<p>Next week I am forecasting my classes for my junior year. I guess that within the next two years, my college ambition might change (at least my parents hope it will), but I can't imagine myself doing anything other than vocal performance in college, and I want to take classes in high school that will benefit me in college, and allow me enough time to work on other activities outside of school (besides singing, I'll take piano, ballet, and independently study music theory, and possibly take a class in italian, and I'll probably have to get a job to support my lessons) I'm going to take AP English and AP US history, but I'm not sure about my language class. </p>
<p>I know that language is important for VP, except for right now I'm taking spanish. I took Spanish in eighth grade because the teacher was better than the French teacher, and my parents really wanted me to take a language that I would actually speak later on in life. I don't really regret not taking French, because most of my friends that did take it had to repeat French 1 in freshman year, and I'm a year ahead of most students in language. I'm not sure if I want to take AP spanish next year or not. A lot of people are telling me that I should take three years of a language in high school, but I feel like AP spanish will be a lot of work, and I'm not sure how much use it will have (other than if I decide to go into music education of some sort, and end up somewhere with a high hispanic population) </p>
<p>If I take French 1, I will be in an almost all Freshman class, and I'll only get through French 2 by senior year, so I'd probably have to take all of the beginning classes in college anyways (wouldn't I?), so I'm kind of thinking I should just drop it altogether? Or should I just go along with taking AP Spanish this year, so I have the credit for the heck of it? I have a 97% in Spanish III, so I think I'd do fine in the class, but I don't know how it will benefit me. Because my parents want me to major in something "practical", they want me to take the class because it could help me get into a selective college. Mind you, I would love to go somewhere such as Rice or Michigan, so I want to take challenging enough courses.</p>
<p>Im in AP French so I can’t really give a clear idea of spanish. But, as a voice major you will be taking French, German and Italian. Not Spanish, so in any regards you will not be getting out of taking a language. Just something to consider.</p>
<p>Yeah, that is a good point, and I totally understand that - that is why I’m asking the question. Since I won’t get out of anything, and it won’t really benefit me in school, is there any reason I should still take AP Spanish, or should I just drop the language class and take more electives? I would probably take an outside of school language course in Italian, like I said, even though I won’t get out of anything, it would be fun and I’d have a good start in the language during college.</p>
<p>Colleges like to see you mastered a language, rather than jumping around, so I think AP Spanish is relevant to comptitive admissions. That said, you do have a specific reason to change languages, and that may be explained in your application. I Also think it will help you in your future language studies.</p>
<p>DD changed languages her senior year because she did not decide on VP until mid way through her junior year. Before that she had been studying Latin for her science studies. The general rule around here is to have 3-4 of one language or 2 each of 2. She had 3 of Latin and 1 of French. It did not hurt her admission whatsoever. VP is almost all about the audition except for a few schools and even then for those the 2 and 2 will be fine. If you do well in 2 years of one of the standard VP languages you may still be able to pass out of that term in college. Different VP programs have different requirements. Even if you don’t it will be easier for you. I would recommend one of the VP languages.</p>
<p>I would suggest you take Italian or French, from a good teacher who pronounces the language correctly. Can you take either one at a local community college? You mentioned electives–have you taken acting? If there is a good drama program at your school, then I recommend you take a drama class. It can really help you with the performance quality of your auditions. Or, put the extra time into piano, if you aren’t already proficient.</p>
<p>Regarding AP Spanish–around here students take Spanish IV and usually V before AP, so you might find it very challenging (and time-consuming) to jump to AP. Unless you have a particular love/affinity for Spanish, you might prefer to spend your time in other ways, such as studying French or Italian, drama, and piano. VP programs usually start with Italian.</p>
<p>At most schools in my state, right after Spanish III, you take AP Spanish, or AP Spanish IV, in which you would still take the language exam. I don’t mind the class, but it seems like it would benefit my time better to take a VP language instead. I was worried that maybe only 2 years of French wouldn’t help much, but it seems like other students benefited from a later switch? I’m meeting with the counselor at my new school next week (because I’m changing to a school where I can take more arts focused electives, and still have room for language instead of theology courses), so I guess I’ll ask her what she thinks then. I assume taking french for two years will at least help me with diction and whatnot for French songs.</p>
<p>The only regret I have of my daughter’s education was that she stuck with Spanish in elementary and high school rather than take French (Italian nor German were an option until college). Spanish really messed with her Italian pronunciation for quite awhile. Her guidance counselor said the same thing about being with all Freshmen in French I in high school as a junior, but she should have done it.</p>
<p>As a voice major you would take Italian, German and French. Spanish can be useful. I sang a set in Spanish for my junior recital and I’ll probably do another for my senior recital.</p>
<p>Since you’re interested in the University of Michigan program, you should know that a) Michigan prefers 4 years of any language for overall admissions and b) French will benefit you more (than Spanish). At the same time, the admit is talent-based, although academic clearance is required and is rigorous, but not as rigorous as the overall school (that said, most admits have do rigorous academic background as well.) In this particular case, a school like Michigan would likely be quite happy to see the switch to French under the circumstances (it’s the School of Music that evaluates your record together with regular admissions.) I’m not familiar with Rice requirements, but expect they’d find the switch acceptable as well.</p>
<p>If you do decide to take German or Italian instead, make sure it is accredited so that you can transfer it in/take placement exam at Michigan if you’re admitted. </p>
<p>In any case, two years of HS French is not likely to be wasted, as Michigan operates on proficiency exams for placement, which can reduce the number of terms required in the language (and ergo, save you money 
)</p>
<p>My son is not a vocal major but is at the school of music and did have a vocal studio this year, and despite having had 6 yrs of French in elementary school (then switching to spanish) he had a great deal of difficulty with French pronunciation when it came to singing – moreso than he expected! In his case, having abandoned French for Spanish in High School seemed to cause unusual pronunciation issues in BOTH languages. Eg. Speaking Spanish with a French accent and vice versa…So 2 years of French may help break you of the Spanish habits before you go!</p>
<p>D is at Rice. The fact that she had 1 year of French with 3 years Latin was not important. She received the State’s advance degree and that was all that was needed.</p>
<p>Take french if you can. You will not really use Spanish much in voice. It may be helpful in Italian, but just take French!</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is whether you will be pursuing a BM or a BA in vocal performance and whether you will be looking at a conservatory or a program within a college/university setting. At most conservatories, you will be required to take a year each of French, Italian and German and also diction classes which encompass those languages and English. Although you could possibly sing some Spanish Art Songs in either a junior or senior recital, at the top schools you will have to get permission from your teacher and from the department to do so since that falls outside of the “norms” set out for those events. Spanish makes it easier to transition to Italian, since they both have set pronunciations for letters, but French is it’s own animal as is German.
I wouldn’t count on two years of HS French making it possible for you to pass any proficiency exams in college, but they would help you feel more comfortable in the language if you take it in your first year of advanced study, so you will have one less class to worry about! I give you a lot of credit for thinking about all of this now, and also suggest that you discuss this with your voice teacher.Good luck!</p>