My S is weighing offers from both schools. Does anyone have experience at either of these conservatories?
It completely depends upon his concentration. What is his instrument? Has he visited and had sample lessons with teachers?
Yes, he’s had lessons and liked both teachers. He doesn’t know anyone who went to either school and I thought it might be helpful to have perspective from a student – someone besides the tour guide.
Instrument? Concentration (e.g. classical, jazz, composition, etc.)?
If your S wants a student prospective, he can email the profs he had lessons with and ask them to put him in contact with some of the students in their studios. My D always found talking to the current students helpful.
S is classical, trumpet. Good idea @MomOf2TeenGirls…
Have you visited Peabody? My S has been taking lessons there for years. The teachers are great. The trumpet students are a friendly and close knot group. The facilities–not so much. Frankly, Baltimore is not as exciting a city as Boston. There area around the school is not great. Peabody is basically a one building school. Even the dorm is in the same building. The building is not in great shape. The performance spaces are OK, but nothing more. It is a very intense environment (but that is also probably true of NEC).
These are my S’s feelings and your S’s mileage may vary. I would think the teacher would be the most important thing, but I would highly encourage visiting Peabody (if you have not) before making you decision.
I can’t speak for Peabody but my S has been very happy at NEC. The students and faculty are all really supportive of one another and the atmosphere encourages collaboration between students from different disciplines. I just attended some great ensemble recitals where jazz and classical students were playing with students in the Contemporary Improvisation department. There’s a vibe there that encourages experimentation.
Also, the new building has improved dorm living/practice rooms though the other 2 buildings (Jordan Hall, St Botolph) are still old - which was cool with my S as he loved big old conservatories in cities (Eastman being another and Peabody too it seems!).