Music at UVA

<p>I've read over the music deparment's website forwards and backwards, but I was still hoping that someone could give me a more insider's look at how popular this particular deparment is at UVA. By that, I'm wondering how competitive private music (vocal) lessons are and I'd also love to know more about First Year Players and the student run music organizations. While I'm sure the most direct route is to e-mail these particular organizations (and I've already e-mailed a voice professor with no response yet) I was just hoping for a brief overview by some CC'ers if they had any comments =)</p>

<p>the music dept at uva is notoriously bad, but that doesnt mean ppl dont still major in it... i know a couple of ppl doing english and music. uva is a good enough school that the ppl put up with it.
fyp is pretty popular. the a cappella groups are popular and numerous, and there are also some, uh, actual choir groups (usingers are pretty good, chamber choir does a lot of eric whitacre i think, there are men's and women's choirs...) it really depends on what kind of music you like to sing.
personally i decided to sing in what has turned into 2 groups in the cville community - i do early music in one and the other is through the synagogue. not only am i exempt from all of the high school, oh i meant college, drama, but we all have about the same level of commitment and it is a ton of fun. that route is obv. not for everyone, but perfect for me. :) but yea... if you want to sing, you will find a way to do it. i have a friend who does private vocal lessons too so i guess theyre decent (havent heard otherwise).</p>

<p>Check her out for private lessons:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.singers.com/instructional/StephanieNakasian.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.singers.com/instructional/StephanieNakasian.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Is she affiliated with the University?</p>

<p>the music department leaves much to be desired in the sense that its very small and there arn't many classes offered. however, i do like many of the professors, and they're very nice, and from what i can tell knowledgable.</p>

<p>no, UVa is not known for being stellar or large in terms of music programs. we do, however, have several performing ensembles that would certainly rival similar groups at schools with well established programs. </p>

<p>what I don't understand is why this is. probably has to do with funding and such, but I've had the pleasure in meeting and talking with professors and directors across all the music fields, and I would say they are some of the best at what they do. </p>

<p>being a wind player, i spent lots of time in high school with college programs, camps, directors at several big name music schools, but I was still impressed upon my involvement in music at UVa, with the faculty here.</p>

<p>Yeah, it has a lot to do with funding and space. UVa is trying to improve its Music Department through its Capital Campaign and by building the new Arts Grounds across the street from the International Residence College. I'm not sure when that's going to be started and completed. There's so much construction on Grounds. It's hard to keep up with it all.</p>

<p>yeah there sure is, any idea what's going on there by Rugby/Culbreth/Car's Hill Field/DKE? it's like they blew a hole in that hill last I saw it. </p>

<p>and yeah, being someone invovled with music around grounds I can't wait to see progress on the new arts center, even though i'm sure it'll be post-graduation for me.</p>

<p>I think they're building a new Studio Art building and adding additional space to the Architecture School in the area by Rugby, etc.</p>

<p>What I'd like to know is what's being built next to the sidewalk between Echols and Page dorms on McCormick Road?</p>

<p>wait what!? I'm an RA in Echols this year. Is there something going on there?</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Yes, there is a new Studio Art building going up. "Ruffin Studio Art Building" was what the huge, dust/mud/grass/uva signatures covered construction sign said. I assume Ruffin will be either the building or dept name. I have a feeling that us Lambeth residents will be hearing noise from there constantly =/ But, atleast they finally finished re-doing Lambeth Field. Looks bea-u-tiful </p></li>
<li><p>Between Echols and Page, I have no clue what the heck they are doing. Where there was once poured concrete steps, divided into three sections, is now two outlying sections (I assume that will be brick) and in the middle it looks almost as if they're putting in a brick encasing for a fountain or a place for flower beds. I really have no idea what will go there, but my guess is that it will be beautiful and will blend in with old dorms nicely.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I noticed, on Tuesday, that there was a TON of construction, everywhere. UVa does a REALLY good job on constantly upgrading, and seems to have an abundant flow of money to spend on Grounds/schools. The projects ranged anywhere from the Studio Art building to the Old Dorms sidewalk thing, from Lambeth Field to whatever they are doing to JPA/Cabell Hall. They're also overhauling a lot of the buildings inside and out, from Thorton being repainted to Brown rooms being upgraded to Lambeth getting new furniture to the Cabell project, and whatever the building is that is next to Cabell. Good news I guess for us Hoos :)</p>

<p>The construction near Cabell is for the [url=<a href="http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/southlawn/media/index.html%5DSouth"&gt;http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/southlawn/media/index.html]South&lt;/a> Lawn Project.<a href="Check%20out%20the%20virtual%20tour%20when%20you%20click%20on%20the%20link.">/url</a></p>

<p>They're building a bridge over JPA that will link the South Lawn with New Cabell Hall. You can read more about it [url=<a href="http://magazine.clas.virginia.edu/x7966.xml%5Dhere.%5B/url"&gt;http://magazine.clas.virginia.edu/x7966.xml]here.[/url&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/p>

<p>DANGIT! This will all be completed the year I graduate! I've seen this project before, and it is beauutiffulll. The construction right now totally sucks, and there's a lot of it going on down there, but still, it'll be so worth it.</p>

<p>Holy crud, UVA is going to be seriously one helluva school (haha oh I want that shirt so bad). I need to go home and kick my brother in the butt so he can get the grades to attend so I can visit.</p>

<p>Here's a [list[/url</a>] of the other construction on Grounds.</p>

<p>EDIT: They're also expanding the Curry School of Education with a new building, [url=<a href="http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1237&Itemid=10%5DBavaro"&gt;http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1237&Itemid=10]Bavaro&lt;/a> Hall](<a href="http://www.virginia.edu/architectoffice/current.html%5Dlist%5B/url"&gt;http://www.virginia.edu/architectoffice/current.html).&lt;/p>