There are many excellent jazz music schools across the country as well as all over the world. Here is my list of some of the best colleges for young people who want to get the finest education that jazz music has to offer.
Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
At Ithaca College, you can get a Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Studies. The Jazz Studies program will get students to perform at many places-on campus as well as off. Some courses that students will take are: Jazz arranging, jazz improvisation and jazz history.
Ithaca teaches jazz music in both avenues, for instance, if you are a vocal jazz major or a major in any instrument, your private lessons will be done in the traditional classical style. If your major is jazz guitar, you can study electric guitar, but still know how to perform on classical guitar.
Guest artists visit Ithaca and perform giving master classes for students, and they also coach them. Some artists that have performed there are: Jaime Laredo, Rhythm and Brass, the Bach Aria Group and Vladimir Feltsman.
Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
Berklee College of Music is where students from all around the world come to study jazz music. Students would be majoring in jazz composition here. This jazz music program develops student’s creative side, contrapuntal skills, formal as well as developing melody, rhythm and harmony.
The student will end up with a group of compositions that will be performed. in public for different ensembles to play. Students will attend jazz clinics, concerts, join in projects and develop critical skills that will enable them to discuss various types of criteria in jazz music.
Completion of this major will give students all the skills they need to pursue a career as a professional jazz writer. This is one of the best schools to enroll in to get a top-notch music degree.
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
The Eastman School of Music is a name that is heard quite often among the music crowd in upstate New York. Students going to this school will be majoring in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media. Students choosing this major will acquire performance, teaching as well as other music skills and academics. Completing this major will enable students to be their own boss, in a way.
They can be part of a symphony, and teach in college; or teach private students and direct as a church musician and free-lance their skills and give recitals. Some students become lawyers or music administrators because the training in music at Eastman School gives them the discipline to do and be anything.
Manhattan School Of Music, New York
Students attending this school will be skilled composers, arrangers as well as performers when they are ready to begin their jazz music career. Students are taught by faculty who are experts. The will also be able to perform with well known jazz artists.There are undergraduate level courses, graduate and doctorate level to major in jazz music. Those who are serious in obtaining a career in jazz music, should really consider any one of these schools to enroll.
