<p>I've heard so many things about the BA and BM degrees, and knowing that with a BM you study music religiously compared to a BA. Does this prevent a singer from making it to top conservatories for their master's degree and making them successful? Are there successful operatic sopranos that have a BA in performance? I know that even with a BM I might not be successful, but I want to know if I have a better chance of having jobs with a BA in music opposed to a BM.</p>
<p>Absolutely, yes! Excellent teachers are found in multiple places. If you sing well, no one cares where you went to school, what degree you have, or even, whether you have a degree at all. As far as master’s degrees go, it will help to have all the theory, history, and languages taken care of first, and do a performance recital even if not required in undergrad.<br>
We know several excellent singers who study with a great teacher privately, but attend college for a BA apart from that. My D considered this as well, but she decided she preferred to be surrounded by other musicians at school.
If your BA option is giving you the opportunity to graduate without debt, that’s important. You will need plenty of funds available to continue your training beyond the BA. If you connect with the teacher, then go for it!</p>
<p>A student looking for a MM in VP will have to make up deficiencies in music theory, music history, Italian, French and German, as well as diction classes when in grad school if they haven’t successfully completed those in the undergrad years. That can lead to extra time and expense, so if at all possible, try to fit them in while getting the BA.</p>
<p>What Mezzosmama said^.Not all BAs are the same. In point of fact many BAs in music afford the student to take MORE language classes than a BM affords. Look at each program individually, just as you should look at your own requirements individually.</p>
<p>Dawn Upshaw got her BA from Illinois Wesleyan University before her MM from MSM. She’s done pretty well to say the least!</p>
<p>To answer your question about hindering admission to top conservatories for an MM. I know of at least two vocalists with recent BAs who went on to Curtis for their MM. I know several Met finalists who did BAs in music . Look at each program individually and don’t get hung up on the “letters”. MM admission committees just care about your voice and to a lesser extent, your grades.</p>
<p>Thank you so much. My favorite school only offers a BA in voice, but I really like the school and the program but was very cautious about my future. Thank you so much for all of your input! This decision is going to be a lot easier now!</p>
<p>It is absolutely not a requirement that you have a BM in vocal performance in order to enter a graduate MM program. There are many paths to success as a singer. I personally know successful MM students whose background has included: (1) no degrees, but performance certificates from schools in other countries; (2) a BS in speech science; (3) a BM in violin performance; (4) a BA in general music. All had some deficiencies, but all were able to obtain the MM in voice within a typical time frame. </p>
<p>The BA is typically strong in history and theory, but not strong in performance requirements. A recital is a prerequisite for most MM programs. Not every MM requires French, German, and Italian, and many allow for other language expertise. What would be required is familiarity and expertise in the International Phonetic Language (IPA) and use of it in transcribing in various languages. Study voice every semester, complete any performance requirements from the BM, take the diction courses offered, perform, perform, perform. Good luck!</p>
<p>@Compdad- it’s no longer accurate to reference the schooling of older singers because what was possible “then” doesn’t work any more. Frederica von Stade couldn’t read music when she walked into Mannes, Lucia Popp was a medical student and Arleen Auger was a K-1st grade teacher. All three had amazing careers on the opera stage- could that happen now? Probably not and one certainly couldn’t apply to a top conservatory without have had previous training and going through the whole application/audition process. Dawn Upshaw is in her 50s, and it WAS easier, and quite different then.
You can get into a MM program without the languages, etc, but would you want to? The students I know who have done so spent the 2 years taking 20+ credits and passing on sleep! You’re going to be expected to take on roles in grad school which will require you to sing in other languages and you have to compete for those against others who have had more training.
If you really like the BA program and school then go for it, but try to fill in your electives with classes that could help parallel that of a BM. Find performance opportunities and work with your teacher to try to schedule at least a senior recital.</p>
<p>Another point to remember is that if your financial package is great, perhaps money can be freed up for summer programs, including those that involve language study and performance opportunities.</p>
<p>The BA program I am looking at requires that I take at least 3 years of language, have 1 hour voice lessons for the whole year and a Senior Recital (though I wish I could do a half-junior recital at least). I would be double majoring in Music Ed and Voice Performance. The school collaborates with CCM and students perform in Cincinnati (Cincinnati Opera, Ballet and more). I feel like because I can experience many performance opportunities without worrying about grads, I will feel more individualized with their program. Also, if I decide that music just wasn’t the thing for me, I have the BA degree that gives me a range of knowledge outside of music that I can work towards another degree (though I highly doubt that will happen! haha!)</p>
<p>It sounds like a plan, SopranosGotPower. Consider, however, Music Ed is a whole 'nother ball game, requires quite a different skills set and personality than performance. Picking up a MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching, 1-2 year program) later would also be a possibility, and you could use more of your BA credits for a general education. Loving to sing and being talented are both great life enhancing, but reality is that making a living down the road as a performer is almost impossible. So make sure you have options.</p>
<p>Mezzo’sMama - Thanks for the education as to why Dawn Upshaw was not an appropriate example.</p>
<p>I came here to share the anecdotal evidence of my middle school English teacher’s daughter, who got a BA in English (along with private vocal study), but then went on to an MM at Curtis and roles with the Met, but it looks like all those bases have been covered. Too funny; I kinda figured that would be more of an outlying case than it appears to be.</p>