<p>Info to play with:
My daughter is an euphonium who started on trumpet. She's also a trombone player and a drummer. She's going for Instrumental Music Education (and consideing minoring in political science and/or psychology, but that's irrelivant)
Her strength as a player is that she has a notable sense of rhythm,
but she's not the best sight reader.
She served as section leader in marching band.
She's consistantly 1st chair on euphonium. She recieved a 1st division rating this past Solo & Ensemble.
She briefly played trombone for concert band (long enough for one test.) She also got first chair when on trombone.
She goes back and forth between Lead & 2nd trombone in jazz band, depending on what the song demands.</p>
<p>Back on Track:
She auditioned for Western Michigan, but due to WMU being so competitive (and the circumstances of euphoniums there ((too many as is btw))), she's also trying for CMU to presue this degree.</p>
<p>MY QUESTION:
What is the acceptance rate for CMU's music program???
What do they typically look for?</p>
<p>Euphonimom, I’m not personally familiar with the program, but have a friend who went back recently for a masters there after several years as a band director and then cruise ship musician. I will see what I can find out. We haven’t spoken in awhile, so it might be a couple days. His CMU undergrad was music ed, trombone.</p>
<p>CMU is not nearly competitive as WMU. In fact, I’ve been told several times that WMU is the second most competitive program in the state (behind U of M). Have you looked at Grand Valley State? I keep hearing good things about them.</p>
<p>We have. She wasn’t crazy about GVSU and didn’t apply. I wish she didn’t do that, because if CMU doesn’t work out (not that she was denied from WMU, but she’s not holding her breath on getting in) then she’ll probably have to go to community college.</p>
<p>((Music major moms reading this, make sure your child has options when doing auditions))</p>
<p>Euphonimom, just a quick tip. If she DOES end up having to go the community college route, and if you’re in the area, have her to go to GRCC and take music (if you’re local you’ll know the school to which I’m referring.) We’ve seen some performers come out of there with an A.S. degree at a level stronger than some of the local U’s She’d then be a strong transfer candidate, though music credits don’t always transfer well, depending on the school.</p>
<p>I’m from this neck of the woods and I’d be inclined to agree with saxlady’s comments re: competitive-to-get-in-for-music, at least relating to certain instruments/styles. Mich State does, however, have some strong areas as well. My son’s at UMich (and had taken courses via dual enrollment at another college and another university) and would also probably agree with this assessment.</p>
<p>Well, as far as the tuba/euphonium studios go, WMU is still well behind MSU and UMich, but the school is on the rise.</p>
<p>CMU tuba/euph is roughly on par with Western, from my experience. As far as your daughter is concerned, definitely schedule lessons with Mark Cox at Central and Jacob Cameron at Western. They’re both really friendly guys and should be able to give you a better idea about how competitive your daughter is. I’m a WMU grad in tuba, and had a pretty good experience, so feel free to PM me if you have any questions about that program.</p>
<p>euphonimom, I just heard back this evening from my friend who is a high school band director in Michigan. He isn’t in a position to get the acceptance scoop from CMU faculty now, but he asked around – other hs band directors, etc., and they generally aren’t hearing a tough acceptance rate at CMU. Sorry I don’t have stats, etc. He did have some definite opinions about various faculty members, but the euphonium professor is one that he doesn’t know personally. Good luck!</p>
<p>He did add that studio size, class limits, dropouts, instrumentation can certainly make the acceptance rate vary from year to year, so I guess that’s a way of saying any given year can be outside a norm.</p>
She’d then be a strong transfer candidate, though music credits don’t always transfer well, depending on the school.</p>