Music Majors... deciding between schools...

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>I'm am looking at four schools for a music performance major (probably vocal, though I'll take guitar classes too).</p>

<p>My two most likely canadates are:
-Western Michigan University
-Columbia College, Chicago
Other somewhat unlikely potentials are:
-Michigan State University
-Depaul University, Chicago</p>

<p>So yah. Any input as to how good the music program is in each of those schools, as well as how they rank in comparison to one another, would be helpful.
Any other information useful or persuasive to my decision would be appreciated as well.</p>

<p>I am also most likely concidering a minor in Journalism, if that changes anything at all.</p>

<p>To clarify my thought process:
My criteria in selecting schools was that they were in a nearby location (I live in Michigan), in "happening" areas, and that I could realistically get into them with my 3.10 GPA and limited extracurricular activities. The second two are less likely mostly because they are more competitive schools (though still maybe possible at a stretch), and because both mention an inclusion of sight reading as part of the audition process, which I am currently rather weak at.
I'm not really asking for suggestions of other schools unless there's some big school I missed that fits all that criteria.</p>

<p>Thanks for your time.</p>

2

<p>As others will tell you, for music admission, your audition is the number one consideration. Maybe if you tell us a little more about your experiences in music, it would help the experienced parents and students know how to steer you best. Are you involved in your school's music program? If so, to what extent? Are you part of any vocal ensembles or do you do other singing outside of school? Do you study voice and/or guitar privately now? If so, have you talked with your teacher about the possibilities for acceptance into a college music program? If you don't study privately yet, your first order of business will be to find a private teacher ASAP to help you understand the possibilities and to help you prepare your audition material. I'm assuming of course that you will be a senior in the fall? </p>

<p>As for Michigan universities, MSU is definitely the most competitive, both in academics and music, after U-M. Your admission to the College of Music is based on the audition, but you must also be admitted into the university. You may audition before you've received notice of general acceptance but your academic credentials will need to hit a certain minimum. Have you taken the ACT yet? MSU's average ACT score is about 24, so the minimums should not be too difficult to meet if you are a somewhat above average student. The better your test scores, however, the better chance you have of receiving general admission to the university without regard to the outcome of your music audition. MSU's music program is strong and getting stronger- the last time graduate programs in music were ranked, about 10 years ago, MSU was at about number 30 in the country. There is no current general ranking of music programs, and the "favorite" schools will differ depending on the instrument or voice, but this bit of data will help you put MSU into perspective. </p>

<p>As for other Michigan universities, I think Western and Central are the ones most often mentioned in more local music circles. I've talked to various ones (string players, though) who took admission to Western when they wanted to stay in Michigan but didn't get admitted to U-M. I know a number of Lansing area people who have gone to Central (although Mt. Pleasant probably doesn't meet your definition of happenin'). After that, probably Grand Valley. I don't as often hear Eastern mentioned, although with its proximity to U-M, I think it does serve as a fair feeder into U-M for graduate programs. As for location, well, Ypsi, itself, really isn't the best, but public transportion to Ann Arbor from EMU is easy. </p>

<p>On the matter of sight reading, it was my dd's experience this year in violin, and I have heard others say, that they weren't actually asked to sight read in the audition room. One must be prepared to, but it may not actually happen. </p>

<p>Feel free to keep asking questions. Hopefully, in pretty short order you'll have a better idea of what schools might serve your interests and skills/talents best.</p>

3

<p>Thanks.
I'm in my school's choir, yes. And will be a senior in the fall.
I have had private vocal training. The singing itself... I'm not too worried about. I haven't thought about what pieces I'd audition with yet, but that's a different topic.
I know a limited amount of music theory, which is my weak point in an audition. Yes, I can invest time into improving my sightreading abilities... but I'm looking primarily at what I can most realistically get into with my limited amount of time.</p>

<p>Once again, my main criteria for selecting schools:
-Somewhat nearby location (I live in Michigan)
-"Happening Area"
-Practical entrance (not too competitive grade wise and not too intent on my sightreading abilities)</p>

<p>The four I listed (Western Michigan University,
Columbia in Chicago, Michigan State University, and
Depaul in Chicago) were the four I best found to fit that criteria... the second two being much less likely but perhaps possible at a stretch. I do feel I'll be able to make it into the first two... I'm merely playing with the idea of the second two in the case there's something that strikes me about them as largely appealing. (I feel I'll be able to score high enough on the ACT if that is the deciding factor.)</p>

<p>So I'm asking how those four rank either by hearsay or statistically, both in comparison to eachother and on a larger scale. And for anything else that may affect my decision.</p>

<p>Other factors that may play into my college selection:
-I have heard that it is difficult to do a minor along with a music performance major in many colleges/universities. I would like to minor in journalism, so this plays a large factor.
-I believe State has no jazz studies major? I saw nothing of guitar on their website. Although I'll be doing singing for my major, I would like to take some guitar classes as well.
-Also on the jazz studies topic... I have seen singing grouped both with other instruments and grouped as part of jazz studies. Although I assume this means the vocal focus is more oriented towards jazz music, an explanation of what this more specifically entails for the teaching/learning process would be helpful.
-Once again, any other tips or anything I should take into account, especially from somebody already involved in one of those programs or who knows somebody involved, would be helpful. What's it truely like once involved? Anything to broden my perspective.</p>

4

<p>From what I remember, Depaul also may have an ear training section in their audition.
As far as guitar classes, most studios at good music schools are for the students majoring in that instrument only. Private lessons are always an option.</p>

5

<p>Have you had sample lessons with any of the teachers at those schools? If you are considering a performance major, you need to place the match with the individual teacher above any of the criteria that you have listed. Even if a school met all of those perfectly you would be wasting your time if the chemistry between teacher and student is not right.</p>

6

<p>Just out of pure curiosity, why is it that vocalists take up a disproportionate percentage of potential music applicants on this board? Just out of curiosity. Nothing against singers... Any theories?</p>

7

<p>I agree with BassDad. The teacher is the most important aspect of your musical education. How well you sing will be what gets you work after college, so you want to progress in that area as much as possible. Try to meet with and sing for faculty you are interested in. See if there are any masterclasses of that teacher you can attend.</p>

8

<p>Windcloudultra-there are a disproportionate amount of vocal music applicants
at music schools. The voice is one of those instruments that almost everyone owns.</p>

9

<p>"Have you had sample lessons with any of the teachers at those schools? If you are considering a performance major, you need to place the match with the individual teacher above any of the criteria that you have listed. Even if a school met all of those perfectly you would be wasting your time if the chemistry between teacher and student is not right"</p>

<p>As this is the first source I'm going to for help (I have yet to even talk to my own vocal teacher, or my school counceler), I am still somewhat uninformed... and have heard nothing of "sample lessons" up to this point.
How does one go about sceduling that? A simple call to the school? There would be quite a waiting list, no?</p>

<p>The next thing I was going to inquire about was actually people's opinions on the schools' teachers specifically. Even if I do get a "sample lesson" and get a feel for the teachers myself... I'm curious as to what students who have experienced their techniques for an extended period of time would have to say about them.</p>

<p>"Just out of pure curiosity, why is it that vocalists take up a disproportionate percentage of potential music applicants on this board? Just out of curiosity. Nothing against singers... Any theories?"</p>

<p>Oh you could analyze that one to death.
Perhaps some psychological conection between people who sing and would come to an internet forum to find information? I think you get more people who are "to the book" who play instruments because it's more straightforward and often more intent on theory, and those people are often informed ahead of the game. More singers go about singing in a freeform manner (minus maybe rock instumentalists) and I could see more singers prone to thinking "well, maybe I'll further my education in this" later in the game.
Highschool vocal programs also seem to be more loosely put together. Many further pursuing instrumental music have been in their highschool bands (often a much greater commitement, and probably more informational).
I think there's more people who just sing for fun and get serious at the last minute.</p>

<p>But I REALLY don't want to sway the topic as I'd like to get as much information as possible. Thanks.</p>

10

<p>Michigan State does indeed have a strong jazz studies program, of which Rodney Whitaker, a bass player, is the director. Sunny Wilkinson leads the jazz vocal ensemble. There are audition requirements listed for jazz vocals as well as guitar. </p>

<p>Western Michigan also gets some good reviews regionally for jazz, and would be the next school after MSU, in Michigan, to consider for jazz if you're leaning in that direction. </p>

<p>I second BassDad's suggestion to set up visits, including sample lessons with the teachers. We'll see how it actually goes for dd when she starts school in August, but her final choice came down first to the chemistry between her and the primary instrument teacher, and then to the perceptions we both developed of the overall fit- for her- of the school personalities and program features.</p>

<p>I definitely felt that a see-it-for-yourself approach, with several visits during the year- pre-application, audition, and post-acceptance- helped dd & me to evaluate the possibilities for her particular needs.</p>

11

<p>Hey BornMan, sorry about that :) Didn't mean to hijack the thread. Should've started a new thread. I just read something on one respond that got me in a mood to ask the question. Anyway, in response to your question, I'm not really too familiar with Midwestern music programs. With that said, BassDad and FiddleMom's advice is good. You could rank programs all you want but until you take a lesson or two, it's difficult to tell whether you'll enjoy working with or be inspired by a teacher or not--and I can't stress how important that is.</p>

12

<p>As far as scheduling lessons, you can contact faculty members to inquire. I had not yet been here when we had our first visits to colleges. I actually learned about sample lessons from a professor who offered to do one after meeting my daughter during a campus visit. My daughter had lessons at 2 schools prior to the audition season, and after acceptance at one school. In our case, the faculty members specifically stated up front that the sample lessons were at no cost. Others here, particularly at the big name conservatories, have stated that they paid for their sample lessons. </p>

<p>Most of the students who are represented here are in or aiming for the top name conservatories- and you'll begin to recognize the names of the 25 or 30 most frequently mentioned schools. Fewer will be auditioning for more regionally known music schools, except perhaps as "safeties." So you may not get as many BTDT comments about schools in Michigan, except for U-M. </p>

<p>Have you read through some of the major threads here yet? There are lots of stories of experiences during the audition process and about school selection which will be helpful to know so you can put your own experiences with contacting and visiting schools in perspective. These threads helped me immensely- even at the 11th hour (I only learned about this forum a few weeks before my D's first audtion)- as I helped coach my daughter through the process.</p>

13

<p>Might I immodestly suggest you read the thread I started at <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258796%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258796&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Although it details the experience of a string player, there is a lot that would also apply to a vocalist.</p>

14

<p>BornMan- Welcome. So far, I concur with what others have told you. Let me add that performance is a highly competitive field, and you really need an unbiased assesment of your ability, skill level and potential. The best place to get this is from your private studio teacher, choir director, etc.</p>

<p>You'll find that in most settings, it will difficult if not impossible to pursue two seperate performing disciplines simultanously. I would suggest either putting one on a back burner, or pursuing one through private instruction as time might allow. (For example, you could continue lessons on guitar or voice with a grad student or adjunct faculty seperately rather than through the school's program). Trust me, this is far cheaper, and for all but a few extremely talented individuals, far more realistic.</p>

<p>Don't put a lot of credence in guidance counselor's recommendations for music. Most don't have the background or even enough of a basic knowledge to recommend a program that will fit you. There are far too many variables.</p>

<p>A quick thought on theory and sight reading: it is highly unlikely weakness in either will hurt your chances for admission. Theory courses are mandatory in almost all programs, and you will be placed in an inititial class based on a test assessment. Sight reading is a developed, learned skill for most... the more you do it, the better you get. As your grasp of theory expands, you'll most probably find sight-reading becoming easier. In most admissions, the audition is the primary factor.</p>

<p>Here's one link with a searchable music school database. It might help you expand or narrow your selections. <a href="http://www.stringsmagazine.com/search/msd/default.aspx%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.stringsmagazine.com/search/msd/default.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>By all means read through the older threads here. Many of your questions are addressed.</p>

15

<p>Please speak with your voice teacher, he/she can guide you to teachers he/she knows. COntact any recent grads from your high school, church friends, voice studio, who have gone to a music school, ask about their experiences. Tap older siblings of friends who might be singers, be creative, talk about your plans with everyone, and see who knows whom. Contact will probably be made directly with any specific teachers. Start working on this NOW....once school starts, folks get very busy. Good luck! Lorelei</p>

16

<p>I was accepted at DePaul University as a vocal performance major and awarded a very nice scholarship. The professors were so personal and caring, and the students were just fun and real. Can you get anymore fun than Chicago, and in the beautiful Lincoln Park neighborhood? Seriously, you should check it out and go for a visit!</p>

<p>...I didn't choose DePaul because they focus strongly on classical music and not so much on musical theatre. I have equal interests in both, and wanted some more dance/acting background than offered at DePaul but...yeah. I loved it there.</p>

17

<p>^I don't have much to add but to cosign FiddleMom's detailed advice. She's on the front line and knows her stuff, I'm sure more so than I viz MSU Music. Just to reiterate what she said in 1 area I'm certain: MSU's jazz program is among the nation's best... Good luck.</p>