Off to a Late Start

College Majors Music Major
1

Hi y’all.

I’m 19 years old, about to leave college so I can practice music and, hopefully, successfully audition into a music school. The two schools I’m looking at are Florida State and UMKC.

(a) Are there any alumni/current students of UMKC I could speak to on here about the depth of the program, strengths/weaknesses, employment opportunities after graduation, etc? I’m not finding out a lot on my own.

And, I have to ask…

(b) Anyone else off to a late start? Taking time off, changing majors…

The instrument I’ll be auditioning with is voice.

2

Are you mainly interested in opera?

Others on this forum know about voice, I don’t. But I wonder if you are studying with anyone now, and if so, if it is possible to continue where you are with private lessons and extracurricular performance- on or off campus.

If you take time off to “practice,” do you have a teacher in mind? Will you have fewer opportunities for study and performance during your year off, than if you stay where you are for next year and take lessons (and fill out transfer applications)?

Would it be useful to stay where you are next year to finish the 30 credit gen eds required by UMKC (and fill out transfer applications)?

UMKC takes CLEP exams for the history/government type course requirement, which you could do while you wait to get accepted.

Have you considered their summer conservatory?

I noticed that Florida State has opera, of course, and also sacred music and commercial music. They have 50 required gen eds in liberal studies, but 12 of those credits are music history or world music, so 38 in non-music courses. This is more than UMKC if that matters.

Hoping others come on here to advise you!

3

Thanks for the response, compmom.

I’m actually studying at FSU right now. I transferred here this semester, for an academic degree – their music program is very accessible even to non-majors (I’m in ensembles and I started private lessons). I’m set to enter the CMSD department, but suffice to say I’m having second thoughts. The issue is that I don’t feel ready to audition at this moment, but I have finished my GED and have no more classes to take…

I am really a beginner to classical singing thus I think taking time off is the most sensible approach. My mother lives near UMKC, and I know someone I could take lessons from were I to move there.

I’m considering degrees in either Vocal Performance or Music Therapy (I can play the piano and guitar). Opera is not my sole interest, but I know I would like a background in classic singing – really, my main goal is simply to enter a music school for now…

Hope that answers everything.

4

As for summer conservatory – it’s a possibility! I assumed it was only for high school students.

5

The summer program is for 14-19 year-olds, you are right- and it is not running this year anyway.

What is the CMSD program? College of Music something something?!

I am confused. Do you mean Gen Eds or GED? It seems as if you mean Gen Eds. In other words, for music school BM purposes, you have finished the required liberal arts classes. But if you were to pursue a BA , you would probably still have more classes to take. Is it an option to continue in a BA program and take lessons, avail yourself of opportunities where you are?

If you want a BM, I now understand the problem I think. You cannot take more liberal arts classes because they exceed requirements for the BM, but at the same time don’t feel ready to enter a BM program, so you are a bit stranded.

Both schools would seem to offer everything you want, including music therapy programs. But Florida State’s music therapy program is more intensive, and is a BMT, whereas UMKC’s program is a BA.

You just transferred to FSU. Are you sure you want to transfer again? That is a lot of transferring before age 20. But if there are reasons you prefer UMKC, including being close to home, go for it.

You are IN a place right now. A bird in the hand so to speak. So the other issue is how sure you are that you will get in if you leave FSU’s academic side or apply to UMKC.

I honestly think you might consider auditioning if your teacher could help you prepare. But have auditions already happened?

It would seem you are in a good place right now at FSU, except for the fact that you have done your gen eds. Hmmmm. Look carefully at any differences between the two schools’ voice and music therapy programs. Think carefully about whether you want a BM or BA (read the double degree dilemma essay posted on the top of the forum). Think carefully if your level of commitment to these goals is strong enough to justify a year off. If so, go for it wherever you most want to be.

I am assuming your teacher is encouraging you. If not, that would give pause, but I certainly hope so.

One more thing: you could post on this forum mentioning vocal performance, as in “late start to vocal performance,” and those more knowledgeable than I am about voice could advise you.

In general, my impression is that voice can wait longer than instrumental studies, that you have to be careful with your voice, and also that grad work can be important. That’s about all I know!

Good luck!