<p>Talk about diversity of choice...I didn't really intend it to be this way, but these are the schools that accepted me.</p>
<p>My first and foremost dream is to become an professional flutist. But I understand that the music industry, especially in strictly classical performance, is stagnant at best. So at all of these schools I'm also doing a dual degree in Economics. (Interesting fact: according to one of the surveys i read for salaries by majors, Economics was #5 while Music was #5 from the end :P )</p>
<p>I guess my question would mainly be how much the type of school would affect my education and prospects as a musician? For example, if I am able to stay disciplined and practice/play in ensembles even at a school like UC Berkeley, would I be able to compete with someone who came out of Eastman?</p>
<p>I would also appreciate your opinions on the dual degree programs at each of these schools:
Eastman: with University of Rochester...even though they seem to make the program elaborate, it seems like it's not very popular or feasible
Northwestern : most encouraging towards dual degrees out of the 4
NYU :Steinhardt + CAS...is it possible to replace the latter with a Stern major?
Cal : not a "real" music program...but i got full ride</p>
<p>I'm also a little skeptical about the music program at NYU, as they do no seem to be very organized (what i gathered from my brief time at the audition)...but I love NYC...</p>
<p>So basically I don't have a clue =D</p>
<p>Any other advices/comments about student life, dorms, location, academics, w/e are welcomed too.</p>
<p>leflutiste, we have most of your acceptances listed, but does your reference to Cal meant that you’ve been accepted to UCLA/Berkeley? If so, just confirm and we’ll add it to the list.</p>
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<p>Much akin to asking whether the chicken or the egg came first. One major difference is that Berkeley is a BA as opposed to a BM. The degree requirements differ for each, notably in most programs the BA requirements are less for private instruction and ensemble obligations, and most likely less depth in the theory and history sequences, heavier in general academic and non-music electives. I’d suggest comparing the degree requirements of each school side by side.</p>
<p>I would not equate the general level of NYU’s performance studios with either Eastman or Northwestern. My “expertise” is in strings, so I’ll defer to those more versed in flute.
In general, the level of talent and depth is greater within a conservatory program.</p>
<p>The general wisdom is that it is foremost about the student/teacher-mentor relationship, the peer quality of fellow musicians, and being surrounded by like minds. And for many, it comes down to money. It’s pretty much a given that the next step is an MM for someone aspiring to a professional chair, so minimizing undergrad debt can be a key factor.</p>
<p>Violadad - Cal means UC Berkeley. It’s the way we ‘in the know’ always refer to it.</p>
<p>For someone who wants to be a professional flute player, though, not certain that would be the way to go - but that full ride would make it possible to pay for expensive summer programs and additional lessons, if necessary. They do have good adjunct faculty on most instruments. And a friend just graduated from there and got in for an MM in cello to a conservatory. And has many paid orchestra gigs already. He was majoring in music, however - so all his focus was on music, not a double major (which is what it would be at Cal - not a double degree. And it is a BA in music.)</p>
<p>I would check with your assigned flute teacher at each of the schools. I believe Eastman is still keeping their flute studio small, i.e, one teacher, so you know whom to speak to. A dual degree with a BM in flute may be next to impossible in reality, even if it exists on paper. Your studio teacher wherever you land will need to be supportive of that 2nd degree. So do have this conversation with the studio teachers before making your decision.</p>
<p>Good luck! You have some wonderful choices, congratulations.</p>
<p>@violadad
Haha I had some difficulties making the connection from Cal to Berkeley at first too. Thank you for the article from Peabody. It was one of the first insights I’ve had when I was doing my research last year. </p>
<p>@SpiritManager
Thanks for the story about your friend. I’ve met a lady in a similar situation, who went on to Royal Academy of Music for masters. And yes, it would be a double major instead of a dual degree.</p>
<p>@sopranomom92
When you said that a dual degree is next to impossible, were you referring specifically to Eastman or to the idea in general?
I was a bit tentative to tell the teachers, but I guess I will have to tell them eventually…</p>
<p>I also have some question about the music program at NU…I realized that it was just recently “named,” and that I haven’t really seen many notable alumni. The two flute professors there are top top rate, but I am just slightly concerned regarding the level of playing of the other musicians.</p>
<p>If you’re worrying about the playing caliber of your peers - Northwestern should be fine - there are top quality players there - but that will not be the case at either NYU or Cal. There will be the exception, of course, but it won’t be the rule.</p>
<p>I would RUN, not walk to Northwestern in order to work with Kujala while he is still teaching. My daughter got waitlisted there 3 years ago and can’t wait to try again for graduate school.</p>
<p>I think NU really stands out on that list, since you won’t have to commute a significant distance for the second major like you would at Eastman, and its music component is a lot stronger than NYU or Cal.</p>
<p>The dual degree for performance is very difficult at Eastman. My son, who graduated in 2006, said that everyone he knew who did it was majoring in composition, theory or music history. The other problem is that at any school, it is going to be almost impossible to to a double degree in 4 years and Eastman will usually only allow you to take studio lessons for 4 years, so it means a year with no lessons. If you are set on doing a double degree, you should ask about the policy regarding a 5th year of undergrad lessons.</p>
<p>While having Kujala for a year would be tremendous, you are taking a chance on the rest of your time there without knowing who his replacement would be. Acceptees to Oberlin have a similar problem in that the replacement for Debost, who is retiring this year, has not been named.</p>
<p>Although we’re always saying choose the school for the teacher - truthfully there are no guarantees that any teacher will be around for the entire four (or five) years. Things happen. Life happens. People get sick, get old, have babies, change schools, get an amazing opportunity that can’t be passed up. So one should also have some faith in the institution itself which chose that marvelous teacher in the first place, and faith in the students who’ve chosen to attend that institution, as well - so that if that one person for whom you’ve gone to that school is no longer there - there will still be reasons for YOU to be there.</p>
<p>What Shennie said. Especially for flute performance, very challenging. Though the flute majors we know at Eastman are happy as can be. They are not dual degree students.</p>
<p>and:</p>
<p>…and NU’s academic rigor is significant to recruiters.</p>
<p>While it is true that there are no guarantees that any teacher will be around for as long as you remain at a school, I think that situation is a little different from one in which a teacher who is known to be retiring next year is the main attraction. In the first case, there is at least a reasonable chance that the same teacher will be there the entire time. In the second, there is no chance at all. </p>
<p>I’m sure NU will hire someone really good to replace Kujala, as will Oberlin to replace Debost. Without knowing in advance who the replacements will be, it is kind of tough to take on faith that they will also be a good match for a particular student.</p>
<p>I guess that what I am saying is that if you do choose NU, hopefully there will be other good reasons to do so than the opportunity of studying with Kujala for a year. There ought to be in any case, because it is an excellent choice both musically and academically. Another thing to check would be whether Kujala is accepting freshman into his studio at all this year, knowing that he will be retiring soon. This whole discussion could be moot.</p>
<p>Kujala was pretty awesome when I had the audition/lesson with him back at Feb…I wish he would stay! But he assured me that the replacement, although not yet named, would be someone of great quality. The Assistant professor, Richard Graef, will also be available.</p>
<p>For NYU, I am pretty set on studying with Brad Garner.</p>
<p>@Shennie Yes, the more I researched it, the more it seems like a good option. </p>
<p>The financial aid for the three privates are NU: 17k/year, NYU or Eastman: 24K. another reason for NU…</p>
<p>Since the majority of the opinion is for NU, I feel that I should balance it with some concerns I have:
The music building is in utter disrepair; practice rooms have no sound insulation(I can play pretty loud, but nothing compared to, say, a trombone, who practiced next to me when i was warming up for the audition…)
Kujala retiring
Academic prestige compared to Cal
Music prestige compared to Eastman
Money: 5 years would be 85k at NU, but I will almost definitely need to go to grad school…(compared to cal)</p>
<p>This is a stupid question but…how come it seems like from where I’m from (middle class, asian, los angeles) no one has heard of NU and everyone has heard of NYU?</p>
<p>Question specifically about financial aid:
at some of the other schools I’ve applied to, they use a combination of grants and loans to meet my efc(0). but for NU, even though they gave me more grants, they did not meet the entire expected cost, instead they left about 10k unmet by either grant or loan. Is this reason enough for appeal?</p>
(As is Cal, but at NU you have strength in both!)</p>