Hello Everyone! I truly appreciate this forum as a resource. Thank you for sharing your college admissions process on this board. My son wants to attend a BMUS program for Jazz Studies/Performance. He’s also very interested in Music Technology and wants to learn his way around a recording studio. Any advice on colleges that would give him the opportunity to study jazz and explore music technology?
My son is a rising sophomore who plays Alto Sax and has been asked to take on Tenor Sax for his school’s Jazz Ensemble in the fall. He will attend Interlochen’s Summer Camp Jazz Program next month. He’s very dedicated to music (much more than academics tbh) and consistently improves as a musician. It’s hard to guess where his skill level will be by the time he’s a senior.
For college, we’re taking a debt-free approach, so we are encouraging him to seriously consider public colleges (SUNY Purchase, CUNY - City College, Montclair State, William Petersen). However, he prefers standalone conservatories (like Berklee), because he wants to avoid core curriculum courses (and he thinks those schools more selective and impressive). He would need close to a full scholarship to make those programs work. Any advice on colleges to consider and opportunities/things we should do in the next couple of years to set him up for success would be much appreciated!
Your son should be able to get a lot of great advice and input from the faculty at Interlochen this summer.
My son (not jazz) followed a similar path several years ago, attending Interlochen for the summer after Sophomore year. It confirmed for him that he wanted to pursue a Music Performance degree. And we were also very much looking for merit. The prof at Interlochen gave us a great start.
Hope your son has an amazing summer. 
My son too thought he wanted a stand alone and to not “do academics.” He did a myriad of summer college camps and decided he like the college experience/campus etc. His decision was very teacher driven but he also liked the “vibe” and feel of where he wound up. He got into Berklee, Frost, NYU, but ultimately wound up at Univ of North Texas and LOVES it. He is jazz guitar. He goes for literal pennies bc they offer in state tuition if you receive a scholarship over 1k. When he went to camp there he was really struck by the statement one professor made “get into music not into debt.” He did summer camps at Berklee, Eastman, NYU and UNT. Miami/Frost has one as well but he didn’t do it. The irony is that he wound up at the school that requires the most core academic credits lol…but he loves it.
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FYI my son sits in in the sax studio all the time bc the sax professor is phenomenal. He offers them (any instrument) feedback during office hours. Also, the gigs are plentiful vs colleges in oversaturated music markets
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@BeverlyWest are you the one who has a jazz player at Loyola NOLA? Perhaps you might have some feedback here.
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No one ever thinks this will be them when they’re chasing the dream, but I know several Berklee alums who are no longer professional musicians. It’s a tough career, especially jazz. It’s nice to have other marketable skills.
My son is a double degree music ed/performance at Ithaca and I am shocked at how few academic classes he is taking. Look at the curriculums at different schools and see what you can find out. You may be surprised. We were too scared for him to apply to Berklee in case he wanted to transfer, I have heard that classes there aren’t easily transferable.
Thank you for this. It’s great to learn about another strong jazz program. The saxophone professor seems amazing in the videos we’ve found. We’re definitely adding it to the list of schools to consider.
We’ve heard great things about Ithaca and they seem to actively recruit students at his school. Will add it to the list. Thank you!
Also, what were your son’s favorite camps?
Thank you! It’s great to know there will be another resource we can seek advice from. Where is your son attending?
Ithaca is wonderful. They actually hired away UNT’s director of bands last year and the kids just love him. Great things to come for this program. That said — if your child is at the UNT level for jazz (i.e. top national player), Ithaca Jazz may not be enough for them.