<p>I have heard that Ithaca's music department is much better than Cornell's, but obviously Cornell (as an Ivy League) has better academics. I strongly value academics and am applying to a number of highly selective academic schools, but am majoring in Vocal Performance (see my post on "great vocal performance schools???" for my stats). </p>
<p>Would Ithaca be the better choice, or would I be happy at Cornell (which I've heard great things about as a school)?</p>
<p>If you plan to major in vocal performance, apply to the music conservatory at Ithaca. Ithaca's music program is far better than Cornell's music program.</p>
<p>I am not sure about vocal, but Cornell is a poor choice for serious instrumental performance. Your academic stats are low for Cornell and I would not count on an interest in vocal performance to give you an edge. Ithaca has a respectable conservatory but might not meet your academic interests. Your stats place you on the high side for Ithaca.</p>
<p>We have a good friend whose son is at Ithaca right now in the program where you get the Park(?) Scholarship. He was National Merit Commended, and only one point away from NMF (his older brother was NMF with the exact same SSI number but the line moved). The Ithaca son sings like a dream, was in numerous honor choirs in hs, had the lead in hs production of Chess (the Josh Groban part), etc.</p>
<p>Let me tell you, this boy and his familly just LOVE Ithaca. The son is also premed and picks up his bio/chem classes through electives and summer school. Through Ithaca's study abroad program he is spending this semester at the Dublin Theater School in Ireland and will be at some other acting/singing program in Paris in the spring. I haven't heard any complaints about the straight academics from this family and they are pretty much brain trust type people. The son went to a VERY competitive private hs and used to being well challenged.</p>
<p>One other tidbit from me. Our piano teacher has her academic degree from Cornell and her piano degree from Ithaca. She got the piano degree while staying home raising her kids as they lived in Ithaca at the time. I would assume this means that she felt Ithaca had the better music program.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Cornell and Ithaca's reciprocal agreement might permit you to take lessons at Ithaca while a Cornell student. As a singer, you needn't worry about practicing five hours a day, so I would say go for a great liberal arts undergrad-- like Cornell-- where there will be a good teacher available to you.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>majoring in Vocal Performance>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>Would the OP be able to major in vocal performance at Cornell ...and taking lessons at Ithaca? I do not believe so.</p>
<p>No. The reciprocal relationship is quite limited. First, students can take courses at the other institution only if a similar course is not available at the primary school. Second, the transportation is not real convenient and greatly limits the ability to take courses on both campuses. Lastly, you need to check majors available at Cornell. It has been a few years but as I remember it Cornell did not offer a music performance major. Music offerings were concentrated on history and ethnomusicology, etc. The Cornell music department did not audition and was not interested in my D's performance abilities.</p>
<p>Thanks, all. I think I'm decided then...Ithaca rather than Cornell. Does anyone know the difficulty of admission into Ithaca's performance program??? Compared to that of schools like Oberlin, etc.?</p>
<p>edad, it seems to me clear that serious applied lessons count as a "course not offered at Cornell;" there is definitely no music performance major there.
Musikchik, what I'm suggesting is that you could consider not majoring in performance as an undergrad. That's why I mentioned that as a singer, you neither need nor will be physically able to practice for hours and hours a day. Good vocalists I have known have said consistently that for vocalists, there is no disadvantage and many advantages to obtaining a BA rather than a BM so long as you take voice lessons with a good teacher during college.</p>
<p>For someone with a good shot at Oberlin, Ithaca would be a safety. Considering the uncertainties of auditioning and music school acceptance, it is always nice to have a couple of safeties. The problem with using Ithaca as a safety is the location. Getting in an out of Ithaca and auditioning is likely to be a 3 day investment and if you plan on several auditions, fitting this in may be a problem. Before you decide to use a school as a safety, you should visit in advance to determine if it meets your expectations.</p>
<p>I have no expertise to comment on the value of a performance degree in voice. I can comment that you need to be very careful about access to music training if you are not a performance major. Many conservatories and other music schools offer lessons to non-music majors. Often lessons will be taught by grad students and there may be little or no opportunity to join performance groups.</p>
<p>Do anyone know if they give campus tours at Ithaca and if you can sit in on music classes?</p>
<p>I guess the Ithaca webpages must be down so you cannot access information on tours. With the phones also down you will have difficulty contacting the director of music admissions for an interview and will have difficulty arranging an evaluation and informal lesson. I hope the airlines, buses and roads are not closed or you will not be able to make travel arrangements.</p>