<p>I am currently deciding between attending Yale or Princeton. Singing is my passion. Academically, I feel like the two schools are so marginally close to each other that academics aren't even worth comparing. Musically, my sense is that Yale is stronger (although Princeton is beginning to develop a music program). </p>
<p>Speak the truth! Which university, Yale or Princeton, would be the wiser choice?</p>
<p>Thank you :)</p>
<p>I happen to have a friend who is a violinist making the same decision as you!</p>
<p>She’s done a lot of research on the two departments and still has a tough time deciding.</p>
<p>Generally speaking, Yale is the better option because of its connection to the very strong graduate school. However, you might stand out more at Princeton. And (I don’t know about singing, but this is true for strings) Princeton also has a dual BA/MA with a very prestigous conservatory in London.</p>
<p>I can’t be entirely sure if any of this information applies to you specifically because my information is coming from a prospective violinist rather than singer. Still, I think that both schools would be a good choice, but it really depends on what you are looking for in the program and what sort of career you would be preparing for.</p>
<p>I would encourage you to look carefully at both departments’ websites.</p>
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Princeton also has a dual BA/MA with a very prestigous conservatory in London.
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<p>Are you talking about the Westminster College for the Arts? That’s affiliated with Rider University, and has nothing to do with England, I’m pretty sure…If you were talking about a different school, then my bad.</p>
<p>I would say that Yale’s connection to the Graduate School of Music means that, despite the fact that you are going to be an undergraduate, you will at least have access to the incredible resources of one of the best musical conservatories in the world. Shirley Tilghman is making a big push for the fine arts, but I think that Yale’s musical tradition (ESPECIALLY with singing) is simply stronger than Princeton’s. Yale has the Institute of Sacred Music, great undergraduate opera opportunities, unmatchable acapella groups…</p>
<p>That being said, I saw the Princeton Glee Club perform Bach’s Mass in B Minor this weekend and it was stunning. I didn’t think that any of the acapella groups at the school were all that strong, but also know that Princeton is the only of the two schools where you’ll be able to specifically study performance. A Yale undergraduate music degree (major or minor) would be in musicology, whereas you get a certificate (minor) in vocal performance at Princeton.</p>
<p>The bottom line, I think, is that if you are basing your decision on who will offer you the best music opportunities, then the answer is unquestionably Yale.</p>
<p>Princeton began a collaboration in 2008 with Royal College of Music in London where students could spend fall of their junior year and after completing their AB at Princeton could then pursue a master’s in Music at Royal College.</p>
<p>I’m interested in knowing exactly what kind of music the op has a passion for.If it is for classical voice the music department is well equipped to support that passion. There is glee club and chamber choir .The certificate in musical performance has a performance(recital) and theory component .</p>
<p>Many highly talented singers and instrumentalists have opted to attend Princeton.One reason is that music majors get a full subsidy for lessons and those seeking certificates get a one- half subsidy.The “push” for the arts is backed up by a one-hundred million gift by an alum. </p>
<p>If you are passionate about jazz singing there are opportunities to perform with ensembles. My daughter does so.</p>
<p>Yale does indeed have a proud music tradition, no question. Princeton does have some extraordinarily gifted musicians. It really depends on what you intend to pursue musically at Princeton. Remember acapella groups take quite alot of rehearsal time each week as does glee club and chamber choir.</p>
<p>If you are looking for the opportunity to explore a wide range of interests while still pursuing your singing Princeton is great. My daughter opted for Princeton instead of a conservatory two years ago for just that reason.Yale’s or any other conservatorie’s program will be there afterwards.</p>
<p>I think the statement that Yale "unquestionably offers the best musical opportunities "
is misleading. It depends on what musical opportunities are being sought. If the op wants to intensively pursue vocal performance then Princeton allows that through the vocal performance certificate.</p>
<p>I can’t comment on the relative strength of the two programs. I can say that in recent years some very gifted musicians have attended Princeton. David Carpenter, who graduated from Princeton in 2007, is considered smong the best young violists in the world. [David</a> Aaron Carpenter / DavidAaronCarpenter.com](<a href=“http://www.davidaaroncarpenter.com/]David”>http://www.davidaaroncarpenter.com/)
Sarah Vander Ploeg, who graduated in 2008, is a Marshall Scholarship winner and opera singer [Vander</a> Ploeg wins Marshall Scholarship - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2007/12/06/19614/]Vander”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2007/12/06/19614/).
The Princeton Chapel Choir allows you to sing and get paid a small amount for doing so:
[Princeton</a> University Chapel Choir](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/~choir/]Princeton”>Automatic Page Redirect)</p>
<p>Voice teachers available can be found at: [The</a> Music Department at Princeton University](<a href=“http://www.music.princeton.edu/]The”>http://www.music.princeton.edu/)<br>
I believe that by special permission, the music department will pay for teachers not on this list.</p>
<p>WishyWashy,</p>
<p>I was talking about the Royal College of Music in London.</p>
<p>My son, a violinist, is trying to make this same decision (plus also considering conservatory). I’m happy to share what we know so far based on recent visits.</p>
<p>While it is true that the School of Music is at Yale and that there is some access to the SOM faculty and activities by undergrads, it bears repeating that the actual undergraduate music major is not a performance major. It is possible to apply for a joint B.A./M.M. with the SOM–this can be assayed at the end of the Junior year.</p>
<p>In order to take subsidized lessons at Yale (for credit), it is necessary to enroll concurrently in the academic side of the program, for example, theory courses. You don’t need to major in music to do this. The actual music major is an academic degree that includes performance as an aspect of music studies. Some of the School of Music teachers teach undergraduates and others do not; some instruments and ensembles are taught mainly at the undergraduate Department of Music.</p>
<p>The performance certificate offered at Princeton (which you can pursue even without majoring in music) makes a focus on performance as an undergraduate something that can be formally recognized and validated. The music major itself is, again, not a performance major, but academic, comprising music history, music theory, etc.</p>
<p>We know many extraordinary string musicians at Princeton: a violinist who studies with Itzhak Perlman; a cellist and composer from the Juilliard pre-college program who participated in the Perlman Music Program are just two I could mention. According to my latest information, the subsidy for private lessons applies only to teachers on the department of music faculty (except for the extraordinary, like an Itzhak Perlman student). The same is true at Yale. </p>
<p>Like Yale, Princeton also has an excellent undergraduate symphony orchestra and many strong a capella groups, the Glee Club and the Chapel Choir as has been noted by other posters. Additionally, for vocalists, Princeton is (I believe) unique in staging early operatic masterpieces (Monteverdi, etc.) on an annual basis. Both Yale and Princeton have Composers’ Collectives or New Music organizations with ample opportunities and subsidies to have composers’ pieces performed.</p>
<p>In terms of the musical context, both Yale and Princeton have exceptionally outstanding classical musicians and vocalists pursuing music at various degrees of intensity in the undergraduate student body. The proximity of the SOM, like the Yale School of Drama, probably does add a richer environment from the point of view of performances on campus. On its side, Princeton has an ongoing initiative in the performing arts with a new performing arts complex under construction.</p>