<p>Hello all, I am currently a freshmen in a university music program, majoring in Jazz Guitar and am not entirely satisfied with my experience here (the actual education is fine, but the college is in a rather suburban environment–just houses, another school and bars-- which in no way agrees with me). I’ve compiled a list of schools I am considering applying to but am a bit aprehensive about having a broader choice of schools (last year I only applied to 3 audition programs and about 8 other LAC’s or universities as I was not sure where I wanted to go and, after deciding I want a very focused program, only had two choices). Because it definitely matters, I am a strong player and reader (the latter of which only seems to be important at auditions if its a problem though), but definatly not a top player (yet).
the list is
Berklee (already accepted, auditioning for a scholarship but I think it is too big to get a strong education)
THe New School for Jazz
UARTS
City College of New York
Temple University
NYU
Roosevelt University
Is this a balanced list, and are there any other schools (preferably not very difficult to get into) that have a similar environment (the ideal environment-wise being NYU, Berklee, the New School-- a dispersed urban lack of campus. but any college in a metropolitan area with a respectable music department is an option). also, does anyone know anything about the strength of the jazz program at CCNY or UARTS and how competetitive they are? I know UARTS has Jimmy Bruno who is a very strong guitarist and has played with the likes of Buddy Rich and Frank Sinatra, but i haven’t heard of the school until recently and I know CCNY has John Pattitucci (sp?) on faculty but I do not know how strong the guitar instructer/the other instructers are/is there. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t go by the names that universities say they “have”. For instance, Jimmy Bruno is a family friend of mine and I have taken many lessons from him, and he is rarely at UArts. He may show up for a master class or workshop every semester, but it’s not like he is a teacher there.</p>
<p>thank you very much, i may well apply to duquense depending on whether or not they require both classical and jazz (I am starting classical lessons next semester but doubt i can aquire the chops neccesary for a college audition in 2-3 months at most), and the website is unclear (stating you can do both a performance audition and a jazz audition and then listing jazz requirements for guitar both under performance and jazz). Im also unclear about ensembles, the degree plan only mentions ‘large ensembles’, does duqense have combos that are not in the degree plan? or is the focus more on big band playing?</p>
<p>On the music events page for December 1st the Duquense University Jazz Combos were playing at a Jazz club in Pittsburgh and I know all the professors were all professional jazz musicians in town so sounds like tehre are plenty of opportunities for small combos. The music admissions director (Troy Centofanto) there is a really nice person so I would contact him about the auditions. I do know that you have to pass the music theory exam at some point before joining the department and it does look like you have to pass a classical as well as jazz audition.</p>
<p>The jazz faculty at Roosevelt is awesome. My son (a high school sr.) is taking lessons from John Moulder the jazz guitar teacher there. He is great. My son didn’t apply to Roosevelt because he wanted someplace more academically challenging. He did apply to DePaul and also really likes the teacher there also.</p>
<p>Check out LOyola in New Orleans, where you will find jazz everywhere! They have the Thelonius Monk Institue and you are in an awesome city filled with culture and music! Plus, if there is a hurricane, you get to go experience another Lyola university in another city, like LA or Chicago!</p>
<p>“Plus, if there is a hurricane, you get to go experience another Lyola university in another city, like LA or Chicago!”
Don’t count on it…my D went through this and both campuses took a VERY limited amount of students(and only if you had applied there before) and neither campus has a substantial music school.
(though I do still think that Loyola N.O. is a great opportunity otherwise)</p>
<p>We know a young man who is a freshman at Berklee for jazz guitar, and loves it. If you are already in there, I would really think about it. It is big, but like any large place, there are ways in which it gets broken down into smaller units. Boston is an amazing city for students, and there are lots of things going on. I have heard someone say that the music scene in Boston may not be as wide as NYC, but it is deep. Good luck!</p>
<p>Laura, I almost literally laughed out loud. I’m at Loyola right now. The programs very strong (if VERY traditional), but without a car i’m kind of trapped uptown (last night me and some friends spent one hour waiting for the streetcar to get downtown to no avail and eventually gave up when it started pouring).
and compmom, I am seriously considering it and I’m in the process of scheduling a scholarship audition but in addition to being very big, its also very very very expensive.</p>