Introduction and Help.

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hello</p>

<p>So, I'm an international student (from India).
In highschool, I played the cello for 5 years. These five years included performances with a String orchestra, a string quartet, a little bit of musical theater, and some church music. I also gave the ABRSM Grade 6 exam in performance and Grade 5 exam in theory. However, due to familial pressure, I didn't continue with music and ended up taking a B.Comm program in Memorial University of Newfoundland. After a year, my family has opened up on this matter and have agreed to send me to a music school.</p>

<p>Here's the issue - I haven't been in touch with music for the last year and a half. My proficiency has dropped quite a bit. I know that I want to continue my career in music, but the timing is terrible - most universities have auditions in less than half a year. Furthermore, most universities seem to only accept students for the Fall term.</p>

<p>I would really love to go to a big music school like McGill's Schulich School of music, but I'd rather be a realist right now. And I'm only looking at Canada - the US Visa application process is a lot less forgiving. I already have a Canadian student visa that is applicable for another 4 years.</p>

<p>So I need help from the community. I need to find a music school. I'd prefer it being in a university. It has to give me a Bachelor's degree (College Certifications and diplomas are not well recognized enough). More importantly, I need something that isn't too selective as far as the audition process goes. Maybe a year or two later I'll consider transferring to a more prestigious school. Also, I'd prefer it if the university is in/near a big city, so that there are enough performance opportunities.</p>

<p>Essentially, I need something where the admission isn't too hard, yet the place program isn't too bad. Eventually, I know I'll be able to do well, but the audition is just too soon. The only university I found relevant to my case is UVic. I know that I'm not exactly in a place where I can be a chooser, but I'd like to know what other options I have.</p>

<p>As far as grades go:
I received a 33 in IB: Math HL 5, Physics HL 4, Business & M HL 6, Econ HL 6, French SL 6, English SL 5, TOK+EE 1 (I know, i messed up my TOK/EE).
SAT: 1810
TOEFL: 114/120
ABRSM Grade 6 Cello 113/150 (My Grade 4/5 exams are distinction level. I lost my teacher for my Grade 6 exam, hence the lower score).
ABRSM Grade 5 Theory 92/100
My year studying B.Com at MUN was... well.. complicated.. My average comes up to 69.7 over the 8 courses I took. 4 of them are As with 80+ marks (in two econ courses, comp.sci and english). Then I've got another few Bs. I also failed a couple of courses, but I repeated them and got good grades.</p>

<p>Instrument Proficiency - At my peak, I was able to play Bach's whole first cello suite and was working on elgar's cello concerto's first movement and Faure's elegie. Yesterday i touched my cello after a year and a half and I could barely play a scale accurately.</p>

<p>Please help me out.</p>

2

<p>right, I forgot to mention a few things:</p>

<p>I will be giving my Grade 8 exam from Trinity College this November.</p>

<p>Also, as far as music goes, I’m really gonna be realistic. I don’t have any expectation of becoming a big shot musician. For me university education isn’t as much a path to getting a good job - its more of an exploration that I need to do. I’d probably just get a B.Ed in elementary/secondary teaching, and I’d be happy with that life.</p>

3

<p>A few questions:</p>

<p>What is a B.Comm? You said you “took” a B.Comm but is also seems you only did one year of the curriculum, is that right?</p>

<p>You say that you want to study music but at the end say you might get a B.Ed. Does that mean you plan to do two bachelor’s, music and education?</p>

<p>Others will chime in here, but from a first reading, I don’t think you have to apply to a music school or even major in music to achieve your goals in music. Other options include studying privately, participating in extracurricular music at school or in the community, taking music classes that fit in your schedule, minoring in music.</p>

<p>At many colleges, there is no audition for entrance into the school; many do have auditions for participation in orchestra or ensembles once you are there. Maybe you should just spend some time this year in lessons and practicing, performing if you can, apply to a college you would like (undeclared perhaps, or education?), try out for music extracurriculars, and enjoy music while studying something else (along with whatever music classes you can fit in)?</p>

<p>I also just want to say that studying music, whether at a conservatory or college/university, whether for a BA or BM, is a very rigorous course of study with music history, theory/aural skills, musicology and ethnomusicology, composition as well as, at some schools, performance.</p>

<p>If you are interested in music education, other posters can respond to that. You didn’t mention that specifically as yet, just education itself.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for your reply, compmom.</p>

<p>BComm - bachelors of commerce. Up until last year I hadn’t considered music for my career, the ‘plan’ was that I’d become a Certified General Accountant. The bachelors of commerce degree is a 5 year program, I have just attended the first year of my education. So far I’ve the basic courses that most universities have for first year students. I am leaving B.Com though. I have realized that it isn’t ‘who I am’.</p>

<p>I want to get a bachelors degree in music. Thats the basic condition. I can’t just take classes, and I can’t just get a minor. I need either a B.Mus or a B.A in Music or a B.F.A (Bachelors of fine arts). </p>

<p>I guess I know that I don’t “have to apply to a music school or even major in music to achieve your goals in music”, but there’s nothing else I’d rather study. I want a strong education in music and I know I can keep up with any challenges that that implies. </p>

<p>Some universities that I’ve looked at (UCalgary, UAlberta, UVic, Dalhousie, etc) have a choice of graduating with both B.Mus and a B.Ed. From what I understand, after 3/4 years of studying music, the student is to apply to the faculty of education from where the student gets his B.Ed degree in 1/2 year(s), varying from university to university.</p>

<p>Furthermore, I’m not too sure about the whole College vs University thing. I’m not sure about how much of a difference it makes in Canada, but from what I hear, it’s a lot. If it doesn’t matter, I don’t mind going to a college. Basically, it should have a good musical environment. </p>

<p>And yes, when I meant education, I meant Music Education. I am very interested in Music Education for my career. In fact, its basically my goal (but my long term one). For the moment, I’m interested in getting a B.Mus and exploring music. Getting a B.Ed, from what I hear, is easy to add on after I have a B.Mus. I could even do that in India in one year. What I cannot do in India is get a good education in western classical music.</p>

<p>I know that it is a very rigorous study. I’m actually very interested in music history, I have already studied it extensively in my own time. I’m genuinely more interested in baroque/classical/romantic music than the pop scene, even when I’m listening to recreational music. </p>

<p>Also, I’d like to add that I’m fluent in English and French, so Montreal/Quebec won’t be a problem.</p>

<p>And as a reply to your 3rd last paragraph - can you name a few universities/colleges that have a decent program and no audition requirements? Thanks.</p>

5

<p>You might like to read this essay, even though it is on the site of an American school:
[Double</a> Degrees | Peabody Conservatory](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html]Double”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html)</p>

<p>Just fyi, my daughter has majored in music without touching an instrument for 5 years!</p>

<p>There are many schools where you can enter as a BA music major without auditioning. Those programs tend to be more academic music than performance. The list would be long, for the US, and I do not know Canadian schools well (except for McGill). If I have time, I will check the websites of schools you have listed, though you may have already. Do all the schools you listed have auditions as admissions requirements?</p>

<p>It’s great that you have a long term goal. My understanding is that you can do a bachelor’s in music education or a bachelor’s in music, or bachelor’s in performance, and then get a master’s in music education in a year or so, after the bachelor’s. Canada and India might be different.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

6

<p>ps so far Dalhousie, U. of Alberta (which doesn’t even mention composition!), U. of Victoria (their music dept. is good, I hear) and U. of Toronto require auditions.</p>

<p>U. of Calgary’s BA in music (as opposed to the BM) does not have auditions though you can audition for lessons, which are not required or guaranteed. U. of Calgary also has a concurrent bachelor’s in music education. Might be a good choice.</p>

<p>For McGill/Schulich: The site says “Live and recorded requirements for all B.MUS., L.MUS. and Artist Diploma applicants including screening material requirements (were applicable) and string scholarship requirements.” However, it says that music ed. students need to submit an essay on why they want to teach music and a letter of reference. I would also find out if an audition is required for a BA in music, which may or may not be in the Schulich School of Music.</p>

<p>Otherwise, you could look at universities and colleges that do not have a conservatory or a BM , which means, in other words, looking into BA programs that are not for performance but for academic study of music. Again, others know more about Canada.</p>

7

<p>pps I have time on my hands today and googled “Canada music colleges”:</p>

<p>[Music</a> Schools & Music Colleges in Canada](<a href=“http://www.careersinmusic.com/music-schools-canada.aspx]Music”>http://www.careersinmusic.com/music-schools-canada.aspx)
<a href=“https://www.musicalchairs.info/canada/conservatoires[/url]”>https://www.musicalchairs.info/canada/conservatoires&lt;/a&gt;
[Music</a> schools, Music Degrees, Music Classes, Music Courses, Music schools, barber schools colleges and universities in Canada](<a href=“http://www.musiccolleges.com/Colleges_list/Canada/index.htm]Music”>Music schools, Music Degrees, Music Classes, Music Courses, Music schools, barber schools colleges and universities in Canada)
[Bachelor</a> of Music - Humber College - Toronto, Ontario, Canada](<a href=“http://www.humber.ca/program/bachelor-music]Bachelor”>http://www.humber.ca/program/bachelor-music)
[Music</a> | Canadian University College](<a href=“http://www.cauc.ca/music]Music”>Music | Burman University)</p>

<p>If you spend time looking at websites for various schools, maybe you will find what you want.</p>

<p>You could also google “Canada music education colleges” or something like that.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the replies.</p>

<p>Okay, so from what I’ve been researching, most universities do offer a BA in music for students who do not make it in the B.Mus audition… thats a real blessing for me… I guess I could enroll in a BA in music program and then shift apply for a transfer to B.Mus sometime later, once I’m more capable.</p>

<p>Do we have any such students (or parents) on this website who are enrolled in (or have their child enrolled in) a BA in Music program?</p>

9

<p>Yes.</p>

<p>And I know students who are among the most talented who are doing a BA in something else entirely. I know a student at Harvard who is majoring in English and does international solo tours, much as Yo Yo Ma did when he was there. This student does private study and practices entirely separate from school. He also contributes to on campus ensembles.</p>

<p>I would think your other option would be to take some time to get your skills back up. There is no way to know, online, of course, how much need there is for that but it would seem worthwhile, if you want to do a BM in an instrument, that you apply at your best level of performance.</p>

<p>For music education, and a few of the schools in Canada offer a BA “concurrently.” Check what that means for each school. Auditions for music education may or may not be slightly less demanding but there may be other requirements you need to look at.</p>

<p>There are many ways to go, for you. It will work out.</p>

<p>Again, others may have other opinions or advice.</p>

10

<p>I’m not sure if I completely agree the thing about applying only when I’m at my best level of performance. I’d rather just apply now, and if I fail the audition, I’ll take a BA in music for a year, and then apply for a B.Mus again the year after. I’m guessing that such transfers are possible…</p>

<p>So which universities are well reputed? What universities/schools should I be looking at?
What universities are known for not being too competitive for admission?
U.Vic is the only one so far that I’ve found… I’m guessing that not many people apply there…</p>

<p>McGill, UofT and UBC are out, they’re probably too difficult to get into.
Same goes for VAM and Humber…</p>

11

<p>The idea of applying after working to get your performance up to your highest level was only one of several options. While in school full-time, it may be hard to do that. </p>

<p>Also, I would check to see if a transfer from BA to BM program is possilel- whether at the same school or a different one. Music degrees are sequential and each school and degree program will have different requirements, and may even have different ways to teach theory/solfege. This would mean that you might spend a year somewhere in a BA program and, if considering a different program, would be no better off than you would have been taking a year off. But it might be possible: you should check details and talk to someone.</p>

<p>It looked to me like the U. of Calgary is a good option for you (see above). I don’t know how selective it is.</p>

<p>Again, A BA in anything combined with private study and practice, as well as extracurricular performance, might be a good way to approach your goals.</p>

<p>If admission is a problem for you, to any school that you are interested in, you really might benefit from a year off. You can take classes as a nonmatriculated student and try to do really well, work on your music performance, and then apply to a few schools that you feel, right now, are out of your range of possibility.</p>

<p>Other people may have more to say. I do not know Canadian schools well, except for McGill. This post pretty much summarizes and concludes whatever I can contribute. Good luck!</p>

<p>p.s. Columbia College in Chicago has open admissions if that is a possibility…</p>