Graduate programs in New York City

jazz+bass · #1 07-14-2009, 01:07 PM

Hey guys,

I'm finishing up my undergraduate degree in jazz studies at William Paterson this year, so I'm thinking a lot about what to do next year. One of the best options I can think of is to go to graduate school for either jazz performance or composition in the jazz capital of the world. Here is my list so far.

City College of New York
Juilliard
Manhattan School of Music
New York University
Queens College CUNY

I want to go to school where I will be in the city as much as possible, making contacts and getting on the scene there. I also want a school that has a really good double bass teacher. And it wouldn't hurt if all the other students at the school were really sick.

I've put the schools roughly in order of preference given my current understanding of them. I would like to hear if you guys and gals have some good information about any of these schools or any schools that I might have forgotten to mention. Thanks a bunch, and I'll hopefully see you all in NYC in a year.

Manticore Guy · #2 08-07-2009, 01:04 PM

Well, I don't go here but I would recommend the Manhattan School of Music just on the basis that I currently study with Harvie S, and he is by the far the best bass teacher I have ever come in contact with. Amazing player and person as well.

Ed Fuqua · #3 08-07-2009, 02:02 PM

Who have you been studying with at WPU?

The competition for a spot in the Julliard program is pretty stiff for a reason; it may be a pretty specific a world view, but the folks I've run into who come out the other end can play, jim. The level of professionalism stressed there is very high.

HoodBass12 · #4 08-22-2009, 11:47 AM

I go to Msm and I like it a lot. I study with Jay Anderson who is a great teacher, and I've also heard great things about Harvie S although I've never had the chance to study with him. I'm an undergraduate but the masters students I know also love the program, from what I heard the graduate division has a ton of work and everyone has improved a great deal from the start of the year. At msm also there is just the right amount of jazz majors (around 100) everyone can play. The Juilliard school has a good program too but it's much smaller. Also, Juilliard is not interested in accepting students (especially members of the rhythm section) who do not already play at an advanced professional level.

jazz+bass · #5 08-22-2009, 02:31 PM

Thanks for all the replies!

Ed, I studied with Marcus McLaurine my first four semesters, and with Steve LaSpina for the next two semesters. I'm pretty sure I'll still be with Steve this upcoming semester. For my last semester, who knows. I might decide to study with a non-bass teacher just to play more and get a different perspective. Maybe Armen Donelian or Vincent Herring. I'm also starting classical bass lessons this semester with John Stork, and hope to do them next semester, too.

I'm sort of leaning towards taking a year off after undergrad. I'm having second thoughts about grad school for performance. It seems like you could get almost the same stuff from taking private lessons and getting out on the scene. I'm getting into composing more and more, and I'm thinking maybe grad school for composition would be a better option, because you would have musicians there to play all your stuff. I don't know.