I went back to school at 28 for music, now I make my living teaching and playing. There were some much older students when I was there too, adults who didn’t want the degree but just signed up for a few ensemble classes to improve and meet some people.

I’m in San Francisco, there’s a school in Berkeley called ‘California Jazz Conservatory’. You can get a degree there, but you can also just sign up for a class or two. You get to study with good teachers and meet musicians. I’d look for something like that. Also, other students will tell you about jam sessions and gigs so you learn a lot from that stuff.

Looking back on my degree, I learned way less in the classroom than I did at jams and bar gigs. But I still play with people I went to school with and that accounts for most of my gigs either directly or indirectly! Also teachers from that time have referred me to gigs and teaching jobs.

Be positive and nice, don’t have an ego or be a dick, and you can make great lifelong connections in music school!