<p>Which is better overall??? people, orchestra, and teachers!!</p>
<p>Two very different schools. U Colorado Boulder is a very large state flagship, with a rep as a party school. McGill is arguably Canada’s top private institution, a much smaller student body, and has a world class rep as a top flight academic institution and a world class program in the Schulich SOM. Many are drawn to Colorado for the scenery and recreation; Montreal is a half a continent away, in one of the prettiest cities in North America.</p>
<p>Colorado lists one flute instructor, Christina Jennings with a solid reputation as a teacher and performer. The fact that her husband is a violist should not be counted against her. 
A concern might be that lower classmen may be relegated to study/studio with GA’s or TA’s; it’s conjecture, but given the size of the program, I would wonder. McGill lists four, maybe five, all affiliated with some of Montreal’s most prestigious performing organizations. </p>
<p>It depends on what you are looking for. Have you had lessons with any of the faculty at either? A visit? Which environment appeals to you? Finances? They both are cold… Rockies cold versus Canadian cold are both COLD. Personally, I can’t stand cities, but I love Montreal. Anytime you can combine les canadiens with les violins du roi in the same city is fine by me. </p>
<p>Both are fine programs, and I’ve known exceptional musicians from both. There is probably more depth and pure performance talent at McGill, but the top performers at Boulder can hold their own with the best from any program.</p>
<p>musicmom2’s son is a freshman percussionist at McGill, and othermussicdad’s d is a freshman violist at UCol Boulder. You may want to pm each for impressions.</p>
<p>If language is a concern, keep in mind that even those Americans who are fluent in French, thanks to higher level classes and APs, will have a very hard time understanding Quebecoise. Montreal is pretty much bi-lingual, but the people can be very naitionalistic and “forget” their English when face to face with a struggling American! In truth, the people of Quebec expect you to speak French, it’s that simple.
The school does teach in English, but you have to venture outside of the campus once in a while, so make sure you visit and check things out from the standpoint of “living there” and interacting with the local population. But there’s no denying that Montreal is a lovely city.Good luck!!</p>
<p>Thank you Mezzo’sMama, but I am from Belgium and am in AP French this year so language is not a problem for me 
Do you know anything about their conservatory orchestra?</p>
<p>Thank you violadad! I did actually meet Ms.Jennings and she seems very nice. They offered me 75,000, but I am not sure if they have all that I need. I do not know how Boulder’s orchestra is, but I can guess it is not as good as McGill. I have not gone to montreal to meet any of the prof but I am sure they must be good. I want to be an orchestral player, so that seems to be what I am focusing on for deciding.</p>
<p>Just going back to the language question- I know the national language of Belgium is Dutch (called Flemish there), and about 40% of the population speaks French. My D has also taken years of French, is in AP this year and is completely bi-lingual, as am I. It’s STILL very difficult to understand French-speakers from Quebec- their cadence and flow of the language are different and many of the words are not the same. Since you are an international student, I don’t think it would put you off for long!
All I know about the music groups at McGill is that there are several, of varied sizes, and that their reputation is sterling. I have a feeling from listening to you, that you are leaning towards McGill and feel that they can offer you what you need. Follow your heart…</p>
<p>I hope I will be able to adapt if I go there :)</p>
<p>If you are from Belgium, you actually will probably find Quebec an easier adaptation than Colorado which is really raw-blooded American for better or worse. I really dont know anything about U. Colorado’s orchestral program, but I know that Schulich is seen as an orchestral training school and an excellent one at that. They’ve recently gotten a lot of new money to fund their programs and buildings and it’s hard to see how you could go wrong there.</p>
<p>Well I actually have lived in California my whole life, but am FROM Belgium, but I am pretty good at getting around in any french speaking country</p>
<p>I am an American who speaks fluent “Parisian” French. In terms of the Quebecois being hard to follow, that’s true. But I have visited both Montreal and Quebec (City), and the regions around Quebec (Province). The French I heard spoken in Montreal was much more like Parisian French than it was Quebecois.</p>
<p>Many years ago I spent a summer studying French at College Bois de Boulonge in Montreal. If you’re willing to attempt to communicate in French, folks are way warmer with you than the Quebecois reputation suggests – it’s just that French IS their legal language there but they’ve had to fight to preserve it. You’ll master the slang in no time. McGill is an awesome institution on many levels and Montreal is an exceptionally vibrant community, particularly in arts and entertainment. I would predict you may find more extracurricular musical opportunities and music afficionados in Montreal than CO, plus an enjoyable alternative music scene if you like same. For me personally, it would be McGill hands down, based both on the calibre of the program itself and the environment of Montreal. But I am not you : )
Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Boulder is not “cold”. They have sunshine 300 days a year. When it snows 6-8 inches, a day or two later it is 60. The weather is wonderful year round. It lacks deciduous trees, if that matters to you.</p>
<p>CU-Boulder is a very strong American music school, a bit off the state-side radar of the east coast, conservatory crowd. There are lots of musical opportunities in the region, many more than one would expect. Orchestral and chamber music, opera, musical theater, you name it. Think Aspen, Central City Opera, etc. </p>
<p>Colorado has been political more conservative in recent years, but there is some evolution from that. Boulder itself is very “green”, a strong youth and active culture, excellent public transportation and restaurants. </p>
<p>Good luck to you.</p>
<p>McGill has a first class conservatory level orchestra, with professors from the Montreal Symphony. It is a fabulous, interesting city with lots of culture, music, arts. Very international and cosmopolitan. And yes…very, very cold!</p>
<p>Boulder is also a really neat city (but very different than Montreal); however, the music school at CO is probably not of the caliber of McGill. But that might mean that you get better playing opportunities, earlier on, than you could at McGill. And you have a great scholarship at CO!</p>
<p>I would try to meet both potential teachers, if at all possible (or call or email them—I am sure they would be open to speaking with you). </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>My daughter’s flute instructor advised her not to apply to Boulder because of lack of performance opportunities for undergraduate students. She said that because of the number of grad students and the size of the program all positions and top chairs go primarily to grad students and you “won’t even see a stage” in your early years as an undergrad. This teacher has personal experience with the program and the people there. Although CO has a history of being conservative that is primarily the rural areas and Boulder is the most liberal spot in the state. It’s a very hard party school and there are some, well, interesting people in that town. More Birkenstock’s per capita except for maybe CA Berkley. It is not cold in this part of CO (we lived there for many years). The cold is in the mountains of CO around the ski areas. Boulder is a nice sunny place. You can expect a few weeks of bitter cold in December or January but during the other months you can expect springlike weather to pop up at any time. It rarely hits the high 90s in the summer. I know nothing of Montreal or McGill, but if you want a large state university complete with the partying, Buffaloes football team, Ward Churchill (typical at CU) and all the things that come along with that then it would be a great place.</p>
<p>One other thing I forgot to mention. CO is in dire straits due to the economy and historically has been ranked 49th of 50 states in terms of higher education funding. Boulder is down by 19% in applications this year and is real worried about having a smaller freshman class and the loss of tuition revenue and budget cuts that will come along with that. I believe they took a 10-20% budget reduction already this year but don’t know how that has affected their programs. Remember, though, at a state university like this you’ll be taking lots of gen ed classes in various areas and even if Music doesn’t experience the cuts you may find that the other areas do.</p>
<p>Heard from son this morning. Said that you should be congratulated as auditions for flute were very competitive this year and the program could only accept a few. The one flute he knows is graduating. He also has met one of the prof. He said seems like a great supportive program, also challenging. </p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Just a suggestion - </p>
<p>The OP is looking for help deciding between McGill and the University of Colorado at Boulder. People who know nothing about The College of Music at CU/Boulder should refrain from making comments about it. Don’t you agree? I could go on and on about Montreal and McGill. My comments would be irrelevant, of course, because I know nothing about either place.</p>
<p>As usual, lorelei has it right. CU/Boulder is a great place to study music performance - almost 600 students - 1/2 undergrad; 1/2 grad; a large, dedicated, full-time faculty; endless performance opportunities and a supportive city and surrounding area.</p>
<p>Anyone who doesn’t believe Colorado offers a vibrant music scene hasn’t ever visited Colorado. Oh, and on a visit to see my daughter on President’s weekend, I wore jeans and a t-shirt the entire time. So much for cold!</p>
<p>Imamiger, </p>
<p>You clearly have some experience with CU/Boulder. Thanks for the informed comments. I thought I’d make one small correction to what you wrote.</p>
<p>BM performance students at CU do not take general ed courses. ALL freshman are required to take a freshman writing course, but after that BM performance students take 27 non-music credits over 4 years (largely language courses for vocalists) and 10 free elective credits (music or non-music) over 4 years. All other courses (approx 80 credits) are taken in the College of Music.</p>
<p>For woodwinds, it looks like this - </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.colorado.edu/music/classes/ugradadvising/BMwoodwinds.pdf[/url]”>http://www.colorado.edu/music/classes/ugradadvising/BMwoodwinds.pdf</a></p>
<p>BTW - I think the 19% drop in applications (from last year’s record) is from OOS applicants.</p>
<p>Well said, othermusicdad! Up here in Canada, McGill is NOT seen as the “be all and end all” music school. It has its strengths and weaknesses, like anywhere.
I do think it is a great choice for flute; up here Timothy Hutchins is a legend, and the OSM wind section is wonderful. For a wind player, working with teachers who are still in the business, performing at a high level day in and day out, is an important consideration. Is money a concern? As an American you will not be able to work in Canada.
Just my .02 CAD, .016 USD.</p>
<p>Oh, really good point oldviola- it could be that the OP has dual citizenship and those loose ends need to be tied up, which I’m sure her family is on top of. Each school has it’s good points and of course, negatives, so it’s going to come down to finances and a teacher.So, Ilovetheflute, have you spent a day or two at each school, had a lesson, met the faculty…?</p>
<p>Thank you very much musicmom2. Also thank you othermusicdad for giving me a different perspective ! I did need more info on Boulder My worry about Boulder is if I am to become an orchestra player, I need that to be my focus. All the students who will graduate from Rice, NEC, Eastman will have a leg up ! That is a bit frustrating. Money is not a concern because it is the same for both McGill and Boulder (even with my scholarship to Boulder) . Oldviola, do you know about any of the other flute teachers because I think Mr.Hutchins only teaches graduate students? Mezzo’sMama…I have only had a lesson and been to Boulder. I …liked…it…but I am not sure if I LOVED it. I feel like I would not be surrounded by people who take music seriously there. At McGill I think I would…I could be wrong</p>