<p>D decided yesterday that Lawrence will be her choice for study in the fall. Her final visit to St. Olaf last weekend was clarifying for her. She plans to complete a double music major in vocal performance and instrumental music education (violin). </p>
<p>I posted a general thank-you on the Parent Forum but also wanted to do the same on the Music Forum. Thanks to one and all for sharing your knowledge and experiences. We are all very excited and are looking forward to D's intellectual and musical growth in a wonderful conservatory balanced by strong liberal arts academics. </p>
<p>Good luck to all of you still considering options for next year or just beginning the search. The world of secondary education in music is far more complex and fascinating than I could ever have imagined.</p>
<p>Congratulations! And isn't it a relief when they finally decide? Lawrence is a fine school (It was the one I felt saddest about my son saying "no" to), and I'm sure she will have a wonderful time there and learn so very much!</p>
<p>musicmomic - Congratulations on the decision! I've been through it a couple times already, so I remember the bittersweet feelings.</p>
<p>Can I beg you for some details about the schools? My D is currently interested in St. Olaf, but we're not in a position to visit any time soon. She doesn't want to major in music, but wants to continue playing - perhaps as a minor. Could you please share what about St. Olaf ultimately turned her off? Lawrence doesn't seem to offer many ops for non-majors, so we haven't even considered it. If you have different info about that, let me know!</p>
<p>Congrats on Lawrence...that would be one of the top choices for my daughter next year if it weren't so FAR away!!! It looks like a wonderful school in all aspects and I know it would be a perfect fit!</p>
<p>binx -- St. Olaf is a very special place. D and I both still feel that way. The primary reason that D was able to rule it out fairly easily is because they were not encouraging of a double music major. The overwhelming majority of their students (including music majors) finish in 4 years. Few do double majors in music. That, coupled with the fact that they offered less merit aid, allowed D to focus more easily on Lawrence. </p>
<p>We heard both their women's choir and the St. Olaf choir rehearse. Both were very good -- the St. Olaf choir was worth the trip. D also heard the top orchestra and was "wowed" by them as well. The campus is one of the most beautiful we've seen, the food is exceptional and the general "quality of life" would be hard to beat. We're hoping our S will take a hard look in a couple of years. </p>
<p>I think St. Olaf would be a very good place for someone looking to be involved in a quality music program but not as a major. All of their ensembles include non-majors. The general academic atmosphere is very good -- we attended an English class and a Music History class. Both were very good. I would look very closely at St. Olaf. I'll be happy to answer any specifics that I can if you'd like to PM me.</p>
<p>An additional note on D's other "finalist" -- Based on extended family geography and D's desire for better weather, I began researching the Univ of KY as a possible "safety" school. Impressed with the website info, we visited twice and D and I were both very impressed with their music program -- especially voice. Although the school includes a graduate program, their music program is relatively small and undergraduates routinely have opportunities to perform in major productions. It is one of 10 designated "schools of excellence" within the university. The UK Honors Program is very well-structured and supported. The university also has arts-living communities and the residence hall for arts is new and quite amazing in terms of amenities and location near the fine arts facilities. It includes practice rooms in the hall.</p>
<p>Regional MET auditions are held at UK and the program is routinely turning out finalists at the regional level. Gail Robinson is chair of the vocal division and Jefferson Johnson heads of the choral area -- both are impressive talents. </p>
<p>In the end, D decided that the intensity and musical strength of Lawrence, along with her deep fondness for the faculty made Lawrence too difficult to turn down -- but we were both surprised and impressed with UK and would encourage prospective students to give it a harder look than they might otherwise. We found it to be a program of substance that has not yet received the respect it deserves.</p>
<p>musicmomic...what a small world it is. You mention Jefferson Johnson. His parents-in-law are my next door neighbors!! They are so proud of him. They are a wonderful family. Nice to hear him mentioned here with such glowing praise!</p>
<p>Congrats to your daughter....hope she will thrive at Lawrence!</p>
<p>If she does little else and takes some language classes in the summers (to transfer in), she can finish. Given the ugly schedule, I would not be surprised if she has to do her student teaching in the fall of her 6th year. But I spent several hours putting classes in a 5-year plan and it looks possible -- Any study abroad would have to be in the summers -- no possibility of enough flexibility to do it as a semester program. She knows it's going to be intense and she will not have the luxury of electives. Most every decision is made given the music ed requirements and the performance requirements. She'll have a few choices regarding which GERs to put in the mix.</p>
<p>Musicmomic, I think it is an interesting double degree with an edge of practicality. Son has been up to his eyeballs with music requirements & FS until this term when he was able to add a government class into the mix and seems very happy with that.</p>
<p>overseas -- we agree about the practicality. She knows that there is 100% placement for music ed grads and that string teachers are in even greater demand. She loves voice (both solo and ensemble singing) but has a strong desire to keep her violin. She has set her sights on conducting at some point in the future and plans to go on to graduate school eventually. It's good that she thinks sleep is overrated...</p>
<p>musicmomic: Congratulations on your daughter's decision for Lawrence! What a wonderful feeling it must be to finally have it all wrapped up. Now you can start worrying about twin X long sheets and all that easy stuff!</p>
<p>Yes -- the sheets are on the list as are a great winter coat and boots! Despite growing up in the Midwest, she's not a great fan of winter. The immediate future holds the spring musical (she's Marian the Librarian...) at the end of the month and then her senior recital and graduation party in mid-May... Glad that the big decision is made so we can focus on the "now" part of the senior year and enjoy her final days of HS.</p>
<p>It is a small world isn't it. My husband and I are both UK School of Music grads. The School has been steadily rising in caliber over the past couple of decades. It was nice to hear you both speak of the program. I too was very impressed with the credentials of Gail Robinson and Jefferson Johnson. </p>
<p>I did both my BM (piano) and MM (theory) at UK. I did additional graduate work at CCM (the U. of Cincinnati). CCM has a far better known music program, however, I actually felt that the instruction I received at UK was superior.</p>