Northwestern University

fiddlestix
Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:55:51 +0000

I noticed that no one has offered SJTH any info on NU’s new jazz faculty & reinstated program. Haven’t any inside info, but I did notice this concert announcement on their website:

"Pick-Staiger Concert Hall will host the Bienen School of Music Jazz Faculty Concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13. The concert will debut Northwestern’s new director of jazz studies Victor Goines, who was previously artistic director of the jazz program at the Juilliard School. A jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, Goines has collaborated with many celebrated musicians, including Stevie Wonder, Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Charles. New jazz faculty trombonist Elliot Mason, pianist Peter Martin, bassist Carlos Henriquez, drummer Herlin Riley and tenor saxophonist Christopher Madsen will join Goines on stage. "

Not that I know anything about jazz education, but I’d read the announcement as an attempt to interest the public in NU’s program. (I’m open to correction if wrong and I do enjoy jazz, just don’t do the medium myself.)

I wouldn’t hesitiate for a moment to contact NU and the Jazz Dept specifically if I wanted the type of info that SJTH is looking for. The questions are all valid - there should be special interest given the recent history of jazz at NU and NU should be willing to entertain the concerns. I’d even go so far as to insist on talking to Goines (or other faculty member if more relevant) if I was considering coming from a distance to look at the school.

Often the 1st contact offered thru Admissions or a general info number is a work study student who may have very little info on any concern held by applicants. My classical violin students have had good luck contacting the head of violin or string dept directly (phone or e-mail) with questions about the school or auditions.