<p>My daughter is applying to vocal performance programs and the more visits/auditions we do the more confused she becomes. Her first love is jazz but she is a very talented classical (coloratura soprano) singer, and appreciates her classical lessons for developing her voice. The opera teachers she has auditioned for tell have given her extremely positive feedback. She does not want to give up either but the schools seem to force you to pick. She applied to Miami, UNT, Denver, and Lawrence because their jazz programs incorporate the classical training as well. Can you do it all? If she goes into a jazz program does she give up the possibility of a classical singing career totally or can you continue to take lessons while pursuing a jazz degree and have the option to jump back into the classical arena later as the voice develops further? She really wants to preserve options and be a versatile singer...Help?</p>
<p>These sound like questions for the specific music schools themselves. I am sure they would love to discuss these things with you and your daughter. There are singers here who might be able to share some experience, but if I were you, I would go right to the music programs and talk with admissions counselors and teachers.</p>
<p>We have been talking to people at each school and will continue to, but I know there are some very knowlegeable people in this forum and I am hoping to hear from somebody who knows vocal performance, voice development, etc. Some programs study classical for two years then go into jazz, some are all jazz and you have to fit in the classical if faculty are willing. My daugheter really doesn't want to rule out either option and I am not clear what path would give her the most flexibility in the long run.</p>
<p>You will have to ask each school.
One possible compromise might be to go with a school that offers classical vocal training as a course of study ... but also offers ensemble performance opportunities in different genres, such as jazz.</p>
<p>Patricia Racette entered UNT as a Music Ed. major (I believe) and had not really even studied classical voice - she wanted to study jazz. If you read her bio, she had not listened to an entire opera before entering college. So, talent is everywhere - and who knows who will blossom and under what circumstance?</p>
<p>Obviously the opportunities vary from school to school, but I have seen many "do it all" singers, specifically one of my friends who goes to NEC, who is both a vocal performance classical and jazz major. I would probably recommend going in for a classical program and taking jazz lessons on the side, because I feel that in the real world, you will probably get more classical or opera gigs having a professionally "trained" voice in that genre, while jazz is less strict about that (with many self taught musicians in the field).</p>
<p>But remember also that college does not define who you are as a musician, nor does who you've studied with - all that stuff is helpful, but if your D has the drive and talent (and the street smarts of the music biz), she will be fine! There are countless musicians who were not professionally trained but are now professionals and are doing fantastically. Michael Brecker studied psychology at Indiana. Joshua Redmen and Yo Yo Ma went to Harvard. Peter Cincotti went to Columbia. None of these were performance oriented programs, but does anybody doubt the talent and success?</p>
<p>While it is true that there are many successful musicians who never set foot in a conservatory, I don't think you can make a case for Yo Yo Ma and Joshua Redman not being professionally trained. Ma studied with Leonard Rose at Juilliard before attending Harvard. Redman presumably learned a lot from his father Dewey before going there. All four of your examples had hit the big time by the time they were 20.</p>
<p>You're right, but what I'm trying to get after is that the musician you are is not defined by where you go to school (or at least it SHOULDN'T be), because that decision should be up to you - most jazz musicians were never formally schooled!</p>
<p>I was not disagreeing with you. Some very talented players have become top professionals without much formal education. You can argue that it happens more frequently in the jazz world, but I also think the definition of "formal education" is not necessarily linked to schools. For example, I would consider studying with a top performer "formal education" whether it happened to occur on a college campus, in a private studio or in a jazz club somewhere. </p>
<p>I was pointing out that a couple of your examples do not support the point that you were trying to make. Lots of people bring up Yo Yo Ma in this context while failing to mention that he had studied with top professionals, including Rose at Juilliard, before he started at Harvard. It seems a bit misleading to use him as an example of someone who was not professionally trained.</p>
<p>These examples are interesting, but beg the original question as I am assuming 4 years of college training in vocal performance for my D. I will re-phrase it: if you want to be a versatile vocalist -- able to sing classical and jazz and commercial music -- does a jazz major preclude the classical track later, or can you take private lessons (but not the whole degree program) to keep the option of an opera career open if you decide later to go that route? All of the programs have the same theory, aural training, etc sequence. It seems from reading and visiting schools that some are more receptive to kids working with both classical and jazz faculties as an undergrad. Are there any schools known for this particularly?</p>
<p>Look into University of the Arts in Philadelphia. They say that their vocal program encompasses jazz, classical, etc.</p>
<p>Singermom --</p>
<p>What you are asking borders on "subjective thinking" territory, so you are probably best-served taking your question directly to the schools you are already looking at. I recommend you take a look at what sort of ensembles are offered, as I think that can demonstrate how broad-reaching the vocal department truly is in its thinking and expertise. </p>
<p>For a vocal department that does a good job of nurturing young singers, you might also want to look into Appalachian State University out of Boone, North Carolina. For the size of the school, they have an impressive array of ensembles, including a capella, jazz and gospel. </p>
<p>For the same reasons, you may want to look at Florida State University.</p>
<p>Another school you might want to look at is Western Michigan University. I haven't completed my research on their voice department; but they have a jazz-oriented ensemble called The Gold Company, which is consistently among the top award-winners in the country. </p>
<p>These are all in addition to the ones you're already looking at, plus the suggestions you've received.</p>
<p>Singermom,</p>
<p>Miami is the perfect school for your daughter! They have an excellent excellent classical program and one of the top 3 jazz voice programs in the country. AND you can double major in both (I've been told!) All you have to do is audition in like, say, classical, and then sometime during the 1st semester if she gets in/goes, she can fill out a form and have them evaluate if she can double major (since ther'es a lot of crossover--Miami is very conservatory based.) </p>
<p>(Hint-I might go this route too so this shall be interesting!)</p>
<p>PS Will she be auditioning the 8th of Feb? That's when I am. And...I forgot...are we talking about UMiami in florida or Miami in Ohio (florida was the one I was talkin about haha.)</p>
<p>That is interesting...my understanding about Miami and other programs is that you cannot double major -- or at least not and finish in 4 years. Too many requirements. They will let you take elective music lessons with faculty outside of your major. If you are a vocal jazz major can you audition for/get parts in school opera productions or musical theater? Is it easier in the smaller schools?</p>
<p>That will differ school-to-school. Your best bet at this stage would be to take your list of questions directly to the schools you are currently most interested in.</p>
<p>no I talked to the main director of music admissions and he said you CAN double major in 4 years but you may have to take a LOT of credits (and/or take some summer classes.) lol.</p>