(pleasant jazz music)
- The mission of Juilliard Jazz is
to train exceptional musicians
and empower them to reach their
highest goals and aspirations,
and ground them in the American vernacular music,
and then all of the historic periods of jazz.
- We're trying to take students who are excited
about this music, really make sure that they understand
the entire history of the music and their place in it,
which then enables them to create their own
future artistic visions and their own directions.
- Juilliard Jazz very much is about the tradition,
keeping the tradition of this music, jazz music, alive.
Rooted in swing, rooted in blues.
- We are really about the entire history of jazz.
So that type of depth across the entire continuum is unique.
- Another thing that's really important here
is our student original compositions.
Every year, the small ensemble and big band students
have an opportunity to develop their voice,
which is really important.
(energetic saxophone solo)
- We rehearse, I guess, six hours a week
for sometimes four or five, six weeks for a concert.
You don't get that as much in the outside world.
We know so much about the composer,
know so much about each style,
or in small ensembles where we do our own arrangements.
We get to rehearse our arrangements, edit our arrangements,
see how they evolve, bring in original compositions
to rehearse with a band on a high level,
we're coached by some world class faculty.
So I feel like the rehearsals that we
have here at Juilliard have,
in a sense, made me feel like I'm ready for anything.
- I'm Australian, so everything I learn about jazz history
is second-hand, third-hand, fourth-hand.
But you come to a place like this,
and your teachers have played with the people
that you grew up trying to study from afar.
- Students here are getting hands-on access
to the best jazz musicians in the world,
and they're learning really in the way
that I think all of our idols learned.
This is a lineage passed along from mentorship.
It's cross generational.
Jazz is this way.
We are always going to be learning
and we're always gonna be teaching each other.
- One of the first things that happened
when I got here was I made so many friends.
It was like an instant network of people.
- The quality and passion of the students
are key to make that community gathering so rich.
And what that includes is our alumni as well.
We have alumni who've come back to teach in the program.
That helps the students while they're in school
see themselves down the line.
- [Ulysses] Ultimately, when you're a jazz musician,
your goal was to be at a club or on the road.
- [Olivia] Something that changed immediately for me
in my career here was that I was out and I was playing.
And that was just such a thrill.
- Being on Lincoln Center Campus
and also being in New York City,
you can hop on the subway and be at Smalls or you know,
be at Smoke in 10 minutes,
and I think that that's invaluable at this stage
to be able to attend jam sessions,
and you know, go hear your heroes at the Vanguard play.
- One of the great things about Juilliard Jazz
is the rich opportunities that are available
within the Juilliard School itself.
The fact that you're in an environment where excellence
permeates every hall and is a part of all the other
performing arts in the building, dance, drama,
and all the different musics,
really adds to an exciting environment.
- You know, when you get to play
with actors and dancers in different capacities,
sometimes an actor or a dancer will just do some movement,
or say something in a specific way
that'll invoke something that
gives me a completely fresh new idea.
I really like the amount of creativity
and inspiration it brings.
- We're looking for jazz musicians,
be they instrumentalists, vocalists,
all jazz musicians who are interested in embracing
this great music and its history, and its legacy,
and wanting to extend it further.
- If you're considering applying to Juilliard,
I really strongly encourage you to just apply
and reach out to your, you know, potential professors.
- Do it.
Audition, take the risk.
I didn't think I was gonna get in.
You never know until you try.
- We believe that the tools we give you can help you
in whatever you decide to go in,
but our ultimate goal is to create artists
that are able to impact the society,
and to impact our times.
You are the present and the future.
(audience applauding) (audience cheering)