hi all, I am a student from michigan looking to study music in some capacity. Please give me your pros and cons of these colleges. My top program is Piano Performance but I would be willing to make a short-term compromise if there is enough reason.
Western Michigan University-BM piano performance-scholarship TBD
Eastern Michigan University-Bm piano performance-scholarship $7000
Oakland University-BM piano performance-scholarship $6000
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor-MusEd, piano prinicipal-no scholarship
Michigan State University-BA in Music, Piano-no scholarship
Grand Valley State University-BM piano performance-scholarship TBD
UCI Claire Trevor- would require out of state tuition
thanks!
UM is the top music school on your list. It is a nationally ranked music school that competes with some of the top conservatories and other state schools with strong conservatory like programs. My S was a music performance major at UM and I have known friends of his who studied music ed there but none of them had piano as their principal instrument so I don’t know the specifics of how that would work. UM is known to have outstanding piano faculty. The experience as a music ed major vs. piano performance major would likely be different but I don’t know enough about it to know exactly how. If your true love is Piano Performance you might want to find out how much lesson time and studio time you would actually receive as a music ed major. And look at the faculty overlap. Also look at how much access you would have to performing groups such as chamber groups that include piano.
Michigan State is the next strongest music school but a BA is going to give you less access to performance and maybe even the top faculty. You would want to look at that also. Is the piano faculty for BA students the same as for BM students? Generally a BA is a more academic degree, less performance oriented.
I had some experience with the music dept. at WMU when my son was in HS and it was my impression that they were investing in and building their music program and had some strong faculty and very nice facilities. I know they are well known for musical theater not sure about the overall strength of their classical music program. Sorry I don’t know much about the rest. Maybe someone else will be able to chime in.
Will you be able to visit before you make your decision?
Western might be an interesting choice to explore. I just got an impressive brochure from them for their “Gilmore Keyboard Festival”. Looks like an interesting resource for financial support and exposure for pianists. More importantly, a possible indication that they’re investing in a solid piano program.
I’m not sure that the Gilmore can be labeled as “Western Michigan’s” festival - although venues at Western and other regional halls are used. Western U may be a partner (along with individuals, government and corporate grants) in the festival, but the Festival operates under the auspices of the Irving S Gilmore Foundation. I could be dead wrong - but I’ve been aware of this major Piano Festival for years and have never been aware that Western could call this “their” festival. The Gilmore Artists are internationally acclaimed young professionals and festival performers are major artists - not Western students.
Please accept my apologies, ScreenName if you did not mean to imply the direct connection between the University and the Festival that I read into your post.
If your family can afford the cost for,you to attend University of Michigan…go there.
The school guarantees to meet full need for instate students…so do you have financial need? Did you complete the FAFSA and Profile?
Grand Valley has a good music program as well.