<p>Hi there I was recently told to not limit myself to graduate jazz programs that were solely based on the east coast (particularly north east) so I decided to look out west…besides USC which isn’t for me I discovered cal arts and I was very impressed with what they stood for and the opportunities there within the school!
I was so impressed that I had an hour long phone convo with one of their more successful alumni!
I want to visit but I just don’t see how Los Angeles has a thriving jazz scene (pop/rock/film score yes) compared to nyc philly or even boston…however the program and environment seems like a unique opportunity! Anybody know anything or have thoughts on this little cultural hub known as calarts?!</p>
<p>Um, yes, we have jazz in LA. Enough so that I have more than one neighbor making a full time living as a jazz artist. (And we have classical music, and every other sort of music you could ever imagine). I don’t know what you mean by “little cultural hub”. But you live in the east and I will give you a pass. Cal Arts itself is isolated in Valencia and not in Los Angeles (as opposed to USC and UCLA) but has an important presence downtown via RED CAT. <a href=“http://www.redcat.org%5B/url%5D”>www.redcat.org</a></p>
<p>BTW—are you also aware of [Thelonious</a> Monk Institute of Jazz - College](<a href=“http://www.monkinstitute.org/education/college/index2.php]Thelonious”>http://www.monkinstitute.org/education/college/index2.php) at UCLA?</p>
<p>Yes im familiar with all of those things musica and i wasnt trying to down play LA at all…otherwise i wouldnt be looking at the area or the schools…and i know calarts isnt located LA <em>but close enough</em>. Im just saying compared to with to some cities such NYC ive Heard (not saying its true) but ive heard theres not as much of a jazz scene…and yes this came out of a LA resident who was also a Monk finalist…i know there is jazz clubs like blue whale and redcat is a cool thing through cal arts…and by cultural hub i simply meant a mixture of artistic cultures, careers and backgrounds…nothing to do with ethnicity or anything…but I still think LA is more known for its Rock/POp/entertainment which can go along with classical scene of course…then jazz…but all things aside do you know anything about calarts in itself? sorry if i offended</p>
<p>My son was at USC in the jazz guitar program for two years and while he liked the faculty, the program was just not for him. He transferred to CalArts and loves it at CalArts. He said he can’t think of another program that would better for him. djalabingo, if you pm me your e-mail I will ask my son to contact you.</p>
<p>djala----fugidaboutit, CC boards tend to be skewed towards an east of the Rockies POV, especially here on the Music thread. I was being a little snarky to make a point. 
Since Los Angeles is spread out, it can be difficult to get the scope of the arts scene. It does, however, encourage and facilitate networking. You learn to make your own individual opportunities and “scene”.
I do think Cal Arts has one of the most interesting and dynamic music programs in the country.</p>
<p>CalArts indeed has one of the country’s most distinctive music programs. Very open and progressive, and with very “West Coast” experimental aesthetics.</p>
<p>But as been pointed out; it is pretty isolated, in the woods/mountains north of LA. And if you’re an East Coast person, you probably have very different ideas of what “commute” or “traffic” connote. There is no such expression as “go to the city” in SoCal. Everything sprawls, and this lack of urban centricities is one of the biggest culture-shock elements of newcomers used to East Coast/European cities.</p>
<p>That said, I’d say the jazz scene in the LA area can certainly hold its own to NYC, and probably surpasses those of Boston or Philly.</p>
<p>Earlgr8 thanks for the info! Everyone talking about this urban sprawl has confused me…not to get off topic about calarts but Is there no downtown hub I guess you could say? And I guess what is traffic really like… I know NYC and Boston can get hectic but LA must be A different level! In general what are the best neighborhoods to live in? Expensive? etc anything you guys wannA tell me about LA…is it more artist driven or top 40 entertainment driven. What’s the music like compared to say NYC? I heard it was easier to somewhat “get a foot in” and make a living in LA compared to NYC! Really trying to make a big move between the two but cal arts in general seems like the school for me! 
if I can get in…it might be numbers game since its so small</p>