My S22 is starting to think about schools. He is highly focused on music, to the detriment of his academics, unfortunately. I am hopeful he will graduate with 3.0 uw in core classes. Right now, he has a 3.38 w and that includes all his music classes like wind ensemble, jazz, theory which buoy his average. He really struggles some to motivate with school, other than his music classes.
Right now he is probably best qualified to audition for orchestral percussion, although he does know jazz drumset. He is absolutely OBSESSED with marching snare, to the point of spending hours and hours learning old DCI routines. He has no idea what direction he wants to go with music… I could see him both as a performer or as an educator.
Can anyone make some suggestions of good percussion programs to investigate? Right now, I think his best bet is a supportive, not super rigorous SLAC or a conservatory so he stays on track and has some success with academics. I am also wondering if conservatories that are attached to highly competitive universities have high gpa requirements as well? For example, Colburn or Eastman.
@compmom I am very concerned about him getting lost in the shuffle at a large university. He may have some sort of undiagnosed but mild LD, or quite possibly he is not terribly interested in academics outside of music (he is doing awesome in theory!). For those reasons, I think he would do better at a con or a supportive LAC.
Being the parent of a LD percussionist (dysgraphia) my kid is thriving at Boyer @ Temple. Great, supportive percussion department (~25 kids between grad/undergrad) and good university that’s not ultra competitive. We looked primarily at universities with music schools attached (Indiana, McGill, BU etc.) so that kid could get a little more well-rounded option of non-music classes.
Oberlin, Ithaca, Lawrence, Hartt, Temple Boyer, Mason Gross, SUNY Purchase, Denver Lamont, College of Wooster, U. Of Puget Sound all come to mind. I know percussionists who went to Stony Brook but for grad, ditto U. of Alaska Fairbanks. Hope others come on with suggestions.
For liberal arts colleges with or without BM’s, the Colleges that Change Lives website might be helpful. Those schools tend to be supportive.
Oberlin has a summer program for percussion. I don’t know his grade level but if he is not a senior, he could try that.
Thank you, my D is actually a clarinetist at one of those schools compmom mentioned. It is a great list.
I had been hesitant to consider paying out of state for a large state school when we have a couple good options in-state options (UNT, Texas State, and UofH, doesn’t have the grades for UT), but it sounds like Temple might be worth a look.
Does anyone know anything more about Hartt for percussion? I grew up right near there.
@murray93 - We didn’t look at Hartt, but the way we selected schools was based on the following: # of faculty (Oberlin at the time only had one for classical and his was in his 70’s) and where they perform, performance opportunities, extra curricular activities (kid is into eSports), major metropolitan area (more music performance opportunities/major symphony).
Feel free to PM me if you’d like more info on our selection process.
Murray93, I don’t know much about percussion at Hartt. However, I do know about Hartt itself. The music department there has a warm, collegiate atmosphere. Every time I walked into the building there (many hours spent on benches while waiting for kids through lessons and rehearsals), I could just feel the happiness in that place. My son is not applying there only because the academic level at U Hartford is not a match for him - but it sounds as if it would be a match for your son. Small classes. Lots of academic support. Merit money for both music and academics (my friend’s daughter, who was NOT a good student in high school, despite being very bright, was offered significant merit money there, and she had no other qualifications). And since it sounds as if you’re from the area, maybe you have family/friends here still. I think you should look closely at Hartt/U Hartford for him.
And Hartt has a terrific music ed program, places student teachers for internships in that wonderful music program in the nearby district (and other districts in the area that have great music programs, too)
@parentologist Thanks for your feedback on Hartt! I just registered S for the Berklee summer percussion workshop so I’m going to try and swing by the old stomping grounds with him this summer to check it out. The academics seem like they’d be in line with his abilities right now. I so wish he would continue with soccer, UHart soccer has always been really good, but I just don’t see how that could work with a music major.
A little update on our search. S22 participated in the music school virtual open house a few weeks ago and was able to narrow down what he wants and find a few specific matches, even. He has made it clear he does not want a large university. So far:
Frost
MTSU (did NOT want to look at this because, Tennessee, but was really impressed)
Loyola New Orleans
SMU (shocked about this one, but had a fantastic virtual tour!)
Hartt
He refuses to look at UNT or Texas State but I’d like him to have a public in-state option so maybe Moores School at University of Houston?
He is doing a workshop at Berklee this summer so we will take a peek there. Any other schools in the Boston or NYC area we should take a look at? Maybe Boston Conservatory just to get the compare/contrast with Berklee, but is there any other must-see?
I have a Bachelor’s in Music from what is now Texas A & M Commerce. I am currently taking jazz piano at Dallas College Richland Campus 30 years later from my studies there after high school. There are armies of students wanting to do music, but the reality of gainful employment is not discussed. Performing is extremely competitive and very few can make a living at it. Getting teaching positions in the public schools is also competitive and the pay is not great. College music professors have to hold at least a Master’s in Music and are almost all adjuncts that get paid per the few contact hours they get for 30 weeks of the year or a pittance of like 2 grand per class taught.
I went to school with many incredibly talented people all the way through hours toward two Master’s Degrees. Several went on to get Doctorates in music. None of those Phds or DMAs are making a living with music year later.
If you are in a large metropolitan area, perhaps starting at a local junior college and getting all the core classes in while taking the Freshman and Sophomore music classes to test the water may be a good option. These community colleges also often have great Career Services and Transfer Centers to help one decide. If money is an issue bear in mind that in Texas students pay out of state tuition at 150 hours and financial aid does not cover it, so sticking to a degree plan and not changing majors to far into the game is important. Also, financial aid is exhausted at 180 hours total.
I am seeing at Richland that anyone who comes in the door interested in music is instantly turned into a music major whether they have the background or skills to make it by music advisors who want to fill chairs for $$$$$$. The vast majority don’t even get an Associate’s and of the handful that transfer in music most don’t finish the Bachelor’s. Richland only had 3 students that transferred finish Bachelor’s Degrees in music this spring out of hundreds going through the program. So, I think whether music is a hobby or a means to secure gainful employment is a question that should be asked.
If you are near Northlake College or Collin County Gene Glover is incredible. He has a Master’s from UNT and was in the world famous 1 o’clock jazz band there. There is no one better in percussion.
Thank you for your advice. Thankfully, his undergrad tuition will be taken care of by a generous family member. He is not interested in majoring in anything but music. I’d like him to go ahead and get his 4-year degree (since it will be paid for, why not). I know he has the performance skills as he is a better percussionist than some of his friends who have gone on to well-regarded music schools.
Hopefully over the next year he will settle on whether or not he is interested in performance, education, etc. But regardless of what he does with his life, even if it’s not music, he’ll have a four year degree.
I’m surprised that you are hearing that the job outlook is not good for music ed. Most colleges boast near a 100% placement rate.
For the record anyone that is considering performance should take a serious look at UNT. It is absolutely cutthroat because it is one of the very top music schools. SMU has the percussionist for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, George Nickson and is worth a look. Google the Dallas Morning News and read the story of his audition. It is very eye opening.
You are absolutely on the money when you mention 100% placement in teaching positions. I should clarify. That 100% is those that get in in the first place and survive to the end. SMU, UNT, TCU, UTA and my alma mater Texas A & M Commerce are competitive entry and the first 3 turn away armies of extraordinarily highly qualified candidates because they are overrun with them.
I went to Richland and finished in Commerce on a vocal scholarship back when dinosaurs walked the campus. I am back at Richland studying jazz piano so I can go back and teach piano. The A & M Commerce choir director, Dr. Hooper, came to Richland for a transfer seminar that I attended with my daughter. He assured the students that they had 100% placement. I know he is on the money. What didn’t get discussed is the challenge of getting accepted to the music department or how really difficult the major is. One has to like spending 4 or more hours a day 6 days a week practicing their principal instrument(s for percussionist) and many more hours learning piano to pass the proficiency exam that all music majors must pass. All majors must pass Junior Barriers on their primary instrument to continue in the program as well.
Richland has hundreds come through, but only 3 of the handful that transferred finished a 4 year degree this May. The numbers are not good. Music is actually one of the most challenging degrees.
If he is leaning toward teaching high school band, A & M Commerce (only 300 majors so you get to know everyone) and UTA are wonderful choices and I personally know some of the professors. Students will get tremendous support and be superbly trained.
We had a percussionist (orchestral, Jazz, and Marching) so did some preliminary investigation into percussion programs until it became clear soccer was the first love, not percussion – percussion and soccer seem to overlap a lot, something about kids who can use their feet to do things most of us can only do with our hands.
North Texas is one of the top percussion programs out there. Lawrence University, in Appleton, WI, was a great balance of Conservatory opportunities plus liberal arts education – and sports. My kid met with percussion faculty for over an hour, and faculty member was quite open to a traditional, liberal arts music major and Varsity soccer, though did think Conservatory plus Varsity sport would probably not work. Other schools that were open to percussion and sport included some of the CTCL schools, especially Knox. Though of course, most LACs do not have traditional marching band, let alone percussion like DCI.
Consider looking for schools where there will be multiple paths, not just a single one, through school and career. Schools with educational studies department, so a student might have a minor to supplement a music major, might be worth looking at.