I’m a newer viola student hoping to major in music education or music therapy at an undergraduate level. More details below about my level of playing and musical history, but I’m hoping for some second opinions about choosing a school and degree options. I would love college recommendations for colleges with music departments that a new student could aim for getting into, suggestions about how to find schools to look into, and advice in general for a student in my position.
Summary of the lengthy paragraph below: I have had some musical experience in high school, but only a bit. I really only started to focus on music in January after taking time to really solidify an of the life I want to live. I’m a music major at a community college and taking private lessons with a viola teacher and piano teacher. I progressed through the second half and entire third viola Suzuki books during these past five or so months, and my piano teacher has greatly improved my playing, and I believe I’ll continue to track at a faster rate of growth for at least this next year.
Here’s more information:
I played violin from ages 7-11 under the Suzuki method, and after my first few years started to loathe the instrument and practicing. I stopped music for a couple of years, and then at 13, joined a choir at a home school fine arts co-op, and spent a year surrounded by dedicated fine arts students, who loved music. I was entranced by people who found music fun, worked hard to accomplish goals, and I was influenced to take voice lessons and sang in two home school choirs (one with about 20 kids, the other with about 60), as well as my church choir. My sophomore year of high school I started to play the piano, which I loved. I barely read sheet music, but quickly learned. Junior year I started a music theory course, and at this point realized how much time and energy I dedicated to musical pursuits and how I was motivated and happy learning music. I contemplated if I would want to engage in a future career path with music, and if it would even be possible as I am not extremely talented and don’t have an extensive musical background from an early age. I decided I wanted to learn a stringed instrument again, whether or not I had a future in music, and with the advice of my former violin teacher, started to learn the viola. I played in a chamber music ensemble and symphonic orchestra (as first viola in both, only because there wasn’t any other viola students…). After a heavy academic focused senior year, I wasn’t much further on in my studies and discouraged by this, I explored internships in communication and took some psychology classes, to see how I liked my other options. None of these engaged me the way music did, but I went through this toxic mental loop wondering how a beginner student could possible keep up with equipped and confident college musicians. For a couple of months, I thought I might have to simply pursue a degree in psychology or communications, and minor in music, if even that. However, at this point I went on a six month internship, and the people I worked with and the experiences I had made me realize that my mentality was the only thing stopping me from pursuing a future degree in music. This past winter, I was accepted into my community college music program, and started taking private lessons for viola and piano, with viola as my primary instrument, practicing viola about 2-3 hours everyday, and about an hour of piano. I continued viola under the Suzuki method, and went through the second half of book two and all of book three in about five months. Only about 14 songs, but the method is extensive and I do believe my playing progressed very well given that I only spent a couple hours a day practicing and skill wise I learned a lot and believe that I will continue to progress quickly. I’m beginning concertos now, thinking that I will audition for colleges this upcoming year, to start in Fall 2019. I’ll be going in as a transfer student, with all my Gen Eds completed (I did dual credit classes in high school), and about a year and a half of music classes from my community college program, and a lot of real world experience (Music Together Training, some Suzuki teacher training, I’ve taught private piano lessons, lots of different music classes, etc…). I’ve had some conversations with my teachers about colleges, and because I’d like to pursue music education, possibly taking some music therapy classes with a minor in psych both of my teachers recommended a university with a music department, definitely not a conservatory, somewhere that will help bring me up to a level where I could get my masters from a more intensive music school.
Academically, I’ve done well with my college learning (currently 71 credits in many different subjects, only one B out of those classes, so almost a perfect 4.0), a decent high school transcript, and a so-so SAT score (1190, on the new SATs), which I might retake and try to bump up. I’m a dedicated student, have lots of extracurriculars and volunteer experiences, and while I’m not Julliard material, I do think I have a lot to bring to a school and I’m confident that there are schools out there that I can learn well at and would want me as a student.
So, my question is, with the level I’m playing at and my goals, does anyone have recommendations for schools to look into or resources to utilize to find schools? I know I’m behind on prepping audition pieces, visiting schools, and need to take lessons with my top schools primary viola teacher to see if I like them. I’m overwhelmed by all the options, and also trying to find the best school that will support my level of learning and help me grow as a newer student. From those who were or are in the same shoes as me, or any who can give advice, how can I find schools? Any recommendations for specific schools to look into? So far, I’ve looked at some in-state schools, for myself (NJ), including Montclair, The College of New Jersey, and Rutgers. I also looked at Liberty University in VA (I took some classes online in high school, and enjoyed their program). I have some criteria for schools (a good viola program, offers music education, offers psychology courses, encourages real work application, has small classes for the most part, and preferably with tuition being under 40,000 a year). I’m also open to nontraditional ways to achieve what I want to do, especially considering that a college might not be the right place for me at the moment. I’m In the end, the important thing is that at the end of my time learning I can start teaching music, help others use music to express themselves, and have a supportive school that will help me grow, and hopefully be able to begin to do that in a few years from now (learning is a constant process, and part of the reason I choose music. I don’t think I will be a master in three years, or a decade, or ever. I love the way there is always something new to learn, rules to be understood, made, and broken, the give and take of concepts from fellow musicians, and how tangible and mysterious it is all at the same time).
I know this was a novel and a half, so whether you skimmed and got the important parts or read all the way through, I admire your curiosity, dedication, and I’m glad you had the time to do so, and appreciate all advice and encouragement anyone has to share, whether related to specific schools or simply for me as a music student.
