Thesis Site Selection

This winter term, I will begin my thesis project and I have decided to design a school of music located here in Portland, Oregon. I have been playing the drums and various percussion instruments for over 16 years and played all over the West Coast, Canada, and in several countries in Western Europe. I love all styles of music but I always come back to Jazz and Blues. Of course I love Miles Davis and John Coltrane, but many people forget or never get into the music of say, Dextor Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Jo Jones, or Charles Mingus. The list could go on forever with each musician bringing something to the table in their own way.

So for my thesis, I'm currently writing my thesis statement and selecting my site. Last week I thought I found the perfect site and to my surprise, I found an even better location while I was on foot.

I am proposing my thesis project to be in Portland, Oregon located in the Cultural District on the corner of SW Park Ave and SW Main Street. The location is currently a surface parking lot. The Portland Art Museum is the next block south on SW Park Avenue. Other places of interest that are immediately near by are: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland Center for the Performing Arts, Oregon Historical Society Museum, as well as the South Park Blocks. Similar to Berklee School of Music in Boston, this school's curriculum would center around Jazz, Blues, R&B, World Music and beyond.

So if you're interested or know the area very well (maybe you live near by) feel free to suggest and or make comments about this area. Anything cool I should check out. Anything that could be related or supportive toward the vision of a school of music project.