Son accepted into 5 very different trumpet programs...what next?

Steve_M
Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:54:59 +0000

One thing to keep in mind with UNT is that while the overall music department is huge, within various departments the sense of community is very strong. For jazz trumpet majors (BM performance - jazz studies) typically the undergrads are studying with full-time faculty, not TA’s. TA’s are more typically teaching brass/Music Ed majors who must also play in the marching band.
Any trumpet player getting into UNT’s jazz program with a modest scholarship (hence in-state tuition) will surely make one of the lab bands by his or her second or third semester and there are tons of jams and recitals all of the time. I think it’s important to keep in mind that there are always smaller schools where our kids might start off playing in the main ensemble, even as the 1st chair player - but after four or five years of smooth sailing, will they have learned how to compete in the harsh world of performance music?
My freshman son, admittedly not a trumpet player, is getting loads of playing time with many older players of greater ability and even some faculty - more experience than I would have expected at this stage of his education. Both of us are pleased with “year one” in UNT jazz studies - it’s a big program for a good reason. It’s really excellent and a great value.