<p>I know it may see like a large random list, but humor me if you know anything about them!!</p>
<p>I am a classically trained singer. I am not looking for an operatic career and I would prefer a school with more challenging academics than a school that will launch a career as a singer.</p>
<p>I am not sure what my major will be but I am not looking for a conservatory nor a career as a vocalist.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!! </p>
<p>American University
Augustana College
Bard College
Barnard College
Berklee College of Music
Carnegie Mellon University
Case Western University
University of Cincinnati
Cleveland Institute of Music
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
De Pauw University
Eastman School of Music
Haverford College
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University Bloomington
Knox College
Lawrence University
University of Miami
U of Michigan
NYU
Northwestern Univerisity
University of Notre Dame
Oberlin College
Peabody Institute John Hopkins
Pomona College
Rhodes College
Rice University
U of Rochester
Simmons College
Simpson College
USC School of Music
St. Olaf College
Swarthmore
Texas Lutheran University
Tufts University
Vanderbilt University
Washington Univ. St. Louis
Wesleyan University</p>
<p>whatdidyousay, you have listed many top universities and colleges and most of the universities you have listed have major conservatories for vocal performance associated with them for people who are serious about performance as a career. I am not sure what you mean by do we know “anything about them” when you are not interested in a music major. I think you need to work on narrowing your criteria some and do some research first. You can start with many of the threads that are at the top of the page. Perhaps if you give more information on what you are looking for academically since music is not your primary interest. . </p>
<p>For example, Rice is academically challenging and a top 20 university with a top conservatory associated with it. Do you want the academics and are you qualified academically for a top university or LAC or are you looking for the music? It is a tough conservatory admit and a tough academic admit. If it is academics you get a different music experience since you are not in the major studios. However there are music opportunities for non-majors, just not the same as for majors. It is much the same for other universities.</p>
<p>Sorry. I am not sure whether or not I have the talent for vocal performance, my voice teacher doesnt think it is right for me, probably the nice way of saying Im not good enough. I want to take back what Ive said. I most definitely want to major in music though. Whether or not in specifically performance, I have yet to know. HOWEVER I ask about academics because quite frankly I enjoy smart people and being surrounded by them. I am 99% certain that I will double major with liberal arts as my second major unless I have a breakthrough that tells me that I should become a biologist etc. Unless of course the school has wierd degree programs like Vandy does which do percentages I dont remember the specifics because there are so many, but something like 60% liberal arts 40% music classes. Or vice versa. </p>
<p>Im curious about specific vocal teachers/programs (in a private message). If anyone has children at these schools and they wanted to tell me whether or not their child liked a certain teacher or the overall program. Im creating my own Fiske Guide to Vocal Schools I guess I should say. </p>
<p>ACT: 31 I find out my SAT score soon. GPA not sure because my school is annoying but Ive gotten As A-s and B+s. Probably about 3.75 if that is an A- average?</p>
<p>While grades do count the admittance into most any VP program is based on the audition, whether it is a stand alone conservatory or in a music school that is part of a larger university. There may be some schools that have non-audition programs. As far as assessing whether or not you have the necessary ability to gain entry into the music program at any of these schools have you may consider getting an “independent” opinion, from some one who is a professional. Be upfront with them about the whole thing, people tend to try and be kind and tell you what you want to hear. I would not get an opinion from some one who gives private lessons. Maybe a professor of voice, a professional singer or a conductor who works with singers. Oh and by the way, most musicians tend to be well read, highly intelligent people.</p>
<p>Oberlin could present you with an interesting set of resources. The Conservatory voice major is very much an opera-based program and is one of the better undergraduate programs in the country, but that does not sound like the direction you would be headed. Nevertheless, it offers teachers, classes, facilities, ensembles and events that may be of interest. </p>
<p>There is also a BA program in music available through the college that would allow you to have a concentration in vocal performance (if your audition is good enough) or to lean more toward musicology if you have any interest in that direction. You could also major (or double major) in a wide range of other subjects, from creative writing to neuroscience. Your grades and test scores are typical of admitted students there. If interested, it helps to demonstrate some interest in the school by writing a well-reasoned “Why Oberlin?” essay and by visiting if possible.</p>
<p>As you might expect, music of all sorts is an integral part of campus culture there. There are lots of opportunities for non-music majors to participate in ensembles, both those that are directed by conservatory teachers and various student-run groups. Although there are fewer than 3000 students on campus, it is a rare day when there is not at least one musical event to attend, from a student recital to a student rock band playing on the quad to the school steel drum band playing on the chapel steps to an orchestra concert to a monthly midnight organ pump to a faculty recital to a concert featuring a top artist like Joshua Bell to a master class given by a visiting artist like Marilyn Horne. You will be able to get voice lessons there, the only question being with whom. You can audition to study with a faculty member and get a half-hour weekly lesson for 2 credit hours and at no cost provided you do not go over 16 credit hours per semester. If you are not at the level of being able to audition into a faculty studio, you can study with a junior or senior voice major who is being mentored in teaching by a faculty member. Those lessons do not carry credit and cost something like $10 per week. </p>
<p>If you have an interest in Jazz, there is a spectacular new building that just opened last week that promises to turn what is already an excellent program into one of the best anywhere. There is also a strong early music program. </p>
<p>what are the chances that a youtube video would suffice for judgment? I would not audition with that song for college, but it might be helpful regardless.</p>
<p>My voice teacher’s friend teaches at a major university, and I had a voice lesson with her but I was too sick for her to hear me.
However, I sent her a youtube video of my solo from the musical this year. But her daughter recently had a baby, so I think she has been too busy to respond. She could probably tell me though my chances of making her school specifically and others in general.</p>
<p>@BassDad
if I was to find a local “professional” who should I ask? How would I find them/contact them?</p>
<p>@srw
Yeah I’ve found that musicians are generally smart. It makes sense because a person uses different parts of their brain when playing music so it is most likely more developed than a non musician.
And I am aware that the audition is WAY more important, which is why I would like to know whose opinion I should seek!</p>
<p>On your list, Bard College is definitely worth checking out. The undergraduate vocal program is entirely contained in the college and not the Conservatory, and is not auditioned based, nor dependent on one’s major. From what I hear the adjunct faculty voice professors are great - and there are students who are continuing in classical singing for grad school - as well as performing in the Bard Summerscape opera choruses. The choral program is also being seriously developed. (There is a previous post by N8Ma about vocal music at Bard.)</p>
<p>Bard could be just the sort of place you’re looking for - academics are top-notch and you wouldn’t be at any disadvantage not being a conservatory or Music School student as you might at some of the other institutions on your list. You might also add Vassar and Williams to your list to investigate.</p>
<p>I believe it was srw who recommended getting a professional evaluation, but I agree that it is a good idea. Do you live near a major city or a school with a good music program like many of those on your list? If so, you should be able to find someone there. You could ask your teacher or your teacher’s friend to refer you to someone. What you want is a consultation to determine where you are with your voice and what the appropriate next steps might be to achieve your musical goals. I am not entirely clear on what those goals might be, but hopefully you have some idea or there is not a whole lot of point to getting the consultation. You should expect to pay for this service and it would be a good idea to ask about price up front.</p>
<p>University of Michigan has a school of music, meaning professional or conservatory style, intense program. It also has very strong, rigorous academics. In terms of academic admit, your scores, if accurate, would be middle 50th percentile (I think about 80% have higher than a 3.7). Hopefully, lots of those are APs or IBs.
You can take music in a way that is less intense than BMus – for example, the Bachelor of Musical Arts – a good degree if you want a cohort area of study. You can also “dual degree” with the school of music. Visit <a href=“http://music.umich.edu%5B/url%5D”>http://music.umich.edu</a> to research available degrees.</p>