Wesleyan’s Jazz program is one part of a ground-breaking approach to Ethnomusicology, probably one of the university’s most widely respected academic specialties. It is taught within the context of the uniquely African-American contribution to World Music. Other branches include, Western classical music; new and experimental music; Indonesian, Indian and European and American music outside the art tradition.
Majors are encouraged to experiment with performance across the whole array of ensembles and orchestras; each one essentially designs their own course of study. The department is chaired by Jay Hoggard, the world-renowned vibraphonist and Wesleyan alum.
The music scene at Wesleyan is pretty free-wheeling and constantly attracts visitors and talented students. Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, and Grammy award winning jazz pianist, Bill Cunliffe, were students before finishing their studies at larger universities. In February, there was a story about a “Connecticut prodigy” and NYU student, who plays on the Wesleyan Gamelan Orchestra just for the heck of it:
And lastly, with 3,000 students to choose from, it is incredibly easy for fellow musicians to find each other for pick-up bands, ensembles and choral groups outside the classroom.