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

jazzkat
Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:32:56 +0000

Nonmusicmom, in response to your question, my S will either go to IU or Eastman, depending on whether or not he gets into Eastman and what the financial package looks like if he does get in. He wants to study music at the highest level possible, and although VCU would be an acceptable choice and the least expensive (and one he was definitely willing to fall back on), it’s not on the level of the other two (or in your case, UNT or Peabody). The scholarship offer from IU makes IU acceptable for our family finances, so the difference in the money between IU and VCU is not a huge issue.

He decided against Temple, even though it has a stronger overall music program and higher reputation than VCU. I think Temple’s strength is due, in part, to the proximity of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the fact that a number of members of the Philadelphia Orchestra teach at Temple. As for jazz, several of the jazz faculty members are in the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and it seems to be a solid program, but definitely a notch down from the top jazz programs. For my S, it is important for classical studies to be integrated into the jazz curriculum, and the only places we found that to be the case are Eastman, Oberlin and, oddly enough, VCU. He’s having to compromise on that somewhat for IU, though IU did require a classical audition in addition to jazz, and the jazz piano professor there has degrees in both jazz and classical piano. Consequently, his lessons at IU would be split between jazz and classical, and the ratio between the two is apparently his choice.

I think the other comments about how many jazz musicians started out in classical music is a good point, so being among high level players and having some opportunity to be involved in jazz would be the ideal as long as the cost works for the family budget.