Hi everyone, I’ve perused these forums for a while now but never actually posted. I’m currently a percussion performance major who’s going to enter his senior year in just a short couple of months. I’ve been researching grad schools for a while now but I still kind of feel like I have no idea what to do so I thought I would get your perspectives on it. I’d like to apply for an MM in percussion performance. I’ve been studying composition (I’ve taken most of the same classes as composition majors and taken part in the same activites) at my school for the last three years so I’d also like to go somewhere that has a prominent composition program that I could remain involved in.
So far I’ve been conducting my research based on location, faculty/studio atmosphere, and financial aid. I’m hoping to go to a city somewhere (I’d really like to live in New York). I’m not really looking to launch myself a whole lot further into debt. For this reason I need to find places that are good with financial aid. It’s also very important to me that the faculty is good and the studio is dedicated/wants to make high quality music.
Some of the schools I’m thinking about are NYU, UNT, University of Michigan, Rice University, James Madison University, Hartt, and Indiana. Does anybody have experience with these schools or have suggestions for other schools? Most of these are pretty tough to get into from what I hear so I’m open to less competitive schools as well.
Like I said before, even after doing a fair amount of research, I feel like I still don’t really know what to do. There are many variables that I won’t know about until next year and the uncertainty is killing me. If any of you have been through this process and have some good advice on what I should be considering while doing research, please let me know.
Do you might sharing where you have done your undergrad, what summer festivals or music groups you have participated in, what type of music you want to play, who you have studied with? Also what are your reasons for getting a masters? Do you want to focus on performance? Teach? Develop a composition/ your artistic vision/ style? All those things also are a factor. Ideally you should be talking about these issues with the professors you have been working with. They not only will know you and your personality and your abilities, but they also will be the people writing recommendations. If they know why you are applying to a specific program and feel the program and you are a good match they will be more inclined to write a powerful recommendation.
twmtwm, some other schools to look at include Florida State, Michigan State, South Carolina, Eastman, Boston University, BoCo, and even DePaul in Chicago has a good program. Boston U has a unique perk in that it owns a lot of graduate apartment housing, making that aspect of life a tad easier. Rice is highly competitive, as is Eastman, honestly MM Percussion is competitive all around, so make sure you have a true safety you would LOVE to attend if it happens.
If you have any interest in contemporary classical aka “new music”, UCSD has a great percussion department and the grad composition program is excellent.
I’m currently a student at SUNY Fredonia. To be honest, I haven’t done a whole lot in terms of festivals. I did the Performing Arts Institute in PA the summer before I went to college and last summer I worked as a counselor at the NYSMF. The reason I’d like to get a masters is for the credential to teach at the college/university level (I understand this goes deeper than just getting a masters degree). I enjoy performing all kinds of music. I can’t really say I’m looking for a career with a major orchestra, however. For that reason, I’m not positive about schools like Rice where the focus would be primarily on orchestral music. My teacher has had a couple students go there for free and she recommends it highly, however, which is why I consider it.
Thanks for the responses, everybody! They’re all very helpful.
I understand your situation. My own son will also be a senior in the fall. He is a percussion performance/music ed major at Eastman.
Your list of schools is good. Those are some of the schools kids in his studio also look into attending. You may truly want to look at schools that offer a more general percussion study if you’re not looking to play in a professional orchestra. My own son has no interest in playing in a professional orchestra. It bores him.
I wouldn’t worry about the festival attendance if you’re not looking into orchestral studies. My son never attended any as he just wasn’t interested.
Concentrate on building are really good audition. That will be your true key.