<p>I'm trying to put my list together and so far I prefer a BFA to a BA. So far this is my list</p>
<p>University of Colorado Boulder
University of South Dakota
University of Arizona
Nebraska Wesleyan
University of Utah
Texas state
Texas Christian
Webster</p>
<p>There were a couple of BM MT programs I was thinking of adding to my list like Oklahoma City and Arizona state. Could someone elaborate on the difference between a BFA and a BM?</p>
<p>How many schools do I need on my list? Is 8-10 enough or do I need to add more. My parents are being supportive but are questioning the need to apply to so many.</p>
<p>There are no general specific differences between a BFA, BM, BA. There are many specific differences between program atmosphere, curriculum, and opportunities regardless of degree granted… meaning that some BAs and BFAs could be quite similar, some BFAs and BMs could be quite similar, etc…</p>
<p>Generally speaking a BM degree will be more music focused than a BFA program. Although this is not always the case.</p>
<p>I suggest looking at Northern Colorado as well… it is a BA program that is very much like many BFA programs. </p>
<p>8 - 10 schools seems reasonable for selective MT program admissions, although you may be able to make do with 6 - 8 as well as long as you have one academic, financial, non-auditioned safety that you would be happy to attend. </p>
<p>Remember that most of these schools require auditions, so there will be additional travel involved. Some schools may also require pre-screens.</p>
<p>You should be able to find the curriculum/ course catalog on the websites for most schools. Also try emailing the programs directly. If possible visit… if you can’t visit at least try to communicate with faculty and current students via email. All of this will help you get a sense of whether or not a program could be a good fit for you. </p>
<p>You have an eclectic list of strong programs already on your list. Research will help you make sure you want to keep them all, and se if there are others that you may want to add. :)</p>
<p>Check out the website for the National Unified auditions (unifiedauditions.com). That list of schools will give you some others to research and will help you begin to make your travel plans for the auditions themselves!<br>
My D will be starting at Roosevelt University in the fall (Chicago College of Performing Arts) in the BFA Musical Theatre program. We got such a warm, welcoming vibe from that school and the location is fabulous!!<br>
Best of luck to you in your search!</p>
<p>Musical theatre involves MUSIC you will have several units of music theory & piano as a BFA at my Ds school, only 4 units separate a BM from a BFA. Please do your research… Information we give as patents (in good faith) is not always reliable.</p>
<p>Don’t write off Bachelor of Music MT programs until you have given them strong consideration. My daughter at first did not think this was a route she wished to go. However, in the end, the school she felt most connected to and which she is thrilled to be attending offers a BM in MT not a BFA. (She’ll be a freshman at OCU in the Fall). She will have to take more music theory and aural skills there than she would have at most BFA programs she considered, but in the end, she feels this will only help her down the road if asked to sight sing or give input on key changes, tempos or other musical issues. There is a video somewhere of Kelli O’Hara (an OCU grad) addressing this very thing. And while these may not be considered the most fun of courses to take, they can be very beneficial. As KatMT has said, really study the course requirements for the degree programs at the schools you are considering. You may be surprised that some schools that offer a BM have a course load that is more similar to a BFA. And some BFA programs may require more Gen Eds than you were hoping to take. Each school is different and the letters of the degree they offer do not tell the whole story. Rememver, even if you prefer one school’s courses over another, that is still just one piece of the puzzle you are trying to solve. Give that school a checkmark in the “curriculum” column but also remember to consider all the other factors that make a school a good choice for you. These could include cost, location, campus environment, alumni success, performance opportunities, academics, and whatever other factors are important to you. Good luck in your search! Be open minded about all of the programs and I’m sure you will find just where you are meant to be!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the feedback. I am working this summer to save up for auditions and I keep researching the programs to see what sounds like a good fit for me. I am trying to stay west of the Mississippi, even though some are still far from home they won’t be completely across the country.</p>
<p>I don’t know how much financial aide will factor into your decision but both Nebraska Wesleyan and Webster gave really good financial packages to my D. Also Texas State has a great program that they give a scholarship so then you have in state tuition. University of Utah has a program if you live there in the summer ( I think at least 2 months of it) you can get instate tuition starting your sophomore year. I don’t know how that would affect your ability to do summer stock or study abroad though over summer break.</p>
<p>Re Utah’s residency requirements, once you qualify for residency during that first summer, you are not required to remain in Utah for the following summers, so those summers are open to travel or for summer stock outside of the state. Also, you do not need to take classes over that summer, just remain in-state. Working, or performing in the many performance opportunities both at the U and at other venues would be fine.</p>
<p>On a personal level, I wanted D to have a degree in something she could teach in a public school system. Call it a fallback, or an option for later in life, but I liked the idea of her having a music degree so that she could get a masters in music Ed and teach within a year if she ever wanted to. Not the same options with a bfa in theatre.</p>
<p>@uskoolfish - you can teach with a BFA in Theatre in our school district (one of the largest school districts in the country), in fact, all the Theatre teachers that I know are BFA’s. You do have to complete some additional Education courses to get certified, but those same courses would be required of a BM in Music as well. There are probably fewer Theatre teacher slots than Music teacher slots available, but there may also be fewer applicants for Theatre slots. No doubt this situation varies from state to state and district to district.</p>
<p>In New York State (at least the last time I checked) you can teach drama/ theatre and speech classes with a theatre degree and the necessary education classes for certification. However, those same classes can also be taught by those with English (language arts) certifications. So in most districts I know, they tend to hire English teachers so that there is more flexibility, especially since the theatre classes would not be enough for a full time teacher.</p>
<p>In our district there are a lot of slots for music teachers–from elementary level to high school.</p>