Hello there jazz people. I wanted to start a new thread where we chat about current summer jazz programs for high school and maybe even college students: the good, the bad, the ugly. What have your experiences been? Any full endorsements, just meh or absolute horror stories?
I have a college junior studying jazz. Guitar. In order of fave to least:
UNT jazz combo: closest to what one would experience as a college jazz major with audition and ensemble placement. Week culminates with a performance. By far the least expensive AND about the same as Berklee with flights/hotels (for mom). We are across the country.
Litchfield Jazz Camp: People from all over the country travel to this camp.
Berklee Guitar sessions: VERY disorganized, very strict if under 17 as far as curfew to room, etc (especially wanting to jam at night) BUT a great experience. He did it between Jr/Sr year and was given a really large college scholarship at the end of program.
Eastman jazz: fine
Others on our radar but didnt have time: NYU and Frost
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My son did the Jazz camp at FSU, the one at UM Frost, UNT, Brevard (lots of folks rom Michigan State are here) and the Brubeck Jazz Summit (this is in Tahoe and is really amazing). He’s an alternate for NYO Jazz this year but I doubt he’ll get to go to Japan.
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How were Brevard and Frost? Interested in everything; how was the day organized, biggest positives (of negatives). Considering both right now.
And congrats on being named as an alternate for NYO. It’s a biggie!
My son really enjoyed Brevard last year. You are able to have private lessons, the scenery is fantastic. It really is in the middle of nowhere in NC. I barely heard from my son the entire time he was there.
It’s been a few years since he did Frost and it supposedly is WAY better than when my son went. It was super disorganized when he did it but that was like 3 years ago. Back then you really weren’t working with faculty, but I believe that’s totally different now.
You can’t go wrong with either option. I will say that Brevard does offer scholarships so that does help bring the cost down.
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Where does he study now? And does he love his school.
We did a UNT jazz combo camp. Loved it!!!
Considering Berklee too possibly, but so expensive!!!
He is a junior at UNT and has had nothing short of an amazing experience. The music is demanding and he puts in countless hours of practice so it’s nice that the rigor of the gen ed requirements is not off the charts. He is getting a university degree but the focus is 100% on music. He liked the fact that he had to work pretty hard to get in their top ensemble having always been a big fish in a little pond in high school. The challenge was good for him. He actually worked the camp past two summers and prob will again this one. If you have any questions about UNT or his application/audition season feel free to pm me. We start up again this coming year for grad school!
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This is amazing. Thank you! Definitely will be reaching out as my jazz pianist kid will be applying to UNT next year for undergrad.