<p>I also auditioned at NU in February on piano, planning to major in Music Ed. I also found that the MAB was completely run down. At the time though, that didn't bother me too much. I thought the building was full of character and I didn't really care what the building looked like, as long as what was going on inside of the building was top notch. I expected though, while reading through the NU pamphlets, a very modern building, full of very modern up to date facilties. When I arrived there, I was a little bit shocked, my dad as well.
Most the pianos in the practice rooms are Steinways, yes, which is really nice to say in a pamphlet, but when I practiced on them, they were horrendous. They were twangy, the keys were chipped and too light, some keys were sticky, the whole frame of the piano was so old and falling to pieces. I couldn't play loudly on it without it sounding thin and "bangy" and I could barely play softly because the keys had so little weight and no control. The rooms are barely sound-proof and I could hear the person next to me practicing. I couldn't hear myself. The room itself had barely any light in it, and the room felt slightly like a prison. However, that all being said, I found the building itself rather beautiful. Also, the piano I played on for my audition, was top notch, a gorgeous, flawless Steinway.
To compare though, when I went to my U Toronto audition, the building was modern, had wonderful Yamaha and Steinway grands to pratice on, beautiful large windows (although being afraid of heights, it may have been too much for me), and sound-proof walls. The halls were well lit and I felt like the building and the school was being well taken care of.
Later, when I wasn't accepted to NU and was accepted to U Toronto (where I'm going in the fall), my dad told me how unimpressed he was with the state of NU's building and that even if was accepted to both, he would have preferred me going to U Toronto. He was afraid of telling me his feelings before because I had my heart set on it for so long.
So, I guess to sum up the old vs. new debate, to me, it's fine for the building itself to look a little run down, it adds character. BUT, if the oldness of the building makes the facilities suffer, (such as instrument quality, sound-proof rooms, etc.) it makes the musician suffer. Also, if the oldness makes the musician feel as though he/she is in a prison, or is frustrated by the quality of the facilities, it hinders the growth of the musician, and then the school is not doing its job of providing a musician with top-notch education. And, if the rest of the school has modern facilities (like NU), you have to wonder whether the music program is being neglected.</p>