Moving to New York as a Jazz Musician

**David B** · 01-12-2026, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by beetlejockey

Like many others, I assume, I've often thought of moving to New York to be at the center of the jazz scene. As someone living in Ireland, the scene is quite small and we don't get a lot of 'big name' jazz musicians coming here.
A question to people who perhaps live or have lived in New York City, would you recommend moving there as a jazz musician? Even for a few months. And if not, where else would you recommend! I'm planning on moving away for a while after I finish my degree in jazz. Thanks!

To the OP, who has been back online in the last couple of days:

I would certainly recommend taking a serious look at the Tribeca Jazz Institute, run by saxophonist Grant Stewart. They offer 12 week programmes. Entry is by audition and the focus is very much on learning from working musicians. A focus on ensemble playing and learning, with personal guitar tuition from the likes of Peter Bernstein, Ed Cherry and Pasquale Grasso.

TRIBECA JAZZ INSTITUTE | Church Street School

I know of a few young musicians from Ireland and the UK who have taken part, and had great experiences.

If I was 20 years younger and had some talent, I would apply for this in a heartbeat. It would be a great way to make contacts and get a taste for whether New York is a good fit for you.

Grant Stewart writes:

A Letter from the Artistic Director

What we are offering here is not for everyone. The Tribeca Jazz Institute is directed towards the few players in each class that are already close to professional level and have the clear goal of becoming the best jazz artist they can be. Maybe you’re about to enrol at a college for jazz performance and have a year off before you attend. Maybe you’ve just finished a jazz degree somewhere and feel that you’re in need of a sort of “finishing school” as you enter the scene, or perhaps you’re already a professional but feel like you’re stuck and can’t get past a plateau. In any of these cases this is the program for you.

We believe we can only teach our art the way we learned it, and the way we learned to play jazz music was through one-on-one private instruction and mentorship, and by playing under the guidance of great musicians. That is what is at the core of this program. Each semester will be an intensive 12 weeks of lessons and apprenticeship combined with 3 weekly three-hour “sessions” with the top jazz artists working on the NYC jazz scene.

As a musician, your late teens and early 20’s are almost always the most important developmental years and essentially, when the artist is formed. This time must be taken advantage of fully if your goal is to reach your true potential as a player. We believe that the other aspects of music education (the countless extra courses, papers, and projects demanded by a jazz performance degree) can be put on the back burner until the primary goal is achieved. Don’t get us wrong – we believe a university education is invaluable and encourage anyone that can go to do it. However, our objective is to make you the best musician you can be and if this is the right program for you (and you are the right student for the program), the distractions of a conventional performance degree are not necessary right now. Not to be overlooked is the cost of said degree at any of the main schools in New York City, on average around $60,000 per year. In the end the young artist is often saddled with debt and no realistic means of paying off a $200,000 education.

At the Tribeca Jazz Institute, the relationship between the students and resident teaching artists extends beyond the walls of the school, building a bridge towards integration into the professional jazz scene. This is our true goal for you. We look forward to seeing what can happen when exceptionally talented young musicians are placed in a “supercharged” environment to propel them forward artistically, and? their abilities are given the resources and nurturing they rightly deserve.

**Hep To The Jive** · 01-12-2026, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by pamosmusic

It’s possible you just lost your New York grit.

Somehow I managed to witness a few subway fights and the occasional shoplifter without thinking they all needed to be buried under the jail to make me more comfortable.

Maybe, but it doesn't make me feel good that politicians choose to have more sympathy for the criminals than normal people. That's why I brought up the mayors that I mentioned, their way of looking at it aligns with mine.

**pamosmusic** · 01-12-2026, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive

Maybe, but it doesn't make me feel good that politicians choose to have more sympathy for the criminals than normal people

Lol. Lee Atwater would beg to differ.

It’s also pretty revealing that you think criminals and normal people are two different groups.

That's why I brought up the mayors that I mentioned, their way of looking at it aligns with mine.

Well sure.

**Hep To The Jive** · 01-12-2026, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by AllanAllen

This guy... supporting Communism(The political system of China/Shaingai) while also lamenting the "Communist" NYC Mayor.

I do not support Communism, I was born into it in USSR. Modern China has nothing to do with how it was back then. Their political system does suck, I'm tired of using VPN, one party rule, etc, I wouldn't want that in US. However I do praise their economical achievements and making Shanghai a beatiful city. We are the musicians expats here can do what we love to do and live with dignity.

Mandani is a joke, tax the rich, free buses, good luck with that.

**Hep To The Jive** · 01-12-2026, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by pamosmusic

It’s also pretty revealing that you think criminals and normal people are two different groups.

lol yea I do think that! Ok you can sub normal for law abiding if it makes you feel warmer. Anyway, they need to be held accountable, without whatever excuses people like yourself find for them. Who said they can't become normal, they can at any time they want. But accountabilty should not be avoided.

**pamosmusic** · 01-12-2026, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive

lol yea I do think that! Ok you can sub normal for law abiding if it makes you feel warmer. Anyway, they need to be held accountable, without whatever excuses people like yourself find for them. Who said they can't become normal, they can at any time they want. But accountabilty should not be avoided.

Hopefully no one ever accuses you of stealing a battery.