<p>Could someone please explain the difference between the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of the Arts in Music degrees? Is a BA in music just a broad outline of music theory and history, whereas a BM focuses on instrumental performance? If I know that I want to study piano performance, for example, but a college only offers a BA in music, should I strike it from my list? Or is it possible to get a BA in music but take private lessons that are equivalent to the performance lessons in a BM degree? I'm terribly confused, and I don't want to knock off potentially worthwhile colleges for no reason.</p>
<p>Try reading the essays at the Peabody Institute's web site. You will find them under the conservatory/admissions section and are 3 articles/essays by the director of admissions. Might answer a lot of your questions.</p>
<p>There are some very good colleges and conservatories in the States, but I strongly recommend very gifted performers to receive training in Europe. It doesnt mean that I think the level of the training is lower here though; it is just that in Europe they have institutions with hundreds of years of tradition in music training and also the centre of classical music is there!!! Europe lives the classical music and you can feel that in the streets!!!</p>
<p>To name a few conservatories in Europe:
Sibelius Academy, Finland
Conservatoire de Paris, France
Royal Academy of Music, London
Escula Superior de Musica Reina Sofia, Madrid
Universität der Künste, Berlin
University Mozarteum, Salzburg
Hochschule für Musik und Theater, München
Royal College of Music, London</p>
<p>I was born in Martinica and I have studied at Juilliad in NY and in Berlin. Believe me: nothing compared to the experience of studying in Europe. There I learnt to live and love classical music!</p>
<p>Robert -- what instrument? I ask, because Europe often has a different "sound" for some instruments. My S plays horn, and has studied in Germany (with private teachers from Essen, Hamburg, and Munich), and is now at Juilliard. His teachers "hear" the European sound in him. This is fine, if he can find an American symphony who wants that sound, or if he wants to live/work in Europe.</p>
<p>My D will be going to master classes at the Mozarteum next month. (Violin.) She also has to be aware of the difference between American and Russian technique -- both taught in Europe. </p>
<p>Also be aware that some European conservatories only accept masters level students.</p>
<p>But I agree that Europe offers many opportunities. Classical music is respected so much more here, and almost every city of medium size or larger has at least one orchestra, so there are many more jobs available.</p>
<p>My impression is that the "European" horn sound seems to be gaining some currency (i.e., it's no longer quite as rare) in the US, whereas in Europe, more and more "American" hornplayers are to be heard. Does that sound accurate? I don't mean to say that there's a flip-flop occuring, of course, but is there some diffusion?</p>
<p>Well, Eric Terwilliger, graduate of Indiana (and born and raised in Bloomington) is the solo hornist of the Munich Phil, as well as a sought after performer all over the states. Hermann Baumann, quite possibly the greatest hornist of his time, is German, but so well loved in the states (and all over the horn world). I could name more, but my point is that the "sound" does seem, as you say, to be travelling both directions. Americans generally like a bigger, darker sound, and tend to play bigger horns. Europeans are after a brighter sound.</p>
<p>Much of the sound is due to the horn itself, so many pros have at least a couple different horns, for different pieces. When we saw Hermann Baumann perform, he had four horns with him. (The highlight of my S's day was helping him carry them to the car.) My S does play a smaller bore horn, and has been taught in Europe (by HB) to play "off the leg." Visually, therefore, he LOOKS like a European hornist, and sometimes I wonder if that affects how people "hear" him????</p>
<p>But I'm just the mom, so I really don't know what I'm talking about. Just trying to repeat what I have been told. :)</p>
<p>All I hope is that my S has a sound that will match an orchestra vacancy at an opportune time. ;)</p>
<p>It is amazing how much of the musical vernacular we parents acquire as we "enable" our children through the world of music! I suspect many of us could do somewhat helpful and effective master classes on instruments we have never played, just gained MUCH perspective. I always preface my questions to teachers with: I don't know what I'm talking about, but this is what I noticed, so what am I not understanding? None of them have EVER told me I was wrong or off base in my perspective, though they have clarified what I was observing.</p>
<p>Robert...I'd love to hear what you know about the Royal College of Music in London. My son will be doing a study abroad semester there this fall. He is VERY VERY excited about the opportunity to study in a different country. He is a trumpet player.</p>
<p>Thumper .... I'd love to hear about your S's experiences! RCM London! How cool is that!!!! Hope you'll let us know how it goes!</p>
<p>This is in reply to the question about freshman theory class. At my daughter's undergrad conservatory (BU), entering students got a placement exam and were assigned to theory class depending on what they already knew. I have no idea where she placed initially, but can tell you that she had no difficulty with the classes and completed her (considerable) theory class requirements right on schedule. It's basically a non-issue, I think, since the schools know kids will be entering with wildly varying theory backgrounds and structure their classes accordingly.</p>
<p>veteranmom, what instrument does your daughter play? I will be a freshman violinist at BU in the fall.
Binx, I love Baumann, and I'm not even a horn player! His recording of the Gliere Concerto sends shivers down my spine...</p>
<p>She plays the cello. She's now in grad school in NYC studying with Tim Eddy. She had a great experience at BU. One piece of advice is to take full advantage of all the city has to offer culturally, especially musically.</p>
<p>I'm catching up...now back home. Interesting thread. Son's IB music prof was graduate of RCM....some of musicians here in state orchestra are graduates from there. Also Guildhall. The British sound is different across the board. Spent some minutes at final State orchestra in June talking to some of the musicians about places to study different instruments: strings...Russia. Oboe...France. And then according to my son, there is Germany...his heart is set on studying there in a few years.</p>
<p>He loved playing with the Med Youth Orchestra this summer. He represented Cyprus complements of France and Cyprus. A great opportunity. He said he was the youngest player at 19. Learned a lot.</p>
<p>Congrats, Overseas, on your S's accomplishments. You may have said once, but what instrument does he play? </p>
<p>We took a short trip to Leipzig last week. I think I probably should have taken some of the water back with me - there must be something in it! Bach spent his most productive years there. Wagner was born there. Handel was born not too far away. Mendelssohn, Schumann, Grieg, etc. all lived there at some point. (As did Nietzche and Goethe.) There is a music conservatory there, too. Kurt Masur (conductor) was conductor of the Leipzig Opera at the time of the fall of the Iron Curtain.</p>
<p>(Side note - no pun intended - Leipzig will be a great place to visit in, say, 10 years. Right now it is one huge construction zone! As apparently most of East Germany is -- still recovering from Communism. We drove around for an hour trying to follow Umleitung signs - detours - and ended up back at our hotel, where we had started!)</p>
<p>Son plays oboe and will work on degree in composition at Lawrence. I will pass the word on to him on Leipzig...he will begin German studies at the end of the year...first 2 parts will be total theory etc. All music.</p>
<p>I am a junior music major at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. I'm studying violin and one day hoping to be a string orchestra teacher :)</p>
<p>Hermione -- I am curious at what level you play the violin. My D is a violinist, but not interested at this point in pursuing it for a degree of any kind. She is 16, and has played since she was 6. She is quite good, but not at the virtuoso or prodigy level. I am wondering how good she will have to be to attract any attention (or money) from a non-conservatory school, as a non-major. (Recent pieces have been Polish Dance by Severn, and Beriot Concerto in A minor, if that helps.)</p>
<p>I really want to major in music composition in college. However, as arts careers are notoriously low-paying, is there any college or conservatory with some sort of music major (preferably with a composition concentration) that allows you to double major in some other area (possibly advertising)? Thank you!</p>
<p>Lawrence University offers a 5 year double degree program ending with a BM and a BA. Lawrence is a small LAC with a conservatory and has a well integrated program. Bard has a new program with a double degree and Oberlin has a double degree program that I have heard is more difficult to follow through with. There are many other schools which offer double degrees in music and another field.</p>
<p>Oklahoma City University is one of the leading schools of music in the US. Not only is there a strong, classically based voice program that has produced Tony winners and opera stars, but a large award winning instrumental department as well.</p>
<p>In January, OCU will open its brand new, $38 million Bass School of Music, making it the most up-to-date music school in the United States. From instrumental labs to concerts halls to 60 private student practice rooms, Oklahoma City University will prepare musicans and performers for 21st century.</p>
<p>The first audition round is Nov 18th and 19th. You can be notified of acceptance in December. You can get information here: <a href="http://www.okcu.edu/music/index.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.okcu.edu/music/index.asp</a></p>
<p>Also, vocal performance students should check out the popular musical theater thread for details on the VP degree.</p>