You are correct. In voice MSM has the better reputation but has he taken lessons at each? Studio fit is more important than reputation in voice. No one will admit him in grad school based on school reputation, but on his command of his instrument. He needs a primary teacher with whom he resonates and can grow and learn solid technique.
Peabody is not on JHU campus proper. He will not have easy logistical access to classes and the university. Honestly is it his fear he might switch out of music or yours? We thought this way and we’re happy D chose a t20 school for voice. Thousands of dollars later we learn that although that worked out vocally for her, she had no intention of doing anything but singing. Assuming her progress would have been similar at a less expensive school, she would have more flexibility in applying to grad programs. As it was, she avoided programs where full merit money was uncommon but she might have applied to Julliard, for example, if we could have continued to provide significant financial support.
So this brings me to my third point: consider finances. You will need to plan for summer program expenses until he is at the Young Artist level, and might like to have funds to assist with grad school as mentioned above.
Finally an opinion: assuming they have a solid studio teacher their success depends less on where they go than their talent and work ethic.
Feel free to pm if you would like more details of our experience. D is graduating with her MM from Jacobs this spring. Good luck.
Thank you songbirdmama! I may dm you for more great advice. My ds’s teacher would be william sharp at peabody and mark schnaible at MSM. We are impressed by both but scheduling a full lesson with each to help decide.
It’s def my fear or rather I like to plan for every eventually.
My friend in the biz and a professor at Juilliard said to stay in manhattan, at any school. Because so much is learned by just watching other’s performances. He also advised to go where my ds feels a bit afraid/little fish big pond, because thats what will make him a better performer.
DS also was admitted to Purchase, however, much to my ex husband’s dismay, we’re afraid this program isnt a good fit. It felt a bit like 13th grade.
UChicago and Princeton have doctoral programs, not stand alone master’s (which Yale has as well as doctorate). As I have written before, one way to fund grad work is to enroll in a doctoral program, which also may fund a master’s as part of the path to a doctorate, or even separately.
Anyone have any opinion on Mannes for instrumental? I’ve noticed that some of the faculty often teach at other schools as well and wonder if you are getting the same main instrument professor, are there enough “extras” at Mannes to warrant a 20-30k a year difference in tuition?
Also, anyone admitted to Cincinnati CCM received any scholarship information?
@songbirdmama gave a great reply to this. I can only second what she said.
I’ll add one comment, however, based on your second email. It does seem that your S is a high talent (Juillard and Curtis). And, in that situation, he does want to go to a school where he can watch other performers (like private teachers recommendation). This isn’t always discussed enough, but it is really important to be able to watch other performers (and also interact with them when possible). People can be very concerned about schools with grad students…but for a high talent, it’s not a bad idea to have those students in the mix to aspire towards.
Still, there can be a flip side. Students develop at such different rates. Sometimes a wait listed student can have amazing growth at a program bc they finally are getting top notch instruction and time to practice. And, it is not uncommon to enter a program at the top of the heap and find yourself in the middle a year or two later. This can be frustrating. My D had this experience. She did a big ole loooong plateau (years not months). I don’t say this to worry you. It just goes back to the importance of teacher. My D’s UG teacher really had to pound the concept of “a plateau in her voice type as normal” into my D’s head as she started to stall and others started to pass her. It was a difficult time…made more difficult by the competition at the top that seemed to grow further away.
So…be sure he picks a great (and fierce) teacher/advocate for his develpment. Someone who can support him for the long haul. He may have a straight upward trend…but if there are challenges, who will help him most to understand and overcome any adversity and worry?
An argument can be made that at the undergrad level it might be good to be away from NYC. Just playing devil’s advocate. Even at the doctoral level I know young people in music who stayed away from the fast pace and competitive vibe of NY city. Away from that musical hub/hubub, there is a potential to be a student, focus on developing, and not on professional pressures. That varies with school and environment, but just another point of view. The point of view that supports NYC is strong too- it depends!
MSM is across the street from Columbia. Can MS students take classes at Columbia, say the College of General Studies or the College itself?
I have never visited Peabody but have to say we were charmed by MSM.
We live on Long Island. Ds is a city-type kid. No worries on that front at least.
I dont think i see him changing majors. He’d just drop out first. However, im considering where the degree comes from if he goes for a nonmusic job interview. Johns Hopkins means much more in the “real world” for lack of a better term.
I’m a first year at Harvard and a soprano operatic vocalist. I would be happy to message with your son if he wants to talk about Harvard and voice / performance opportunities.
We’re back from a tiring week and a half of college tours (and some actual vacation-y stuff). He was able to sit in on a class and meet with the clarinet prof at Oberlin (where he’s waitlisted), make a return visit to Baldwin Wallace and get an in-person lesson plus classes, a performance, lunch with current students, etc…he continues to like BW a lot. And then admitted students day at Lawrence…he liked Lawrence a lot, too, and had a good lesson with the clarinet prof…who told him he’s retiring after next year. So that might be a bit too much uncertainty for him. But right now he likes everywhere and doesn’t want to rule out any of his options, which is…unsustainable
And now we go to see Blair/Vanderbilt later this week so he’ll have enough info to make a decision in case the waitlist moves there. And then he wants to go to Columbus State one more time the week AFTER. And then he’s going to HAVE to make a decision (which could all be undone if he gets off a waitlist). This month is pretty much the exhausting worst case scenario I envisioned back in January when auditions went virtual…the two waitlists made it very tough to eliminate any potential visits. So it’s quite a month. It’s lucky he’s homeschooled (and has a schedule this semester that’s deliberately light on outside classes) or I don’t know how we’d be managing this.
Father of D here and haven’t posted much but this is an amazing forum!
D has gotten into 2 MT (Marymount Manhattan, BoCo) while WT at NYU Steinhardt and MSM MT, and accepted at great VP, especially MSM, Mannes and Bard, as a soprano. It’s a very good problem!
We’ve basically decided that Marymount is much more acting and much less singing than wanted. But to go full-bore into VP makes us nervous that it’s a path that’s only to classical. The ultimate goal would likely be a legit Bway soprano. To that extent, we asked for and got Harolyn Blackwell as her studio teacher at MSM, which we think is kind of perfect given her experience.
My question is, is there the ability at a school like MSM, that has an MT program, to add some dance/acting to the program of study to balance out the program. Or is it even necessary?
Does anyone have any insight into Eastman and extracurricular/recreational opportunities? I’m trying to decide between Eastman and Oberlin and I’m leaning towards Eastman except for the fact that I love running and being outside but my parents are worried about my safety running alone in Rochester. I was wondering if there are any groups, clubs, facilities, etc. that would enable me to stay active?
