youtube too.</p>