<p>My son was just accepted at Manhattan School of Muisc for Viola performance and I was wondering if anyone has any information or experience with the school?</p>
<p>Our daughter attended MSM pre-college program and has many friends currently in the conservatory. Quality is wonderful, teachers are great, and it is really an up-and- coming school, with a great new dormitory; possibility of taking classes at Columbia (and Barnard); new (last year) Pres. Bob Sirotta was recruited from Peabody, and has a big reputation himself as a composer. Also, a real plus for most viola players, MSM puts more emphasis on orchestral performance than Julliard; we know several violinists, for example, who have gone directly from the artists diploma in orchestra studies at MSM to the New York Philharmonic. Feel free to PM me if you want more details. Sounds like great news for your son!</p>
<p>I'm also a precollege student there and recently accepted for the college division. Both Juilliard and MSM are both considered "intense" environments, but I genuinely feel that MSM is supportive of students and overall is a great atmosphere. I do agree with the above poster about the emphasis on orchestral studies. I actually feel that the MSM orchestras sound much better than the Juilliard orchestras, because the latter sounds like a bunch of wanna-be soloists. The new dorms are very nice and quite spacious. I'm also available if you have any questions, and congrats!</p>
<p>My husband attended many years ago (composition).
Son (tuba) was accepted last year. Even with some merit money, it was beyond our family's reach. VERY hard decision, MSM was his first choice by far.</p>
<p>Son has played with many brass players at MSM in NY Youth Symphony and has sat in on master classes, etc at MSM. It's a great place.
Son has visited his friends in the new dorms.....and loves going for breakfast in the neighborhood.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your son!</p>
<p>Thanks for the above information. Greatly appreciated. Glad to hear of thwe orchestra focus/quality</p>
<p>I can also second the comments on the positive environment at MSM. MSM has great students and faculty but a much friendlier and less stressful environment than the conservatory down the street.</p>
<p>When we visited both schools, and later my son auditioned in March at both - that was absolutely our impression also. Thanks for that validation</p>
<p>Violamandad-</p>
<p>Welcome and congratulations to your son. Manhattan is a fine school, and I'd concur with the intense but supportive atmosphere the school exudes. You have access to great viola instructors... have you chosen or determined a studio assignment preference yet?</p>
<p>If your son chooses to attend, have him become a member of the New York Viola Society. They periodcally offer concerts and recitals featuring the best violists, and the format allows for personal interaction and contact as well. It's a networking opportunity that should not be ignored.</p>
<p>Violadad,
My son had lessons with Karen Dreyfus and Issac Malkin last summer - and really liked them both. He selected Karen Dreyfus as his first choice and has been assigned to her. We are all very excited.</p>
<p>How would you rate the financial aid at MSM?</p>
<p>I think their resources are relatively limited, so they may not be as generous as other schools.</p>
<p>We are waiting to hear about scholarships/financial aid. We were told that they had 6.3 million dollars to spread amongst their students this coming year and that ~40% of this next years ~900 students are anticipated to get scholarships/aid. All that we were told thus far is that based on my son's audition score and credentials we are being considered for aid.</p>
<p>Our son was offered a 25% tuition grant last year. Other FA was Stafford loans, workstudy and Parent Plus loans.
One of his friends is a current MSM student; he receives a 15% grant each year.</p>
<p>These are obviously just two examples. It did seem from their letter that the school viewed our son's offer to represent a significant award; I don't know how often much larger awards are available. Perhaps others will share their experiences.</p>
<p>While we carefully considered his MSM acceptance and FA package, the total out of pocket was still beyond our family's ability to pay.<br>
I hope the school offers you a package that will make it feasible.</p>
<p>Musicmom - Thanks for sharing your story. I think there's a very good lesson to be learned here. Our kids need to be aware of financial limitations going into the application and audition process. Is there even a point of applying to X, Y or Z conservatory or private university when the cost of attending is really going to be out of reach, even with somewhat generous financial aid? My son applied to Eastman and was rejected. I was nervous the whole time awaiting his admission/rejection - asking myself, 'What if he DOES get admitted (and his dream teacher was there), but they only give him a very minimal financial aid package?' We were in no position to mortgage our lives away, and the thought of him graduating with $50k in debt was not attractive either. In the end, he ended up at a state school with a great music program and he loves his teacher -- and no loans!</p>
<p>violinmom-
I was actually hesitant to share our story.....
It seems that I see so many stories here on CC where parents are able/willing to do whatever is necessary for their child's 'dream school', regardless of the price tag. We really wanted to make MSM possible for our son to attend.....it was a long standing goal, not a passing fancy.<br>
Your question is a good one: Why even apply? Because he knew he had a CHANCE with a great audition and maybe some luck.<br>
He also had three other acceptances.....that were financially possible.</p>
<p>He's taking advantage of all the opportunities he does have and, as far as I can tell, is not fixating on the disappointment. He's a great kid!</p>
<p>So, I sure hear your Eastman story......not easy, is this? So happy to hear that he is happy. The teacher really makes makes or breaks it, as many here have said. No loans; that's a true gift.</p>
<p>Interesting to hear your stories..</p>
<p>For my undergrad, I had several choices - one of which was Eastman. They offered what was considered to be a generous scholarship, but I would still have graduated with significant debt. I decided to go to a "lesser" school, where I would not incur any debt. I liked my teacher, and have had a successful career.</p>
<p>However, if I had to do it again - knowing what I know now - I would have chosen the "designer" school; debt and all. Now, the second time around, I have chosen debt and a name school, over a plethora of other schools where I wouldn't have to pay a dime.</p>
<p>There's a million different paths to success; this is just my experience.</p>
<p>Maxtexada,</p>
<p>I am interested to know the reasons why, in light of experience, you would have chosen the "designer" school. As for the original question, my S is a first year student at MSM in the jazz department. He thinks the education is first rate. Of all the schools we visited, I found the atmosphere there to be the warmest and most stimulating. I have said before that my S has been somewhat slow to adjust to conservatory life, but I just returned today from NY to see him perform, and he is quite well adjusted and says there is nowhere else he would rather be. So I feel a lot better. We got no financial aid from MSM, and it is a rather big bite for us, but I felt it would be the best place for him.</p>
<p>Hi Spelmom,</p>
<p>I just wrote to somebody else asking me why I would have chosen the designer school - which MSM certainly is.</p>
<p>I ended up doing my undergrad at St. Louis Conservatory of Music (now defunct). I left there with hardly any debt.</p>
<p>As I said, I would go to Eastman (or MSM, or Juilliard) if I had to do it all over again. I really feel that the "name recognition" could have more easily opened up some doors for me. </p>
<p>Another main reason for my wishing that I'd picked a designer school is for the competitive aspect. I was a big fish throughout jr. high, high school, and then in college. I think that being surrounded by the "best of the best" would have caused me to step it up a bit more.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>I heartily agree with Maxtexada for instrumentalists, but not for singers at the undergraduate level. The contacts made, the level of musicianship and technical performance, the challenge of understanding what the competition in the real world is, all are found only at the best music schools. Singers need to get on track, stay healthy, and get older....they need good collaborative pianists, and they can do their thing anywhere. Instrumentalists must achieve at a much younger age to have their best chance for professional success.</p>
<p>I've got into MSM recently and I am international student. MSM gave me no financial aid and I have to pay 4 years around $150,000 ! crazy!
I am actually been accepted in the jazz department and I know that it is not that easy to get a great job as a musician, especially in the arts.
I am actually from France and I have big advice who play classical music is to apply to the conservatory of Paris that is called CNSM. It is completely free and as prestigious as Julliard or even better. </p>
<p>I need some advice from anyone. I need to decide whether or not I should go to MSM and come out with around $100, 000 debt which doesn't guarantee me a complete successful career in music , especially in jazz. Classical music is another thing since there are more opportunities to join orchestras etc .</p>