Music School

[JazzCat]

Any of you guys go to school for music (performance, education, jazz studies, etc.)? If so, where and what do you do?

[UNFdrummer]

I'm scheduled to start classes at the University of North Florida in the Fall, for jazz studies. The big band at UNF has been voted best college big band in the country a lot recently, I don't know the figures, but if you're looking for a good jazz school, UNF's a good start.

[Jeff Albert]

I have two degrees in jazz studies, one from Loyola in New Orleans, and one from University of New Orleans. I play music for a living, and some of the music even has to do with what I studied in school. I found that school didn't teach me what I needed to know, but it gave me a good foundation to learn from after I got out and started actually working.

I worked as a musician for 6 years between undergrad and grad school, and grad school provided a nice focus and energy boost for me.

Now I do freelance stuff ranging from orchestral work, to wedding bands, to freaky weird jazz gigs.

[berkleebassist]

I go to the Berklee College of Music for professional music; my principle is upright bass. Just finishing my 4th semester this spring. Been playing music since the 4th grade (1993), first trumpet, switched to euphonium (baritone horn) in 1997, picked up electric bass in 1999, upright in 2001, haven't stopped swingin' since!

[Bruce Lindfield]

I'm only a part-time musician, but I go to regular Jazz classes on a Saturday morning (in term time) at Sussex University, as part of their Continuing (or Adult) Education programme.

I also go to Jazz Summer School at the University of Glamorgan - which has about 12 -15 of the best British Jazz players as tutors and is always great fun (Kenny Wheeler is special guest tutor this year) - lots of playing and a nightly "Jazz Club" in the student union bar!

I've been for the last 5 or 6 years and even if I wasn't playing, I sometimes think that it would be worth going, for some of the best live Jazz takes place there, as the tutors form unusual combinations in lineups that simply wouldn't be feasible at your average gig.

[T~AndrewB~Bone]

I'm planning on going to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I was told by a friend that they are #2 in Illinois for jazz and in the top ten in the U.S. I don't know where he got that from, but he's going to Northern Illinois University which is supposedly #1 in Illnois. Does anyone know anything about these two schools? Also my band director keeps telling me that University of Illinois' jazz program is building, info on that would also be appreciated.

[graypencil]

NIU has an excellent reputation .. Ron Modell,the former head of the jazz program is an old friend of mine and he did a hell of a job building the program ..

UNF is good too ..as is UNT of course ..and Indiana U is excellent

[Dick Trickle]

Oregon all the way if you wanna be out west.