<p>I am a soprano and a senior in high school. I have to choose between Stetson University in DeLand, FL and the Frost School of Music at U of Miami for vocal performance. I know who I want to study with at each school, and both schools are comparable financially for me. </p>
<p>Can anyone provide insight? Any comparisons between the schools? Which school has a better program for undergrads? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>I do not know specifically about voice at either school, but my impressions are as follows:</p>
<p>Stetson is a small school, I believe around 2200 students, 200 in the entire school of music, in North Central rural Florida which attracts mostly students within state. It is an undergrad only program. I would check out the size of the vocal program to make sure that it would be large enough to support your interests completely. I have heard that the campus is very nice and has been updated.</p>
<p>Frost, on the other hand, a larger University, but not huge, that attracts a more international student body. It has all that a big University can offer and has many resources to support its students. It is part of a large city music scene which will provide many opportunities to access the Miami community. There are several professional music schools within the Miami area and there is a lively music scene there. Although the University is larger, the music school is quite intimate. It is also much more competitive academically so you will find a higher caliber academic atmosphere. </p>
<p>If money and choice of teacher are equal, my definite choice would be Miami. Even if you are looking for a smaller school atmosphere, Frost can be very nurturing and supportive. I know several students who have attended Frost and loved it. I would just be sure to compare the surrounding environments of both schools to see if these are environments in which you would be happy living, they are very different.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your input! It was very helpful.</p>
<p>I prefer the urban surroundings of Frost and the consequent musical opportunities in the community over rural DeLand. And I would also be able to minor in French and German if I attend Miami. As for my visits to Frost, I attended a Renee Fleming (!!) masterclass and student performance there a few weeks ago. My voice teacher and I thought both events provided proof of great teaching – not to mention the fact that Renee Fleming came to Miami. Granted, Ms Fleming didn’t hold the masterclass entirely of her own accord, as her sister attends Frost as a doctoral student.</p>
<p>What deters me from Frost are the couple extra gen-ed courses I would have to take, the farther distance of UM from home, and the new Experiential Music Curriculum. The EMC teaches according to the philosophy that students learn music theory more thoroughly via application. The program also requires expensive software, including Sibelius 6, Pro Tools, an audio interface, and a midi-controller among other electronics. And the EMC is starting next year. I would be one of the guinea pigs! Stetson also has the advantage of having Alexander Technique workshops twice a year. Do the negatives of Miami outweigh the positives? </p>
<p>I like my potential teachers at Stetson and Miami equally well. And the finances should come out even. I guess I just have to wait until I get the results of my financial appeal from Stetson. I assume they will offer the same or more than Miami. We shall see.</p>
<p>I appreciate any and all additional advice. Thanks again, slovesviola!</p>
<p>Quote:
the new Experiential Music Curriculum. The EMC teaches according to the philosophy that students learn music theory more thoroughly via application. The program also requires expensive software, including Sibelius 6, Pro Tools, an audio interface, and a midi-controller among other electronics.</p>
<p>I would think that would be a plus. I wonder why you see the EMC as a negative.</p>
<p>I do not necessarily see the EMC as a negative, I just don’t know how the program compares to traditional music theory classes. I wonder whether the approach, with all the technology, might apply to Frost’s large population of contemporary musicians more so than the classical musicians. Also, do I really want to be part of a program in its first year? With kinks yet to be worked out? According to the handbook, “quality testing systems” have yet “to be developed.” My other concern is over the cost of the required materials! About $500 for the software alone. And who knows if there are additional texts.</p>
<p>But I am glad you commented, sopranomom, because you made me think more openmindedly about the EMC. Perhaps the curriculum is more effective than plain lectures and aural training classes. Generally, I favor hands-on, nontraditional education–I just haven’t considered such an approach in music theory. I guess the EMC cannot totally be counted against Miami because it certainly has potential.</p>
<p>For anyone who is interested, here is the online curriculum guide: <a href=“http://www.music.miami.edu/facultyresources/Experiential%20Music%20Curriculum.pdf[/url]”>http://www.music.miami.edu/facultyresources/Experiential%20Music%20Curriculum.pdf</a></p>
<p>Let’s look at their hardware/software requirements.</p>
<p>1) Laptop - this will be handy to have for a number of reasons and the required specs are quite reasonable. You could get a PC for $600 or less, and I have seen low end MacBooks on sale through colleges for $900 or less. Of course, you could spend more for a nicer laptop if you have the cash, but the above models would more than meet the required specs.</p>
<p>2) Software - Sibelius 6 and Pro Tools 8 LE
Sibelius 6 is available for $250 at the academic discount price.
Pro Tools LE is best bought as part of a package (see 3c below)</p>
<p>3) Music hardware
3a) Korg Nano Key - widely available under $40</p>
<p>3b) M-Audio Oxygen 49 - widely available for $130</p>
<p>3c) M-Box 2 Mini - the academic discount price with Pro Tools 8 LE included is $230, but the school should be aggregating orders so that you can get it at a quantity discount for $200. Note that this is not needed until second year. You may want to also have a look at the M-Box 2 (the regular version, not the Mini) which provides the MIDI interface (see 3e) and offers some nice upgrades over the Mini at a price of $330 to $350.</p>
<p>3d) Microphone - you should be able to get something decent for $100 or something tolerable for $60 or so.</p>
<p>3e) You will also need a USB MIDI interface for the laptop since the M-Box 2 Mini does not appear to have that function, and you could wait on the audio interface until your second year anyway. The M-audio Uno is available at about $30 to $35.</p>
<p>4) Accessories
You should be able to get these items (headphones or earbuds, powered speakers for the laptop and a carrying case for the laptop and keyboard) for between $100 and $200 depending on how good you want them to be. Let’s estimate $150 for now.</p>
<p>So, in addition to the laptop which would be quite handy at either school, it looks like we are talking about $700 worth of stuff for the first year and another $200-$350 for second year. Not inexpensive, but much less than what you would pay without the academic discount and you get an enormous amount of capability for what you would be spending. I would not let this cost deter you from the program at Miami unless your financial situation is really tight. I think it is a really good idea to bring this technology into the required curriculum.</p>
<p>Thanks for the breakdown, Bassdad. My financial situation is pretty tight, but I guess I would just have to make it work! I have a laptop already, and I started searching for low prices on the software yesterday. If I was desperate, at least some of those materials could probably be sold after I finish with the music theory courses. That is, provided the technology does not change too much within a year or two…</p>
<p>As I said, I should get my final financial aid package from Stetson any day. My intuition tells me Miami, but financial info could sway my decision out of necessity.</p>
<p>Another thing to remember is that you will probably need that computer software no matter where you go to school. My S had to get Sibelius as a freshman for his Music Theory class this year. Also, the schools have great computer labs for music students with all the software on those computers. Frost has an amazing Music Library with anything that you would possibly need. </p>
<p>The Music Theory curriculum sounds very interesting. In my S’s school he has one day of Music theory class a week plus two days of lab, so there is a lot of hands on in his curriculum also. That does not include the 2 days of Aural Skills.</p>
<p>Good luck in your choice. There may be a way to appeal to Miami for more money, they can be very generous. They have some interesting grants for students if they are willing to volunteer with their youth programs. Of all the schools to which my S was accepted, Miami was the most generous.</p>
<p>Just a couple of comments to add. IMHO, the EC will only benefit you and give you an advantage as increasingly successful musicians benefit from technical fluency. Frost is especially well known for its adept approaches to music technology, so it makes complete sense that it is integrating this pedagogically. I’m having trouble understanding any reservation about this. “Traditional” programs also end up requiring some of the software, and the traditional music theory books are just about as expensive, if not more so, than any of the discounted software.</p>
<p>Another thing of which you should be aware – if the curriculum requires your acquisition of technology, you can often include those costs in your Cost of Attendance calculations that determine ultimately the amount of need-based aid or loan for which you are eligible. You may want to ask the fin aid dept at miami about this impact.</p>
<p>My son’s tech package for his particular (technology based) program at a different school was in excess of $6,000 and was included upon our request in his official COA.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision. I believe in this case Frost might be the program to beat.</p>
<p>PS - I just checked University of Michigan’s recommended tech package for regular school of music students (son is not regular, as I mentioned, is in a tech-heavy program) and their ‘recommendations’ are pretty much identical, right down to the brands. Ergo, the package is certainly not uncharted territory by any means.</p>
<p>My daughter and I visited University of Miami’s Frost Music School three times and it was her favorite until some other factors came to play. Nevertheless I agree with what a number of contributors have had to say here. Frost has a lot to offer and the city of Miami has a lot to offer. The facilities are very good and the campus is beautiful. It is also a school which carries with it some prestige. I don’t know anything about Stetson. I wouldn’t let a $700 cost differential be the deciding factor. In the long-run, the $700will make very little difference – the difference between going to school in Miami, an international cultural center anda small rural city could make a significant difference in your future.</p>
<p>I can chime in for UofM as a South Florida resident. I have worked with UofM faculty on numerous occasions and my experiences have always been wonderful. As the conductor of the Master Chorale of South Florida, Joshua Habermann is one of the finest musicians I have ever met and he does a great job conducting the choir there. Also, voice teachers such as Dr. Southern and Dr. Hardenberg there are really great people who I think are just great artists and teachers as well. I think, for me, the choice would without hesitation be UofM.</p>
<p>Thank you for all the replies and enouragement!</p>
<p>I’ll play Devil’s Advocate, for both schools!
I would definitely suggest taking a second look at Stetson. Some excellent young singers have chosen their program in the past 2 years or so (winners of good competitions in the south) and, on the other end, they have graduated a couple of really good singers who are having success in YAP programs. While I agree that Dean Southern is a good teacher, he has his hands full working with a program that has fluctuated wildly in the recent past- while ranking may not be important to you, Frost is not a top-tier conservatory and it’s undergraduate VP students vary a lot in ability/quality,and it’s not a lot different for their grad school. Tour both facilities, check out what is there now (you can listen to the plans both schools have, but remember, things may not be finished during the time you are there) and take lessons with several teachers- the teacher will be the most important thing for you.Don’t be afraid to ask the teachers their plans for the 4 years you intend to be there- are they planning on taking a sabbatical, actively looking for a position in another part of the country,etc? Another key point is performance opportunity- because Stetson doesn’t have a grad school, it’s likely that you will get more “stage time”, but should you? Young voices are easily damaged and usually, taking time to learn solid technique and Bel Canto singing will benefit you in the long run.
Two last comments: The computer requirement at Stetson is ridiculous- even the top conservatories don’t “require” those programs for most majors, especially VPs, because one can use Sibelius,etc in the music labs in the school. And don’t read a lot into the fact that Renee Fleming did a Master Class at Frost; the key to her being there was a favor to her sister, Rachelle, who is completing her PhD in Vocal Pedagogy in Miami (because her husband works in South Florida), performed a benefit concert and also co-ordinated it with her concert with the Russian National Orchestra. Yes, it was great that she was there, but it wasn’t due in any great way to the rep of Frost itself.
I wish you all the best and know that you’ll make a good, informed choice!</p>