Music, Art, and Japan

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello all,</p>

<p>First post on the site here. In fact, my first college related post on any site for that matter. I'm going to be a senior in high school next year and I’m trying to scope out my options. I have wanted some help from human beings, but the counselors at school don't offer much. I will and have already talked a bit with teachers about schools to look at but have not had very much feedback. I seriously need all the help I can get. </p>

<p>My search is in some ways very specific and the schools I will be interested in may be few. Although I am looking at specifics I am also interested in hearing all my possibilities. I think that I’m quite picky in the music and arts so if you can help out in direction of one or both I will appreciate it. </p>

<p>If you know nothing of music schools please skip over the music section and help me with (studio/visual/fine) art schools, and vice versa.</p>

<p>LOCATION:
I live in Michigan and would really like to get out of state. I think a different environment will do me good in personal growth and a new location is very valuable to me. I still want to consider options close by if the benefits of the programs are great enough. The thought of going to a school on the east or west coast is very attractive. My older brother is attending Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence. I like the east coast because it feels somewhat closer to home than the very distant west. Either way, if I had my druthers I wouldn’t be coming home for the weekends. </p>

<h2>City or country? Hmm… probably city. Although I would love to go to a school where nature is a close backyard, my guess is my picky college search will make that unlikely. The city has a lot to offer.</h2>

<p>FINANCE:</p>

<h2>I don’ want to limit my search based on school prices. I will consider even more expensive schools, but I definitely would like to earn scholarships as much as possible.</h2>

<p>GRADES and CLASSES:
I have a pretty decent GPA (3.7-3.8 to guess). Scored a 27 on the ACT for the first time around. I think I would do better on a retake. I have not taken the SAT yet. Mostly A’s until this year when I had a few flukes. Took an E in my AP Lang class for one trimester (ahhh!). My overall year grade for AP Statistics was a B-minus. Junior year I took AP Lang and AP Stats. Next year the APs will be Literature, Physics, and World History. I am trying to take Japanese or French dual enroll next year and currently working on registration stuff. I have done band since 6th grade. I took 3 years of French (no French 4 offered at high school). I took one art class so far. I was originally signed up for general Art but after one class period I realized how basic and silly that class was. I got bumped up to Drawing 2 with a better teacher. </p>

<h2>Four years of English, four of science, four of math, and three of history, four of band, and four of foreign language.</h2>

<p>MUSIC[background]:
I am a percussionist right now but have interest in other instruments as well (I've dabbled on guitar, banjo, and would like to approach piano again). I do not consider myself a top player or best musician in any sense. I am in a very large ensemble that consists of 40 high school aged percussionists who all take private lessons- many of these kids are really talented. Many of them play at a collegiate level and make it look easy. </p>

<p>When I started percussion in sixth grade I wasn't very serious and most kids aren't. The longer I stayed in it, the more I enjoyed it and after many years I feel very dedicated to bettering my musical talents. With some more training I think I may make some scholarship money in music.</p>

<p>I am most comfortable on keyboard mallet instruments even though I'm only a mediocre note reader. I just spend a long time practicing pieces :)</p>

<p>I will be playing bass drum for the marching band for the third year and will be co-section leader of the drumline (about 30 kids including frontline/pit). Last year I was segment leader for the bass drums.</p>

<p>Symphonic Wind Ensemble next year. </p>

<p>I have taken private lessons on and off since 7th grade from our drumline instructor but I think practice time is sometimes more beneficial than lessons now because I've been with the same teacher so long. I've been taught well; there is a lot I know I can work out myself in private practice time.</p>

<p>I am practicing pad and have fairly good technique but I am not skilled/confident in snare material, this is something I want to improve.</p>

<p>Played a couple of steel drum tunes in our ensemble. Took a while to work out notes but it came together well.</p>

<h2>I have been spoiled with what I think might be some of the best percussion training in the country for my age. The ensemble I play in, called Strike, was formed by a student of Robert Hohner who taught percussion at Central Michigan University. Robert Hohner’s legacy is fairly wide spread especially in Michigan. Our percussion ensemble is going to play in NYC in a few days and then again in Connecticut. We travel every other year during the summer time to put on a show or two. If it helps, I could post a youtube link of our ensemble playing.</h2>

<p>MUSIC[college search]:
I watched a video of the percussionists at Interlochen Academy of Arts (a summer camp and also boarding school known for their outstanding studies in the visual arts, theater, dance, and music). They were performing a concert but nothing seemed quite impressive. In fact, it was vaguely boring compared to Strike.
I would like a college with a very solid percussion program. I have heard a few college percussion groups from Michigan play. Michigan State is absolutely great and Alma college also has a very strong group.</p>

<h2>Outside of percussion performance, I am very interested in trying some other things out. I really want to study theory. I think I would also like composition a lot. I want to develop playing talent on other instruments outside of percussion during college if possible. I often hear people say choose one instrument and become the best at it, but I can’t possibly choose one! I imagine that in the end, I will always return to percussion.</h2>

<p>ART[background]:
First off, I never know what to call it in context of college searching. Does visual art include dance and theater? Doesn’t fine arts consist of music, dance, drawing, painting, etc? Is studio art the right term? The visual arts that I’m referring to is drawing, painting, design, printmaking… you get the idea.
My older brother attends Rhode Island School of Design and according to him is quite top notch. I know they work him to the bone there. I’ve visited a couple of times when we drop him off or pick him up from school. I have learned a lot just from being around his work and seeing what he looks at for inspiration. A lot of my preference in style, design, and art is heavily influenced by him. He does a lot of art sharing with me and I share my music with him. Understanding how he approaches drawing has helped me develop my own drawing skills this last trimester. I’m new to the visual arts as of this year but was instantly better than much of the class who had taken other art courses because of my fortunate position as brother of RISD student. I think I am even capable of making drawings comparable with the best artists in our school (my graduating class is almost 700 kids). </p>

<h2>I really enjoyed the drawing class, the work atmosphere, and being able to work occasionally under the direction of my brother. Peers including very talented artists at school complimented my work. I see a ton of room for improvement and would like to continue making and learning about art work.</h2>

<p>ART[college search]:
Even though my chief interest has been music, I really would like to keep up with the visual arts in college also. I might be interested in balancing them evenly and trying to do equal studies in both. More likely, I will be atleast slightly more involved in the music than the visual arts. But I think I would be unsatisfied with college if the arts program wasn’t very great. Overall, music is a higher priority but after being coached by my older brother and seeing his work and seeing what is produced at RISD, I would like access to a great arts program. I would like to be able to try out different mediums and crafts (printmaking, drawing, maybe design or painting).</p>

<h2>Ted, my older brother told me that I would probably be accepted to RISD if I focused on creating a portfolio. On basis of artistic talent, I think my application would do fairly well. I want to continue drawing over the summer and work on developing a portfolio.</h2>

<p>JAPANESE: </p>

<h2>Not the first thing I will look for in the college search, but definitely something that may have an influence on picking. I don’t want to major in Japanese but I want to be able to take classes to learn the language. A year abroad in Japan is definitely something I want to do. I may even consider living there for a longer time or doing more school there.</h2>

<p>Thanks so much for any help.</p>

2

<p>bcraig, Your thoughtful and thorough approach will pay off as you narrow in on your college list. </p>

<p>I would, however, suggest that you clarify your financial situation. There are two kinds of “scholarships” or financial aid: need based aid and merit based aid. Ask your parents to use an on-line calculator to determine how much need based aid you might be eligible for. This will vary somewhat from school to school, but it will give you a starting point. If need based aid works for you – i.e., if you family can afford their expected family contribution – then you can put together a fairly open ended list.</p>

<p>If, on the other hand, your EFC isn’t workable, then you’ll have to look at schools that offer merit based financial aid, which is a different list. </p>

<p>Do this before you go any further.</p>

<p>Some schools that have good to excellent academics plus strong studio art (that’s what I’d call it) are Williams, Wesleyan, Hamilton, Haverford, Conn College, Vassar, Skidmore, Kenyon, Oberlin. Smith if you are female. Among the Ivy League, Brown and Yale. </p>

<p>Williams, Wesleyan, Oberlin and Smith also have excellent music departments, but only Oberlin has a true conservatory. Japanese language and related classes in art history, culture and history are fairly common at all, but you should check the course catalog for specifics.</p>

<p>Williams is the one that I’m most familiar with. It’s very selective (and aid is need based only) but you could surely satisfy your diverse interests there. Double and even triple majors are common and music performance opportunities for non-majors are abundant.</p>

<p>Even if you don’t intend to major in either art or music you should submit performance and art supplemental materials along with your application.</p>

3

<p>I know you said you wanted to get out of Michigan, but I really think that a good public university would be the best choice for a student with such talent in such a wide variety of fields, and you can go to one of the best public schools in the country for very cheap, since you’re in state. I’m not saying UMich should be the only school you apply to, but seriously, even if you don’t like the idea, it SHOULD be on your list, because it’s a great option that you have that most other people don’t.</p>

<p>Most smaller schools will excel at one or two of the areas you’re passionate about, whereas a large school will be able to accommodate all your passions, as well as anything else that may (will) strike your interest as you grow into an adult. I’m usually a huge advocate for LACs and smaller schools, but for someone like you who’s going to want the extra resources available at a larger uni, I really think UMich would be an ideal choice, at least if you’re willing to go to a large public school. I really don’t think it would be in your best interests to consider any OOS publics over the great options you have in-state, though there might be some private unis that I’m not thinking of that would fit your interests and stats.</p>

<p>If you would like to consider LACs, though, I could definitely recommend a few. Oberlin is known for having a great music program. Earlham is known for having one of the best Japanese programs in the country.</p>

<p>Any of the top 20 or 30 LACs will almost certainly have quality programs in all three areas, BUT you should look at course listings and see how many years of Japanese are offered if you do decide to apply to some LACs. Some LACs, because of their size, will only offer two years of Japanese (but then again, you say you don’t want to major, so two years might be all you need).</p>

4

<p>I suggest that you look serious at going to college in Los Angeles. Why LA? For several very specific reasons. First, LA is a center of development for music, art, film, dance and design and all the technologies that go along with it. Second, LA is also the center of Japanese culture in the continental United States (Hawaii is also pretty influenced by Japan). Third, it is one of the few major cities that offer escapes to natural beauty within just a few minutes of town. It has some of the nicest beaches on the West Coast, a few of which are more pristine than you would expect. It also has amazing hiking trails on the outskirts of the city in Malibu, the Santa Monica Mountains, Pacific Palisades, Palos Verdes, etc. Also, within reasonable driving distance you have Big Bear for skiing and Joshua Tree National Park which is an other worldly place that you would be inspired by. Pretty much this city will offer you everything that you want.</p>

<p>I am a Japanese speaker and speak Japanese everyday here in LA. The epicenter of Japanese culture is in the South Bay area. Mainly Torrance and Gardena where you can find multiple Japanese restaurants, major Japanese supermarkets, every martial art you would ever want to practice from Karate, Judo and Aikido to Sumo (yes, it is here in LA) and Kendo.</p>

<p>Every UC and Cal State in our area has a sister school in Japan where you can do a year abroad and so do the privates. Schools that would fit your criteria, GPA and Stats in LA are:</p>

<p>Publics:</p>

<p>Cal State Northridge [California</a> State University, Northridge](<a href=“http://www.csun.edu/]California”>http://www.csun.edu/) College of Arts Media and Communication [CSUN</a> Department of Music](<a href=“http://www.csun.edu/music/]CSUN”>http://www.csun.edu/music/)
Cal State Northridge is an easy match for you Academically. It is also renowned for its amazing music and arts programs at a reasonable price even for an out of state student. It is in close proximity to all art centers in LA with a big alumni network in the entertainment industry.</p>

<p>UCLA – A reach for you and very expensive, but offers everything you want. Great neighborhood. UCLA is, well UCLA – no explanation needed. Huge alumni network in the entertainment industry.</p>

<p>Santa Monica College – Yes, it is a community college. However, it is No #1 in transfers to UCLA and other top universities and is also in the epicenter of the arts. Go here to save money and then transfer.</p>

<p>Privates:</p>

<p>California Institute of the Arts. This could be THE program for you. [CalArts</a> | California Institute of the Arts](<a href=“http://calarts.edu/]CalArts”>http://calarts.edu/)</p>

<p>University of Southern California – A reach for you and very expensive, but offers everything you want. An impressive and safe campus surrounded by the most dangerous neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Huge alumni network in the entertainment industry. Some of the biggest names in LA went here or UCLA.</p>

<p>Loyola Marymount University – A match for you academically. Good scholarship programs. Excellent programs in the arts. Huge alumni network in the entertainment industry. Beautiful neighborhood near the beach.</p>

<p>Other schools nearby (within an hour or so) that would be good too are:</p>

<p>UCSB - Gorgeous campus and an amazing town. 1 to 1.5 hour drive from LA.
UCI - Conservative and in Orange County but good.
Cal Poly Pomona – Offers what you and very reasonable in price. Has a few Hollywood heavyweights as alumni.
Chapman University – This could be awesome for you. Small, private, but big in the arts.</p>

5

<p>I will second Oberlin, which has good studio art, world class music (including a fabulous steel drum ensemble) and excellent Japanese with lots of study/work abroad programs in Asia.</p>

6

<p>Wow!
Thank you all! What a great variety and depth of responses in such a short time! This is so helpful!</p>

<p>I will be looking into these recommendations and figuring out where I am as far as finance goes. </p>

<p>Kudryavka, I appreciate your suggestion to consider UofM. I really should do a college visit there this summer. I know it must have a lot to offer…</p>

<p>One of my best friends (also a percussionist) is planning on going to Berklee College of Music in Boston. He is an amazing drummer and percussionist and will have no problem getting into Berklee. For him, it will be a matter of how much merit based scholarships he will receive. He considers Berklee to be the best in many aspects. I think he mostly appreciates the heavily developed and diverse selection of music programs at Berklee. I have looked at what they have to offer and indeed, it is quite tempting for a musician. </p>

<p>The only reason I am considering looking here is because I discovered something called the Professional Arts Consortium. ProArts is a group of 6 neighboring art schools in Boston who allow cross-registration between any of the six. These schools include:
Berklee College of Music,
Boston Architectural College,
Boston Conservatory (music, dance & theater),
Emerson College (liberal arts),
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, &
The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.</p>

<p>I do not know too much about any except Berklee. My brother said the MUSEUM of Fine Arts hosts a lot of nice art work so I would think that the SCHOOL of the Museum of Fine Arts might boast a strong art program. Another very close friend recently was awarded a three week study in the arts at the School of Mus of FA. He is an incredibly talented artist and submitted some works to a national competition and apparently came out well. </p>

<p>Funny, the three people I consider my best friends will all be in Boston this summer. One at the Berklee music three day program, one at the three week School of MusofFA program, and the other was accepted and awarded scholarships for Harvard’s eight or nine week summer program. Summer will be a bit lonelier and will make Boston all the more tempting to look into.</p>

<p>The ProArts program still requires you to have a home school where you would take most of your courses and pay the home school’s tuitions but cross registration would definitely allow me to take a wider variety of courses. I just found out Berklee College of Mus offers Japanese 1-4 and got a bit excited about that. The cross-registration in my case seems so necessary. I feel that without it I would quickly tire of only music classes. I would probably put up with it but I think I would enjoy a slightly broader range of study more.</p>

<p>Two ideas still deter me from college here. On the basis of attending Berklee as my home school (I think I might have a decent shot of acceptance but I am not fully confident. They’re acceptance rate is 40%), it would be extremely expensive and I would still be attending a <em>music</em> school. The tuition and fees is $36,500 and room and board is $17,000, also an optional (but probably recommended) laptop which costs $3,172. … Actually, I just checked RISD’s total expenses versus Berklee. Berklee is only 2k more expensive and my older brother is attending RISD, much of which is possible because of our family support. Berklee would be incredibly expensive but I think it might be affordable for us. As far as Berklee being a <em>music</em> school, I just fear the vibes and attitudes of the stereotypical musician. To put it bluntly, elite musicians often seem to be stuck up pricks. haha Of course, not everyone will be that way and I should probably just plan a college visit if I’m serious to find out for myself. I definitely fear the same stereotype at Oberlin.</p>

<p>So, thanks again to all. You are making my long typing sessions very worthwhile :slight_smile:
Goodnight, I’m going to go pick fresh strawberries tomorrow morning with friends. Yay! And yes, I will be wearing a sunhat.</p>