<p>I'm a coloratura soprano trying to narrow down my college choices (looking for a Univ vs. a Conserv). I'm going into my senior year of H.S. and have been taking voice lessons for 5 years. My SAT composite is 2200 and my weighted GPA is about a 4.8. Financial Aid is a concern and I'm hoping to get a full ride, but realize that with a major in music, the audition will probably determine that. I'm willing to leave FL, but would rather not go too far west.</p>
<p>My long list includes B.U., Johns Hopkins, Columbia/Juiiliard, Carnegie-Mellon, Vanderbilt, Indiana, Rice, Northwestern, Miami and FSU.</p>
<p>I really want to go somewhere with lots of performance opportunities, specifically in operas. I also realize that the individual voice teachers are very important. Are there any schools I'm missing? Any schools I should take off the list? Are there any voice teachers you can recommend at specific schools? I can't visit them all, so I'm trying to narrow it down and probably visit some when/if I audition. </p>
<p>Thanks for any info...</p>
<p>There is more to undergrad learning and performance than being in a lot of operas. Some very good schools do not put undergrads into the operas until upper class, and then just in the chorus. Others such as Oberlin are all undergrad so there are more performances for undergrads. You did not include Oberlin in your list, though. </p>
<p>DD was at Rice and although as a mezzo she was not in a lot of operas, her studio mates who were sopranos were in several. With undergrad and grad together most major roles go to grad students. The one undergrad soprano who did get some major roles had a lot of previous performance experience in musical theater. DD did not find that it limited her performance chances, though. She did recitals, some other school performances approved by her studio professor, the chorale, and performed with the student composers and instrumentalists when they needed voice parts. </p>
<p>At Rice they have not hired Kathy Kaun’s replacement yet. She is retiring in a year or so and is not taking new students. Stephen King and Suzanne Mentzer are both good but very different. It is best to try to do a sample lesson. Dr. King takes mostly grad students. </p>
<p>Even if you can’t visit before auditions, many will take sample lessons around the audition times if you request it ahead of time. Good luck with your coming audition season.</p>
<p>Seconding Singersmom07- not only isn’t it wise to expect a lot of performance opps, it wouldn’t be safe if you did get them. There is a lot to learn and all of the kids who were “stars” in high school suddenly converge in higher education, so the underclassmen have to “put in their time” as stage crew and move on to small chorus roles in staged operas or scenes. The schools on your list are varied, some are not known for their attention to undergrad VP majors (but are excellent with grad students), at least one is so large that you will never set foot on stage during 4 years barring a miracle(!), some have more academics, some less,etc.
It’s about the teacher, even more so with voice students, since you are working with a “living instrument” and having a teacher you trust and who is concerned with vocal health and pedagogy is all important. You could find the perfect teacher for you at a school with a not-so-well known name. Your fach could change; it happens often as the voice matures and grows. My D should since she has sung all kinds of rep as her top expanded while retaining a lovely lower range and a full middle- thankfully she had a teacher who heard “other things” in her voice and worked patiently to develop a her full range.
Ask around, ask questions, and you’ll find the right place for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you both for your responses. You’re right, and I’m not expecting to come in freshman year and be the star, I just want to make sure that appropriate performance opportunities are available and that I’m not lost in the crowd (or for that matter top dog, because then I won’t be growing). I’m aware of the very large school you mentioned, and it’s not at the top of my list. A blog I read said that you’d be lucky to carry a spear in an opera! I really just want a great music school (well-known or not) with a great teacher, that is not all about the master’s students (when I’m a master’s student then I’ll want to go to those schools!) that will also give me a well-rounded education (and hopefully a scholarship!). I’m interested in hearing anyone’s experiences with particular colleges and teachers, realizing that one size does not fit all…</p>
<p>So I just read another blog that talked about the merits of each, but I’m still confused. I absolutely want to have a career in music, but think it’s important to have options. If I go to a university, will I be at a disadvantage as an undergrad going for my master’s?</p>
<p>“If I go to a university, will I be at a disadvantage as an undergrad going for my master’s?”</p>
<p>in a word: NO. They just care about your voice and you can get a fantastic vocal education at a music school within a large university. You need hard work and focus. Correct that: A LOT of hard work and focus.
Throw in a bit of good luck as well.As a “heads up” I will reiterate what Mezzomom said:as a freshman you need to be ready for the how vast and deep the vocal talent pool is now days. It knocks the wind out of everyone’s sails that first few months. At the same time — you are not alone, most young singers post a desire to jump right in and perform. That’s what you love, right?</p>
<p>That’s right. I think I would rather be in a smaller (but reputable) program than a huge famous program watching grad students perform; not to be the big fish in a small pond, but to get more individual attention and, yes, to have the opportunity to perform. </p>
<p>Any advice/info on particular colleges/teachers?</p>
<p>There are some small programs within large universities, such as UCLA which only has a maximum of 35 undergrads and grads total,[url=<a href=“http://www.music.ucla.edu/Performance/Opera/about.html]UCLA”>http://www.music.ucla.edu/Performance/Opera/about.html]UCLA</a> Division of Voice and Opera<a href=“but%20I%20understand%20that%20you%20do%20not%20want%20to%20travel%20too%20far%20west”>/url</a></p>
<p>Singersmom07, I know a clarinetist who went there - guess I had it in my mind that it was more instrumental than vocal (opera). Do you have an opinion on the school - know any voice teachers?</p>
<p>Yes, Musicamusica, I’ve heard CA has great music schools, but Rice is probably as far west as I want to go. </p>
<p>So, through various PM’s and blogs my list is changing and I’m getting a better idea of what I want. </p>
<p>Still on my list: Rice, Carnegie-Mellon, Vanderbilt, Miami, FSU and B.U. (because my voice teacher knows faculty and thinks highly of it). Added to my list: CIT, Oberlin and Hartt. BTW, I visited Stetson a few months ago; pretty sure they’re not on the level of these others, but I loved the campus. Any thoughts on them? </p>
<p>Not exactly narrowing down the list, but narrowing down my preferences. Still open to any suggestions.</p>
<p>Here’s my advice: have a bona fide safety. I’m not trying to diminish your talent, since I’ve never heard you, but have at least one school that you know you can get into prepared. At the level of schools you’re looking at, there are so many other factors besides talent that go into the admissions decision. I believe it would be far worse to have no music options than to go to an undergrad that may not be the top tier, musically. For us opera singers, graduate programs and YAPs are going to be much more important than wherever you went to undergrad.</p>
<p>You do need to have some realistic safety schools on your list. There are schools on your list that do not offer full rides or a good amount of merit or talent scholarship dollars. For the Columbia/Juilliard program, you need to be admitted to both schools. For a school like Juiliard you are not only competing with the most talented vocalists in the U.S but internationally as well.</p>
<p>It’s good to have a few safety schools on your list, and can be helpful to do one EA audition just to have that under your belt and work out the nerves…</p>
<p>You’re all right, and I was planning to do that. I was only listing schools that are considered top of the line to narrow them down and apply to a few. Since I live in FL, I’m planning to apply to FSU and UCF, although I visited the latter and felt that it might not be challenging enough. Will be visiting FSU soon. </p>
<p>Any other ideas for safety schools? There’s 2 other private ones in my area that I’m aware of - Stetson and Rollins. I think I would probably be able to get merit and/or music scholarships there. Anyone have opinions on their music programs?</p>
<p>One thing I forgot to mention is that I’ve been in the FL All-State Reading Choir since my freshman year and that I am in the running for National Merit Semi-finalist, and though I know it’s more about the voice, these things can’t hurt my chances for scholarships.</p>
<p>As you read more threads you will find that when it comes to auditioning, there are NO safeties. Singers have gotten into Juilliard and rejected from their “safety.” Because it’s how you sang that one day coupled with what slots the school is needing to fill plus who loved your package. You REALLY need to look at teachers, have trial lessons and see who you fit with. Keep reading and making lists. I would say as an undergraduate soprano, your odds of a full ride at a top school are not high unless it’s a combination of talent, academic merit with alot of financial aid thrown in. You have some excellent schools in your list - I would look at Lawrence as well. I think the university path is an excellent way to go. Just make sure you are taking all the courses necessary to get into a conservatory masters program easily later - languages, theory, music history. Best of luck!</p>
<p>National Merit will mean more for money than all state choir. The latter is a nice experience, but will not affect admission or scholarship. Money is tight in all music programs, particularly for sopranos. Keep up the good grades - academic scholarships are much easier to come by.</p>
<p>Honestly, I have been reading lots of threads. I’m not that much of a bighead that I expect to get accepted everywhere or full rides for that matter. But as a FL resident who has prepaid and bright futures, in-state public school is practically free for me, so I have to have pretty much a full ride to consider going elsewhere. In other words, I’m not counting on anything, but I think it’s okay to hope. </p>
<p>To the best of my knowledge, FSU and Miami are considered the “best” music schools in FL, so I think it’s safe to say that UCF is a safety school. I know that the road I want to go down is extremely competetive, and honestly, if none of the better schools accept me, than I’d have to question my decision to be a performer. I have to believe in myself or not even think about this kind of career. I really don’t think that will happen, but music will always be a part of me regardless.</p>
<p>So my goal here is to find the best schools for me by getting as much info and input as I can, and then applying, praying and seeing what happens. Another question - how many schools to apply to? It costs a lot of money to apply and then visit and audition. I’m in FL, about as far as you can get from some of these schools, and not from a wealthy family. On the other hand, if acceptance and scholarships are so random, you can’t just apply to a few. Very confusing…</p>
<p>"if none of the better schools accept me, than I’d have to question my decision to be a performer. "</p>
<p>If most of todays performers thought that way we would lose out on alot of phenomenal talent. Save that thought for grad school applications. Undergraduate you should concentrate on getting a great teacher to set your technique (and they don’t only exist at top schools, they are everywhere) and getting a music education in addition to another major or minor if you are interested. Talent develops at different rates - if you truly want to be a performer, don’t think you will be washed up as a high school senior without a top school acceptance. You are doing a great job of researching your possibilities - don’t give up, no matter the outcome - give yourself time to develop in various directions.</p>
<p>I would consider applying to around 8 schools and then see where you get an audition. The New York/Philly schools have their auditions in a similar week, so it may take a weeks trip up to NY to fulfill your auditions to area schools like Juillard/Mannes/MSM and Curtis. It is costly to apply, but I think you are well on your way to making a list of good fit schools for you. If money is a big issue, and you fall into the dreaded middle class where you would not qualify for financial aid, but can’t afford to pay the full tuition, then you should cull your lists to schools that would conform to your money needs and don’t waste time on say Juilliard who only gives need based aid.</p>
<p>In addition, Florida has some nice high school level competitions and make sure you apply to NFAA - make yourself as attractive to schools as possible.</p>
<p>Pick up a copy of “The Inner Voice” by Renee Fleming. She couldn’t afford to go to Oberlin so went to SUNY Potsdam. She studied at Eastman and Julliard, but was not a super star. She struggled mightily with technique and says it took 10 years to straighten it out.</p>