<p>Hello everybody, I know there are many great schools out there for music but I want to stay in California. I've read that San Francisco Conservatory of Music is ranked the best music school in California but I looked at the real estate and not one house in that whole city is appealing to me. And the streets are too incline. </p>
<p>I was looking at Cal State University of Sacramento and it seems enticing but I don't know much about it other than what the website says, which isn't much. Real estate is great there and the weather is nice, too. Music life isn't as big as San Francisco but it's only 1.5 hours away. </p>
<p>I'm 29, going to Chaffey College to get my A.S. in Chemistry. From there I will transfer to a State University to get my B.S. in Biochemistry to be a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. I want to go to a state university that offers excellent exposure/training/education in violin performance & music theory/education/composition as well biochemistry & mathematics. I'm not sure if I will be going for my M.S. in Biochemistry. I may, depends on if I can make more money with it. Biochemistry is solely for my career since I like math and science. </p>
<p>But my love and passion is in classical music/opera. I know CSUS offers the Master of Music degree in Performance for violin. I would eventually want to get my Doctorate in Music Performance <a href="if%20such%20a%20degree%20exists.%20I%20think%20it's%20called%20a%20D.M.A.%20if%20I%20remember%20correctly">i</a>*. This degree is just for my own personal enjoyment and knowledge and training in violin. I'm single and have no kids so all of my time can be devoted to myself.</p>
<p>With all that said, does anybody here go to Cal State Sacremento for their music program? Or has anybody? If so, what is it like? How well does it compare to an institution like San Francisco Conservatory of Music in regards to violin performance majors?</p>
<p>P.S. Why does this board say I can add 25 tags to this thread but yet I typed three and it says I've exceeded the limit by 1?</p>
<p>CSU Sacramento has a decent music program, but nothing in comparison to the SF Conservatory. Have you talked to your teacher about trying to audition for these programs? Also, if the degree is for your own “personal enjoyment,” why not join a community orchestra or change teachers to someone who will push you more? A master’s degree in music is really most useful if you’re planning on teaching or being a professional musician.</p>
Really? SFCM is that much better than CSUS? Still, there is no way I would ever want to live in San Francisco. I utterly cannot stand how all the houses are bunched together the way they are and all the incline streets. They’re also very ugly in my opinion. Plus, the market is much more expensive up there than in central California. </p>
<p>I currently have no teacher. I recently picked up the violin again. Not only do I work full time but I also go to school part time. I’m asking these questions way in advance so as to know where I may be in the next 4-5 years. </p>
<p>I don’t just want to learn the violin but I also want to learn music theory and education as well. You can’t really get that from private lessons. And as of right now, I’m borrowing my sister’s 3/4 size violin. I don’t have money to spare at the moment for a full size one. Hopefully at the end of this year I will be able to buy one. </p>
<p>The more I think about it though, the more I consider possibly moving out of California up to Washington. But only if the music programs up there would be significantly better than the ones here in California. What is your opinion? </p>
<p>FYI, no way in hell I’m moving to any states in the midwest or east coast. I’ve lived in central & eastern states and disliked most things about them; the weather, the houses, the people, the politics, the culture…</p>
<p>Any ways, thank you for responding to my post. :)</p>
<p>If you’re just picking up the violin again and have no teacher, I seriously doubt your prospects of getting into any of these schools. They take students who have been working their whole lives to get into music school. I could be totally wrong and you could be a prodigy, so go into see a teacher (many offer free trial lessons) and ask their opinion. There’s only so much I can help over the internet.</p>
<p>There are community music schools that have classes in theory and other things that you could get involved in. The one near my hometown is here: [Community</a> School of Music and Arts](<a href=“http://www.arts4all.org%5DCommunity”>http://www.arts4all.org).
Classes there covered the first three semesters of material of required theory for a music major at Brown. There are similar schools all over.</p>
<p>At many universities, either for a fee, or not, you can study an instrument with an adjunct professor. You don’t need to major in violin performance - and, I agree, your chances as a beginner being accepted into a performance major program are slight. However, since you say you want to study violin for your own pleasure - then there is no reason not to take violin lessons either through whatever school you go to, or privately. If you live in Sacramento and are looking for a teacher - you could call the Music Dept. at CSU Sacramento and ask for a referral. Or, as bruno14 wisely suggests - find the Community Music Center in your area (names will vary,) which are great resources, both for private teachers, and for ensemble playing at every level, and every age range.</p>
Well, that one is 430 miles from where I currently live. I’m sure there are similar schools for music here in San Bernardino county but I’m currently busy doing my schooling for my career. Money comes first over music. Without money, I can’t buy gas or food. </p>
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Thank you. I will browse that forum and see what is relevant to what I am planning on doing. </p>
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I live in Riverside in southern California currently. But I dislike it here very much and cannot wait to move further up north. But as with anything, it costs money.
I don’t need a degree in music. I want a degree in music. I want to get a B.M. degree and eventually M.M. degree just to have it. Not that I will use it for anything practical. My career will be in clinical laboratory science. It’s mostly just to say that I have it and that I accomplished something at a university in the music performance field. Plus, I love learning as much as I can about classical music. </p>
<p>I think the best plan for me right now is to stay on track with my biochemistry but also take private lessons (if I can spare the time). It’s very time consuming to work full time and go to school part time and find time to practice violin. Too bad I didn’t do this super early when I was living with my parents for free during my childhood.
Thanks for your help, though. :)</p>