Hello everyone,
I have been accepted to some music schools for flute performance and I would love some advice. For the record, I have been waitlisted at most of them, but in case I am taken off, I would appreciate it if you would take them all into consideration. I will list the schools/professors and I would really appreciate if you would rank them and explain why. I understand that ultimately it is about how I connected with the professor and school, but I have some hard decisions to make and I would like outside opinions.
University of North Carolina School of the Arts - Dr. Tadeu Coelho
Mannes School of Music - Judith Mendenhall (Waitlist)
San Francisco Conservatory - Timothy Day (Waitlist)
University of Michigan School of Music - Amy Porter (Waitlist)
DePaul University School of Music - Alyce Johnson
Eastman School of Music - Bonita Boyd (I am on a very short waitlist and this is my no. 1 choice if I get in)
Please answer ASAP because I need to make a decision soon! Thank you!
On a public forum, the teachers should not be discussed. You should only ask about teachers in a PM.
Making a list of best to worst is nearly impossible as no ones knows you in any detail. They are all good schools. You need to figure out best fit for musical/personal growth based on your own criteria.
If you have more specific questions about a school (environment, performance opportunities, curriculum, ensembles etc), you may get a response on that.
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You have a nice list. I fully agree with the comment above about respecting the teachers at conservatories/music departments and avoiding public comment - especially from anonymous posters. (Do pursue your questions privately!!)
I have a suggestion if you end up with a choice of schools. Check into the ensemble requirement and ensemble assignment policies at the schools, especially important if you want orchestral experience. Some schools rotate wind and percussion assignments giving all majors some orchestra experience during their years of study; others have one audition at beginning of semester with permanent assignment for the semester or year resulting in only a handful of the majors playing each concert for an entire semester. I have known flute majors who have graduated with a BM in Flute Performance which included no orchestra playing experience. It’s hard for me to comprehend that obvious lack!
You may also want to check on the availability of chamber music for wind players. It’s not always the easy given that it is string players.
Best of luck and I hope that the waitlists move for you!
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Flute Performance undergrad going to grad school next year here! I’d love to chat about the teachers in specifics in a PM (I have some info on specific departments/professors from friends that attend those schools) but all in all, congratulations on such great schools! Waitlists do open up so I’d keep hope!
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