<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.
Also, 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>Thanks for your time.</p>
<p>BornMan, welcome to CC! Have you checked out the Music Majors Forum? Lots of good advice there (from the main page, scroll down to the section that lists the forums for different majors)</p>
<p>How much preliminary research have you done? Requirements for performance majors vary greatly, especially when it comes to doing a minor or second major outside of performance (some encourage it, others make it very hard). Are you in-state Michigan? What about U-Michigan? Are you only focused on the midwest or considering going farther afield? Schools I can think of with strong music and journalism programs (varying degrees of selectivity) include Northwestern (w/Medill), Syracuse (Newhouse), Boston U (school of Comm), Ithaca College (Park School of Comm), U-Maryland, and Temple U (School of Journalism). There are probably lots of choices, and you'll get lots of advice over on the Music Forum, but you will probably be asked lots of questions so that folks can be hekpful to your specific needs and objectives.</p>
<p>I've done a fair amount of research.</p>
<p>I am in Michigan.
My grade point and lack of extracuricular activities would prevent me from getting into the highly competitive University of Michigan, so that's not an option.
I want to go to a place in a somewhat "happening" area, as best as possible at least. So that rules out a good deal of Michigan Universities.
I found State and Western to be my best options in Michigan (as far as location and enterance difficulty goes), Western being the more practical of the two.
I know Columbia is very specifically centered around anything "artsy". It also has easy entrance, doesn't cost a rediculous amount of money, and is in fact in a VERY happening area (Chicago).
I've heard briefly that DePaul is supposed to be good for music, but entrance is more competitive and auditions are more difficult (neither Western or Columbia mention a reqirement of sight reading on their websites).
From what I've seen, auditions for vocal performance majors tend to require two or three prepared songs, in a couple different languages. It is sight reading I'm iffy on... which is also one reason State is a less likely canadate.
I also believe DePaul is private... and a larger student body is ideal... so that turns me away a bit.</p>
<p>I'm looking very little into out of state Colleges/Universities. I am primarily interested in going in Michigan. Chicago is a different story because of the happening area and because it is somewhat close. Unless a college fits that bill, I'm not really interested in anything out of state.</p>
<p>So I've done a pretty decent amount of research within my realistic constraints. Those are pretty much the best I have found, unless there's something else nearby, in a happening area, and that I can realistically get into (with my 3.10 GPA and limited sight reading ability).</p>
<p>What I'm asking for is information on how those four colleges rank in the musical field on a large scale, and in comparison to each other.</p>
<p>I'm glad you mentioned the difficulty of minors with some music degrees... I've heard little about that. So more information there would be helpful as well.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>I live near MSU, and I always thought it had a great music school. In fact, I am taking Theory there next year. I had a great violin teacher who was a grad student there. I think they have plenty of great opportunites, but I don't know the rankings.</p>
<p>BornMan, You have done a lot of good research (and glad to see you posted in the music forum)! I am an MSU grad (back in the stone age) and have fond memories of my experience there; its music program is increasingly well regarded. You are correct, DePaul is private, but it is not small at all. (My D will be visiting in the fall to explore their violin performance department). I don't know about its vocal program or whether it's a happening enough location, but I've also heard good things about Grand Valley State. </p>
<p>Keep in ming that "rankings" don't work exactly the same way for music as for academics, it's kind of apples to oranges. The most important thing is to find a solid and accredited program that meets YOUR criteria, has the teacher(s) you want and can help get you to your next goal.</p>
<p>Hey BornMan,</p>
<p>I know it's not on your list but SUNY University at Buffalo wouldn't be a bad option. It's not that far from Michigan (4 hr drive from Detroit) and we have a great theory department, which would help with your sightreading skills. We also have a lot of great stuff happening as far as concerts and the like. Our myspace page (<a href="http://www.myspace.com/buffalomusic/%5B/url%5D">http://www.myspace.com/buffalomusic/</a>) currently lists the summer concerts, and <a href="http://slee.buffalo.edu%5B/url%5D">http://slee.buffalo.edu</a> lists concerts from last year affiliated with the school. They haven't listed the upcoming year's schedule yet.</p>
<p>I also know we have a weekly school paper that is very accepting, it's not hard to join in there. I'm not sure how great the journalism dept. is but I'm sure you can look it up on the main page.</p>
<p>Also since the department is currently expanding we're offering more scholarships and the like. <a href="http://www.music.buffalo.edu%5B/url%5D">http://www.music.buffalo.edu</a> The website's crap at the moment, it's being redone, so you can email me questions at sbailey4 at buffalo.edu or just reply here.</p>