How to Get Started on the Music Performance Search?

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Ok, I've finished getting oldest child through the college admissions process and turn around and see her rising junior brother's process just beginning.</p>

<p>I'm fairly "expert" on the traditional search, but my S is an aspiring bassoonist who would like to major in performance and possibly double major in math. Applying to music programs is a mystery to me. </p>

<p>I'm not sure where to even start with him. He's at a summer program where he will have the opportunity to meet current college students and faculty (bassoon), so we've told him to learn about where they study/teach and to start creating a list of what sounds good to him.</p>

<p>I sense it is important to research the faculty very specifically in this case (which wasn't critical for my D who might major in education or history or psychology or.....). But how do I find out who they are? We'll be asking his private teachers, but beyond their circle of contacts, are there lists, guides, etc? </p>

<p>So, where does one start? We'll begin with our state school, Maryland, but after that, I/we know the big names (Oberlin, Indiana. etc) in music but what about hidden gems? </p>

<p>Any tips on the process? I've read enough to know that the audition is key, but since he might double major, his less than stellar grades may matter a lot. </p>

<p>Thanks for any info, I'm not going to obsess about this for the summer -- he's gone and I'm wiped out from my first college search! But, I am curious....</p>

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<p>The music admissions process is a far cry from a "normal" college search. Strap yourself in and get ready for a real roller coaster ride...</p>

<p>Use the search function...</p>

<p>Here's the seminal post at this site:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258796%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258796&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Peabody Conservatory Website has some excellent articles too...</p>

<p>Read the above and then you'll have a bunch of specific questions...</p>

<p>BTW, Towson in Maryland has a nice music department too. Of course there's Peabody in Baltimore...</p>

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<p>BassDad's post and the Peabody articles are very valuable and must reads. Just to summarize some of the key points:</p>

<p>What is your son's level of interest and long term goals? If he is 100% committed to music performance, then he may be happy at a high level, intense conservatory like Juilliard or Eastman. This leads to a second consideration.</p>

<p>What is your son's current level of music performance ability and what is his long term potential? What level of music conservatory or music program fits his current ability and goals? Most of us need the help of teachers to assess this. We want to support and encourage our young musicians but avoid being overly optimistic. The admissions process at top conservatories is brutal. Acceptance rates are low and depend on a 15 minute audition. With an instrument like the bassoon there is another issue. The limited number of openings and the level of competition can vary greatly from year to year. You have already mentioned another consideration - selecting the teacher. The fit with the teacher is very important but so is the overall level of performance at the specific school. Ideally there is a fit with the teacher and with the school. My D had the experience of a good teacher and playing in a low orchestras and was not happy.</p>

<p>You have mentioned the possibility of a double major with math. I would suggest reading the archives for this forum. Oberlin and Illinois are really good choices for a strong musician who wants a double degree. There are lots of other well-known choices with strong academics and strong music: Eastman/UR, Peabody/JHU, Northwestern, BU, etc, etc. There are also plenty of "hidden gems" where there is both an academic fit and a fit with the instrument teacher. Many great musicians have undergrad experience from schools with modest music reputations. During your son's junior year it will be very valuable to take some road trips. Visit schools and include lessons with the instrument teacher. During this process, you may find that your son's goals change. They did for my D. She started with lots of doubts and then decided that she just needed music in her life and would not be satisfied unless that training was at a high level. At least you are starting early and have found this forum. This is a great place to ask questions as the process unfolds.</p>

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<p>AdvisorMom- Welcome. Both edad and ImpZep have got you started in the right direction. I'd like to recommend one more set of links to help get you started <a href="http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/%7Enavmusic/careerpaths/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~navmusic/careerpaths/index.html&lt;/a>, a nicely done series from Rice. Pick and choose what's applicable, and don't forget to open all the links on the left side of the page... there's quite a few.</p>

<p>If you weren't aware of these, here are two searchable music school databases:
<a href="http://www.thestrad.com/strad_degrees.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.thestrad.com/strad_degrees.asp&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.stringsmagazine.com/search/msd/default.aspx%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.stringsmagazine.com/search/msd/default.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The double degree/major question has been addressed in detail here. Search the posts, and alot of questions may fall into place. Potential negatives can be school/instructor policies, scheduling conflicts, heavy course load, potential credit overload charges, maybe an additional year of study. But it is do-able.</p>

<p>As Zep said, fasten your seat belt.</p>

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<p>"Thanks for any info, I'm not going to obsess about this for the summer"</p>

<p>I don't want to alarm you, but don't backburner starting this process. There's alot to review,think about, practice for, and eventually schedule.</p>

<p>As a rising junior, you're ok, but the more concentrated and complete your efforts are now, the easier (and easier is a relative term here) the process will be.</p>

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<p>I actually began the research phase back when my son was a sophomore (he is a rising senior), when I found this site. There is invaluable advice here, and the best I think the best I can offer, from what I have learned, is to begin as early as possible.</p>

<p>I was initially overwhelmed when we started the process, but am quite calm now. We have done the research, the visits, the lessons, and had all of junior year to begin work on repertoire. All that is left are prescreening CDs, applications and auditions (gulp)...amidst an insanely busy senior year. But it feels manageable, compared to those people who start much later.</p>

<p>So, I wouldn't obsess either, but I would begin to read the links provided etc. There is so much good advice on this board.</p>

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<p>Thanks, everyone, you've given me a lot to look at to research the process.</p>

<p>I was asked more about his background and goals:</p>

<p>-- He's played bassoon for four years, this past year was in two top youth orchestras in the DC area. He's been in County Honors Band for three of the four years (competitive county). </p>

<p>-- He's spending the summer at Interlochen, MI, including their Advanced Bassoon Institute. </p>

<p>-- He says he wants a performance career but realizes it may be difficult so he is starting to think more about attending a conservatory w/in a college/university or at a least a school with very strong music and great bassoon, specifically.</p>

<p>-- Other than in music, he is a classic super=bright underachiever. ADD compounds this, though this is much better than it was.</p>

<p>He has historically viewed college as far off so I'm hoping his summer at Interlochen will motivate him. In the meantime, I'll take the collective advice to get started on researching options. I think I can handle research, I'm just sick of college admissions :-)! </p>

<p>We've already told him that Spring Break will be dedicated to the college search. </p>

<p>Thanks for the Towson tip. I was wondering-- we were at their arts center for the State Solo Festival and it was impressive.</p>

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<p>AdvisorMom:</p>

<p>Your son's experience at Interlochen is important. If he thrives and enjoys that environment, it is a good indicator that a performance major at a conservatory could be a good option. D had her performance major "epiphany" during her summer at Interlochen. It also made the home front feel better since it was clear to us that this was the correct future direction for her.</p>

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<p>Hi AdvisorMom: It sounds like your son is on the right track. Interlochen will be very valuable. It's important for your son to ask lots of questions and to learn how to begin to network. I also agree that you should begin by looking at Maryland. I believe Sue Heineman is the bassoon teacher, and maybe you've heard her perform with the NSO. We're from DC and we heard her performance of John Williams' bassoon concerto a few years ago. She's really good! I'd suggest arranging a lesson with her this fall, and even asking if she'd be willing to take on your son as a student now.</p>

<p>Another school worth investigating is Temple, which we considered my D's "safety". Many people feel it doesn't get enough attention because it's in Philadelphia with Curtis. Others don't like the location (it's an enclave in the middle of a "low-income, high-crime area"), but we know that some oboe students from there have won jobs. (I can't advise specifically on other instruments, because D is an oboist). I believe the bassoon teachers play with the Philadelphia Orchestra and academically it would not be difficult to get into. I don't know anything about the possibility of double majors at these schools. Again, arranging a lesson with the teacher at some point this year would be a good idea.</p>

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<p>Thanks rcmama! Actually, my son has had the benefit of a few lessons from Sue (his teacher is her student). We'll be speaking with her in more depth when my son returns, hopefully she can advise, as well but she's really busy (that NSO job). </p>

<p>Thanks again for all the tips. The spouse and I have already begun to read the threads. </p>

<p>His return from Interlochen may tell us a lot about whether he's looking for a BA or a BM (new term for me today!). (Can you tell I know little about this field-- I didn't know about a Bachelor of Music, or at least the difference between it and a BA!)</p>

<p>Thanks again for all the advice. you've given us the jump start we needed.</p>

<p>Sue</p>

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<p>AdvisorMom- In all probability you will find your NSO contact an invaluable resource for advice/suggestions on studio teachers and specific bassoon "strong" schools.</p>

<p>It might be helpful if she could evaluate your son's strengths/weaknesses and his overall ability and potential. An honest evaluation goes a long way in picking the right school/instructor for his needs, and she might have a good idea if some programs may be out of his reach.</p>

<p>Other sources to tap for general info include other orchestra parents (both school and youth orchestra), YO personnel, and other professional musicians within your family or circle.</p>

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<p>Interlochen should give him a good idea of his potential. (my daughter spent her last two years of high school there) Check out Rice if he decides he is really serious about a performance degree. It is an incredible music school (conservatory style) with top academics. My daughter just graduated in vocal performance, if you have any questions.</p>

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<p>a hidden gem if he's willing to travel-Arizona State University 's School of Music. Excellent music,program, no academic problem if he's worried about the GPA issue.Fabulous facilities.Take a look at their website.</p>

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<p>"It might be helpful if she could evaluate your son's strengths/weaknesses and his overall ability and potential. An honest evaluation goes a long way in picking the right school/instructor for his needs, and she might have a good idea if some programs may be out of his reach."</p>

<p>I agree..and disagree</p>

<p>There is so much that happens between where your S is now and where he may be next year at this time, that I strongly disagree with having a professional evaluation so early. There are over 18 months between now and college auditions for your S. He will find where he fits (or wants to fit) nationally in the bassoon world from this summer experience and solidify that next year. Hopefully, his summer experiences will educate and inspire him to work hard to get to where he needs to be. I would be surprised if he doesn't have any idea of how he fits into the national picture by the end of next summer, but if he still feels he needs it then, I think it would be a more appropriate time to have a professional assessment. </p>

<p>Between sophmore & junior years, if you had asked the teachers at my D's precollege at Juilliard, I'm not certain they would have assessed her potential correctly. At about 18 months before college auditions began, she determined that she would practice 4-6 hours/day, every day. She blossomed as a musician during late junior/early senior year. If I had a dime for eveytime I heard "she suddenly seems to really grasp her instrument." In reality, lots of hard work was starting to pay off at that point in time. She applied and was accepted at all the major conservatories. I think an assessment too early may have been detrimental to her spirit.</p>

<p>We too have a rising junior, currently at Tanglewood. At barely 16, he's a natural musician, accomplishing much more than his sister at an earlier age. All-State as a freshman, Juilliard and Tanglewood at an earlier age than his sister, etc. But that's not a direct indication of where he'll be in 18 months at audition time-if he chooses to audition at all. He's also in a highly academic IB program at his school. His musicianship may improve steadily or exponentially, I certainly wouldn't presume to know. But I do know he will choose his priorities and work toward them accordingly. </p>

<p>Knowledge about the music world is very important. It's a dark labyrinth but at CC there are many who illuminate the paths so that you don't waste time going down an unproductive one. Learn as much as you can about the schools, the audition process, the teachers, etc. It's all amazingly helpful, but the real hard work belongs to your son. If he has a great summer and knows that's where he wants to be, he'll be inspired to do what he needs to do. If he doesn't practice enough, or too much gets in the way, that's a choice he's making too. Do the visits, the lessons, the teachers, etc, next year as if he could go to any college he wants. If he works hard enough, it is possible that he can.</p>

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<p>Sorry teammom, but I strongly disagree with you. Advisormom's son has already had several lessons with the Maryland bassoon professor, and he is studying with one of this professor's students. Who would be better to approach for advice? This time he should inform her that he wants to be a bassoon performance major, and ask for more specific advice. And yes, he should be the one to make the phone calls and ask lots of questions. Frankly, if his spirit is so easily crushed by her critique at this point, he should seriously consider doing something else. </p>

<p>Clearly, his Interlochen experience will be very helpful in this process. It's not too early for Advisormom's son to seek advice from accomplished professionals in his local area and to begin building his network of contacts within this field. The double reed world is actually very small and the more people he gets to know, the better off he'll be.</p>

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<p>rcmama,
I didn't mean to imply that he should not seek any advice or begin to build his network. I do agree with you, the bassoon world is very small-as I actually do know. Having had a child who has had lessons or studied with bassoonists around the country, including the Met, the Phil and Juilliard, I know there is so much to learn from each of the teachers. And they all know each other. I apologize if I implied he should not take advantage of it. I really meant to encourage it. But to specifically ask what school you should/ or should not apply to based on how he plays at this time, I think, is potentially problematic. It's great to ask about schools, but to make a judgement based on how he plays now..how does anyone know how much they will improve from so far away? That was my point.</p>

<p>With regard to his spirit, I do think these kids rely heavily on their interactions between professionals. All professionals are not they same, some are thoughtful, others intimidating and overbearing. It does depend on how a message is sent, not just the message. He will be getting alot of critique regarding his technique, interpretation, etc. I just don't hink a glass ceiling of any type is appropriate at this time.</p>

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<p>team_mom wrote: </p>

<p><with regard="" to="" his="" spirit,="" i="" do="" think="" these="" kids="" rely="" heavily="" on="" their="" interactions="" between="" professionals.="" all="" professionals="" are="" not="" they="" same,="" some="" thoughtful,="" others="" intimidating="" and="" overbearing.="" it="" does="" depend="" how="" a="" message="" is="" sent,="" just="" the="" message.="" he="" will="" be="" getting="" alot="" of="" critique="" regarding="" technique,="" interpretation,="" etc.="" don't="" hink="" glass="" ceiling="" any="" type="" appropriate="" at="" this="" time.=""></with></p>

<p>I posted my intital comment based on the fact that the OP's current studio teacher is a current grad student of the professional mentioned. As such, does it not make sense to seek advice from the mentor of your mentor?</p>

<p>The depth of educational and professional experience is at least one level higher. Probably more.</p>

<p>There will be instances in one's musical development when one is subjected to either unwarranted praise or undeserved dismissal. The more baselines one has to put their true talents and abilities in perspective across a broad spectrum, the better one is in being truly honest with themselves about their potential for professional or personal success.</p>

<p>It's been my experience that most students and performers are their own worst critics.</p>

<p>I feel this is an important and useful tool at any point, regardless of whether it's youth orchestra or seeking a chair in a major symphony.</p>

<p>The info offered on this board is opinion and advice. It's really the reader who has to pick and choose what works for them.</p>

<p>Just my $.02</p>

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<p>You're right about that, violadad! We are all just offering up our perspectives. And as everyone knows, there are always several of those.</p>

<p>I think on this we all have to agree that we disagree-but it's really only on a single point. I think we agree on almost all the issues.</p>

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<p>No arguement from me.</p>

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<p>AdvisorMom - thanks for starting this thread. I am in a similar situation. I am a computer programmer. My first D just finished 2nd year aerospace eng major. Second D, a rising HS junior, want to major in vocal performance. I have greatly appreciated everyone advice. I don't want to hijack your thread but I was wondering if anyone would make different/additional suggestion to a voice major.</p>