I feel like it was a waste of time AND money

<p>I applied to 7 music schools, got into 2. Live in pttsburgh, so much traveling (far south as miami, north as montreal.) i feel like i wasted two months of doing badly in school for nothing almost. and i'm kind of feeling down b/c my voice eacher was horrrible and i really had a horrid preparation for auditions. should i consider any options?</p>

<p>Jeremy, I'm confused. I thought you had decided on Tulane? I thought it was a done deal. What's up? Why the long face?</p>

<p>oh, i've sent the deposit and everything. I know it's not necessarily the best music department. That's why i'm just really overwhelmed. I didn't want to go to miami because i hated the student body (disliked rather) they were too athletic and it seemed too "football yay!" tulane was not like that at all. but miami had a lot bettter music program. i'm excited as heck to go to tulane, but at the same time, it's my future i have to ccarefully guide...and it seems like i'm too young to handle it, but i'm trying as best as i can to think of what i'm supposed to do. and at this point, i have no idea what's going on. I'm stressed b/c i just found out you cannot take more than say one music class a semester..till juinor year, meaning it's CORE classes. miami had ALL music, so it's just confusing. </p>

<p>BUT that's one issue</p>

<p>The other one is maybe i would've had more options if my auditions were better, if i would've had a good theory/voice teacher, and among other factors.</p>

<p>I think you are definately feeling stressed that you rushed into a quick decision. I can't offer you any help and I wish I could. I know others on this board have offered some very good advice on Tulane re: calling and talking to the dept. head, etc. </p>

<p>Someone here will help you before the night is over, I'm sure. Good luck.</p>

<p>Jeremy, you're experience is not that much different from a lot of posters on this board. Look at the master list of acceptances <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=310197%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=310197&lt;/a> ... you'll see that for a number of individuals, their particular admitted and rejected schools in some cases seem "out of whack". Some were admitted to top schools, yet failed to gain acceptance at what would appear to be a safer school.</p>

<p>This is a tough area you've chosen. The competition is fierce. Any flub at an audition may well kill your chances depending on the competition auditioning with you.</p>

<p>If your voice teacher was "horrible", when did you realize it? If you had been uncomfortable with the teacher, you could have examined alternatives prior to preparing your audition repetoire.</p>

<p>Not to sound harsh, but by the number of your posts on the board, you've been here awhile and should have stumbled upon numerous threads that stressed two things: the instructor/student relationship and the fact that in most cases, the audition is everything.</p>

<p>Both of these will hold true throughout your continued development as a musician/performer, and in your quest for grad & professional school, and jobs/gigs. </p>

<p>I applaud your desire to follow your Muse, and wish you all the success in your quest. But realize the path you've chosen could well be paved with innumerable rejections. Such is the fate of the performer. It takes not only the talent, but the desire, the perseverance, the training, and the ability to develop a personal way of accepting "bad news" and still go on. </p>

<p>Two things will happen. Either you'll make it, or you won't. </p>

<p>And as for your immediate options: I would suggest not making the same mistakes twice. Good luck.</p>

<p>thank you a bunch for the responses! I didn't find out about the music threadon CC until march or so. So, that was already after the auditions :(. </p>

<p>My teacher was the only teacher in the entire region of pittsburgh i swear to god that had availability.AND SHE WASN'T A MUSIC MAJOR! She started out that wasy (at cmu) then transferred into business or something. So, it just hasn't been a real good experience w/teachers lately.</p>

<p>I'm still not quite sure what to do (and yes i know the rejection thing in the music world IS true, indeed.)</p>

<p>I mean, I want to go to tulane but i don't think it's musically right for me...but i won't know till i get there i suppose.</p>

<p>Jeremy, at this point your options appear fairly limited. You can go to Tulane for a year, and see what transpires. As to the no more than one music course a semester (this to me seems seems out of whack with a performance based curriculum), is this in addition to your private vocal studio class? If nothing else, you have to continue one-on-one instruction, even it means paying for private lessons at Tulane.</p>

<p>After a year, you may find Tulane a fit for you. If not you can audition for transfer. </p>

<p>You can opt not to go, lose your deposit, and spend the next year working with a different teacher privately and reaudition to other schools next year. If you are not in school however, your health coverage under your parents' policy may be effected. Best to check this before deciding, as it may be a financial burden to maintain individual health insurance. </p>

<p>In either case, you have to continue private study with a teacher that can move you forward.</p>

<p>thanks once more, violadad :P. WEll, they do offer applied lessons for the first year. That I will do. They say on thier site that you have to complete core curriculum classes before "officially" being admitted into the major. Meaning like 4 semesters of classes (ugh.) SO, we'll see. I'm excited. I'll test out the first year and see how i blend and how the curriculum works out.</p>

<p>Jeremy, it is fairly standard that in a B.A. program, majors are not officially declared until the junior year. However, this does not mean that you won't feel like and be treated like a music major from the very beginning of your college career. Also, if you take one music course (say music theory, which might include a lab), voice lessons and an ensemble, plus practice time, you are going to be pretty busy with music activities! </p>

<p>I suggest you go ahead and get started at Tulane in the fall. It is a great school with a very well-regarded Music Department. It sounds to me as if you need some mentoring, and I suspect you'll get more of it at Tulane than you have this last year as you've been making your college decision. </p>

<p>As you know, Tulane is not a conservatory, but it sounds as if you may not be vocally ready for a conservatory. Use this year to get a start as a serious musician and a serious student, and see where it takes you.</p>

<p>I feel better already, for you! ;)</p>

<p>I always agree with just about everything violadad says, except
"Either you'll make it, or you won't."</p>

<p>Perhaps you will not be in lead roles with the Met Opera, or teaching at a top flight conservatory, but you could always teach privately and perform locally! </p>

<p>Despite popular belief, there are tons of possibilities for musicians, it's just a matter of finding them.</p>

<p>And remember... you're doing music because you love making music and sharing it with others. If you can't be happy doing it, then don't make yourself go through with it. I don't mean that in a bad way, but choose something that you will be happy with.</p>

<p>pianoman</p>

<p>Just so you understand where I'm coming from, "you could always teach privately and perform locally" definately falls under my umbrella of "making it".</p>

<p>jeremy
I took a look at the BFA Performance reqs at Tulane. while you arent "officially" admitted to the major until you are a junior, it seems you are following the same path during the first two years with core reqs that any music student would follow,except maybe those at a conservatory w/o core reqs. Any music BFA has theory reqs,music history reqs,applied lessons,studio,ensembles,etc.as well as undergrad reqs such as humanities,science..
It seems identical to the performance curriculum reqs my D fufilled at her music school in a University setting.
what exactly is it about the curriculum is it that you are objecting to?</p>

<p>cathymee!</p>

<p>YOU solved the issue! I thought tulane meant CORE requirements like english, science, only and no music classes. now that i know yu have to take prerequisite music classes, i am much happier! ahh, i can berathe again. thanks a bunch!!</p>

<p>DS had 8 core course requirements in addition to his required Writing course at his university. These were required of all students in the university..period. My guess is this is the "core" type of course work you are talking about at Tulane. He took two core courses per semester (AP courses helped him place out of some...do you have some of those?) in addition to his music course requirements which were theory, sight singing, studio class, private lessons, ensembles, and chamber music. At some point he added music history, conducting, pedagogy. This is pretty standard for non-conservatory schools. Even the conservatories DS was accepted to required some liberal arts courses in English and the humanities. I will say, DS fulfilled some of his "core" with things like Music History which counted as both a history and a music requirement.</p>

<p>glad you can breathe again Jeremy!
Honestly,the reqs look just like any other music school reqs....
you'll be okay,and if you find the program isnt to your liking,you can consider a transfer.
Ideally,first year you should have:a theory class(including ear training),a music history class,ensemble work,studio and applied lessons in addition to normal University requirements.</p>

<p>Jeremy- DO NOT be discouraged and enjoy your time at Tulane. You are not short-changing yourself. My daughter just graduated from Rice in vocal performance. She told me that the awesome grad students come from every sort of school and NOT just the top music programs. She showed me some of the smaller state schools and "unknowns" these young men and women attended and told me that they are doing great in grad school.<br>
My daughter's boyfriend is a jazz pianist (and med student) and graduated from Loyola-New Orleans. He plays professionally.</p>