<p>Hi,
I'm currently a sophomore at a small, top 25 liberal arts school in New York. I'm looking to transfer to a larger university. Here's the deal:</p>
<p>I want to be a writer, and continue to sing as my hobby, perhaps be in a band. I plan to major in theatre. I'm looking for a larger university in a large city, with a good theatre program and a good music program I could take classes from. (preferrably no auditions, I don't have the time or money). And by good, I don't mean it has to be highly ranked, just somewhere I could learn and practice my craft. I'm not really concerned about the quality of academics at this point, just the arts programs, and the last requirement is it must be cheap. For me this means either low tuition, or really good financial aid and/or merit aid (no loans, that's half the reason I'm transferring). I know I'm asking a lot, but can anyone help me? I'm from Ohio, so close to home would be nice too. Right now I'm considering OSU. Out-of-state is fine though, but not too far away.
Thanks so much, I will owe you all my undying gratitude.</p>
<p>Ames, if you are from Ohio, you should be familiar with University of Cincnnati. They seem to meet all of your needs to the "T." They are in a fairly large city, and have a fabulous musical theater and music program. Voice training is also top notch. In addition, the in-state tuition for Ohio residents is unbeatable anywhere. Your problem will be that Cincinnati Conservatory of Music is one of the top notch programs in the world and is hard to get into.</p>
<p>Other options, which aren't as inexpensive as CCM wouid be Peabody Conservatory,which is part of Johns Hopkins, New England Conservatory of Music, and some other schools noted in the musical theater forum listing.</p>
<p>You said theatre - so I'm guessing you mean straight drama, correct? UC would be something you should consider - I believe they do the NY Unifieds - so you could audition without travel expense.</p>
<p>Additionally, you should look at Kent State, and Ohio U. Neither fit the bill about being in a large city - although Kent is close enough to Cleveland, which has a vibrant arts community.</p>
<p>Bowling Green comes to mind. They offered my D a generous scholarship as an out of state student, and should be more generous to an in state student. Not a large city though, bu not oo far away.</p>
<p>Taxguy,
You should apply for a job in the University of Cincinnati's PR department :) </p>
<p>As you told Ames, the voice department at CCM is top notch. However, it is very unlikely that a non-voice or non-MT major will be able to take private voice lessons with a voice faculty member. The faculty are quite busy handling students whose major requires private voice. Usually, non-majors who wish to take private lessons at CCM are referred to the Preparatory Department. Generally, the Prep faculty are different from the college faculty. Students who elect to take lessons through the Prep department pay a separate quarterly fee. Rarely, a voice faculty member will give private lessons outside of the university. (My own D studied privately with a faculty member during her senior year of H.S. She was the ONLY student the teacher taught outside of CCM.) Students pay for these lessons out-of-pocket just as students taking lessons through the Prep Department do. </p>
<p>I do want to reiterate that theatrical productions at CCM - both musicals and straight plays - are for majors only. Lots of non-majors attend the productions and enjoy them, but they do not perform in them. </p>
<p>If Ames is fortunate enough to be accepted as a theatre major, she, of course, would be eligible to audition for the productions.</p>
<p>dancersmom, I will check to see if musical theater majors can also take voice lessons. I forgot to investigate this. Since Ames is a Ohio resident, it would really seem to be a great deal. In addition, CCM has a much better reputation for both music and musical theater than Ohio State from my knowledge and from the rankings.</p>
<p>From the interests expressed by the OP, it seems the best fit is a BA program, not a BFA. She wants to be a writer. She'd like to major in theater. She'd like to continue singing as a hobby. She'd like to take classes in music and theater, not necessariliy do an intensive BFA in MT. In this regard, I do not think CCM is the best fit. It is hard to suggest schools without knowing her background or qualifications. I would not rule out private because sometimes private schools' need based and/or merit based aid can bring the school in line with a less expensive college.</p>
<p>(Freelance's suggestion of Kenyon in terms of writing and theater and being in Ohio is a good one, if the OP has the qualifications). The various state U's in Ohio are worth a look as well. Oberlin, too.</p>
<p>Soozievt, Cincinnati does have a Creative Writing major too, and CCM students can take courses outside of CCM. </p>
<p>You also note, "It is hard to suggest schools without knowing her background or qualifications:</p>
<p>Response: You are absolutely correct, which is why all readers of these forums need to investigate the schools for themselves. These suggestions are just that: suggestions for further inquiry.</p>
<p>When someone's goal is to be a writer and to have singing as a hobby, I don't think the BFA in Acting or MT route, which is what CCM offers, is the best fit. I realize you have a child in a major at CCM (non performance) and it is a FINE FINE school. But I don't know your familiarity with choosing the appropriate path of a BFA or a BA in theater. Based on the little bit the OP provided, as far as goals, along with the fact that she is at a LAC now, my guess is that the BA route is the suitable match. So, CCM's BFA is not as good of a fit. A BFA is for someone who is very passionate about focusing on MT (or Acting) where that is the bulk of their curriculum (varies from program to program but at any BFA program it is going to be a much higher percentage of their curriculum than a BA theater major would be) and for someone who is seeking a career in theater. </p>
<p>On the other issue with regard to suggesting colleges, it seems that one needs more than the name of the major to go by....some bare minimum academic qualifications, college criteria, etc. All too often, I have seen students create college lists of "theater schools" as if the only thing they needed to do was to find schools that have a theater program. Some have schools on their list that are HIGHLY unlikely and inappropriate for their background and academic stats. There is a LOT to creating a list of best "fits", not just a major you'd like to do.</p>
<p>I am not sure your point? Dancersmom was saying that she doubted that NON BFA in MT students would be able to take voice lessons from faculty. The fact that you found that BFA in MT students take vocal coaching and voice study....well of course! Any BFA in MT program that didn't offer that would suck, LOL.</p>
<p>I had hoped to pre-empt your latest post addressed to me, but unfortunately, I was a bit too slow.</p>
<p>MT majors at CCM are REQUIRED to take voice lessons. I never stated nor implied that they do not. (Reread my post #6.) I said that students at UC who are not majoring in either voice OR MT will find it very difficult to take private voice lessons with voice faculty. They are told that they can take private lessons through the Preparatory department. Inquiring about whether or not an acting major - NOT an MT major - can take lessons with a faculty member or a teaching assistant is something interested potential students, such as the OP, should do. </p>
<p>You are correct that CCM's reputation for music and MT is higher than Ohio State's. However, the OP does not plan to major in either music or MT. I agree with Soozie that an intense BFA program does not seem to fit her.</p>
<p>As I recall, you told Piano/MTMom whose son wished to major in PIANO and also perform in campus musicals that CCM would be a good fit. I had already discussed the program with her on another thread here at CC and explained that non-majors cannot perform in musicals. You implied that she'd be crazy to consider any other school. IMHO, CCM clearly does not fit her son's criteria. </p>
<p>I am quite well acquainted with CCM. I have lived in the greater Cincinnati area for over 20 years and know the arts community here pretty well. I worked as an accompanist in the dance department at CCM for many years. My D studied in the Prep department for 9 years. Her vocal coach was the music director for the MT program for 10 years and the voice teacher (CCM faculty) she worked with during H.S. works with both voice majors and MT majors. I am very well aware that MT majors are REQUIRED to take private voice lessons. I am also aware, as are the other frequent posters on the MTforum, that MT majors in any decent BFA or BM MT program are required to take private voice lessons.</p>
<p>I gather that you have a child attending U.C. It's great to be a booster for your child's school, but CCM is not the right place for every student interested in the arts. Not even every Ohio resident.</p>
<p>ames - We know one person who graduated from OSU in theatre, and a large state university like that surely has music and writing opportunities for you, so I think you are on the right track to check it out.</p>
<p>In addition, Belmont in Nashville comes to mind for you. Nashville may not be tremendously far away from you and is a big city. The university has about 3000 students (so, not large, as you wanted). They are reasonably priced for a private school.</p>
<p>We have not looked at Belmont but know 3 students there who are interested in music and in being in bands. This is a huge music school, and the largest major is music business. One student we know is actually studying English with the intention of one day going to law school to be a lawyer for the music business. In the meantime, he plays in a couple of bands and makes a ton of money each weekend. I think Vanderbilt Greek parties hire them to play quite often. I think most of the students there may have similar interests to yours.</p>
<p>We also know a HS senior who is looking at their MT major, which we haven't heard much about yet. I think it is a BM and music focused, requiring audition.</p>
<p>I looked on their web site for you, and they do offer a theatre major as well and have a season announced of straight plays.</p>