Classical vs. Jazz Instruction... ?

[ruben_mcn]

Hey Guy,
This fall I´m enrolling at a Music school but i have to decide a couple of things and I would like to hear your tougths..
So i have the option of Studyn Classical style or Jazz Style..  So far the only advantage
I can see it that on the jazz I can learn a lot of improvisation, and there is a little thing that I'm afraid on classical course cause i have a lot of friends that play/ learn classical music and music theory for long time but they can only play what is on the notation sheet... they can´t improvise or anything like that and i really what to take this course so that i can be more creative w/ the knowledge I will Get from it ... and not the oposite...

So Do you think that you can learn the same from either one or is their one that will give me better theory knowledge ?? and For instance if I study jazz will I be to play classical music ( by Sight reading ) ?? or is there like an practicalpart that you need to learn in classical style to play calssical pieces  ??

and also I´m already 19 do you think its too late to start ??

[stevebob]

Whether or not it's "too late to start" probably depends on what your personal goals are and what you wish to to achieve through music education.  The same can be said for choosing between classical and jazz; it's up to you to decide what you want and need from the program and what you ultimately find most satisfying.

Your concerns make sense, though, and I think your generalizations about the strengths, limitations and distinctions between classical and jazz approaches and practices are accurate.  But any number of professional musicians manage to "cross over," and it's certainly possible to excel in both idioms if you have the interest and determination to do so.

If your school forces you to decide on one musical focus at the complete exclusion of the other, that's unfortunate.

[ruben_mcn]

As for Goals I just want to be able to play music for my self I don't want to be a profesional musician anymore..
It's actually not a choice on my school I'm tryn to choose a neew school and I have two options a school that just teaches Jazz and another one that just teaches Classical..
But Do you think that in therms of Theory Knowledge Would both courses Give me the same thing, but aplly it in their own style ? or will the programs be difrent from one another ?