thenosam

Jazzguitar,
You’re right…teaching/directing high school (someday college level?) musicians provides two unique opportunities: a tremendous chance to make a difference in many young lives, paid summer months off to explore and further your other passions. Almost everyone has experienced their own or someone else’s life direction dramatically influenced or profoundly changed because of the inspiration of a truly great teacher or director.
You already have passion and enthusiasm to make a lasting impression on people. Whatever path or school you choose, I am sure that you will have an impact.

cheerios1120

My 17 year old son is a jazz drummer and is seriously considering William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. Several of his teachers and a performer that he has been following closely have all graduated from their jazz school and highly recommend it. Other options are Berklee, NYU, New School and Cal Arts. Might want to check out WPU - close to NYC jazz scene. Not terribly expensive either.

BassDad

William Paterson has an excellent jazz program that shares some teachers with better-known music schools in New York City. They run a very good summer jazz camp for high school age students that would be a great way to explore the school for those not already headed into senior year. Be aware that it is a moderately large school (about 10,000) which can be good or bad depending on what you want, and that it is by and large a commuter campus with something like 98% of their students coming from within the state of New Jersey. More than half the freshmen commute from home and very few students continue to live on campus after freshman year.