Potential violin major

Colleges and Universities A-Z Florida State University
1

<p>Hi, I'm a senior this year at Interlochen Arts Academy and I'm looking at FSU for violin performance. I have a few questions about the strings program and the school in general.</p>

<p>First off, how good are the teachers? Do their students learn a lot? Where do students end up after school? I would like to play in an orchestra such as Nashville, Houston, or Dallas, so I need a school that will prepare me for full-time music.</p>

<p>Onto the university itself... I have heard many stories of it being a total party school. Is this true? What is the general attitude about work among the students? Also, I'm a fairly religious Jew, so how is the Jewish life on campus? I keep kosher, so I don't know if they have a kosher plan or not (I doubt it...?), but it's not a huge deal if they don't.</p>

<p>My other interests include broadcast journalism and political science. What can FSU offer me there?</p>

<p>Thanks very much -- I know it's a LOT of questions! :)</p>

2

<p>As far as political science goes FSU has the best rated program in Florida (#17 nationally - US News). See: FSU</a> Highlights</p>

<p>Florida State does not have a journalism program, but does have a nice College of Communication which features Seminole Productions - a sports production company.<br>
See: FSU</a> Highlights</p>

<p>As far as music goes, we have a music student who post here who may have personal insight. The College of Music is also nationally rated (#12 - US News) and highly competitive for admission.
See: FSU</a> Highlights</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

3

<p>macaroni870</p>

<p>In addition to the info parent2noles gave you, FSU has many different campus ministries that are active at FSU. The Jewish organization is Hillel their website is [url=<a href="http://www.hillelatfsu.org%5DHILLEL@FSU%5B/url"&gt;http://www.hillelatfsu.org]HILLEL@FSU[/url&lt;/a&gt;] . Along with lots of information on events you can find e-mail addresses of their officers who may be able to give you even more details about different aspects of their campus ministry.</p>

<p>As far as partying goes, FSU is a very large university (40,000+ students). You can find whatever you are looking for there. If you are not interested in the party scene and are very driven academically, you will find students who share your views.</p>

4

<p>There are about 4,000 Jewish students at FSU.
Along with HILLEL there are also other Jewish organizations you might be interested in:
Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi)
Chabad
Hamagshimim
KESHER (Reform)
KOACH (Conservative)
Sigma Delta Tau Sorority (SDT)
Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity (TEP)
USD/Hagshama/WZO
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity (ZBT)</p>

<p>The dining hall does offer a vegan option.</p>

5

<p>Our younger daughter studied the violin in high school. In her high school there was <em>one</em> really remarkable violin student who graduated and enrolled at Florida State to study music. The College of Music is extremely good...and demanding. </p>

<p>It really has no peer in Florida.</p>

<p>One of her best orchestra teachers in the high school was an FSU music grad. He soon left the high school to enroll at Yale for graduate school.</p>

6

<p>I'm happy to see that you're quite interested in the College of Music as a violin performance major! I'm a current student in the choral music education program, but I'm also a peer advisor for the CoM, so I can offer you some insight.</p>

<p>The violin teachers (really, the entire string department) are very strong. They are professional musicians in their own right, in addition to being excellent teachers. Most of my string friends tell me that they chose the school because of the teachers, so I have no doubt that you'll fit right in. Poke around the CoM String site to see what you can find: FSU</a> College of Music . Academic Programs . Strings / Orchestra .</p>

<p>Most undergraduates in performance who are geared toward the professional orchestra track usually go straight to grad school (it's kind of a pre-req nowadays, but there are those very talented <em>few</em> who do jump from into the game right from undergrad), and several of them do place in orchestras after that. Whatever you're looking for, FSU will prepare you for that.</p>

<p>As parent2noles stated, FSU doesn't offer a journalism program, but the College of Communications is the next best thing. Our political science program is also very good.</p>

<p>However, be aware of the demands being a performance major (really, being a BM/BME student in the College of Music) are really high. Not to say that it doesn't exist (because it does in <em>extreme</em> cases), but if you're interested in doing a double degree program, be advised you will be here longer than 4 years. Our performance programs are very thorough, and a few students realize it was more challenging than they thought. Most who do double major usually drop one of the majors along the way, or, if they were in a BM/BME program, they switched to a BA Music program to finish both programs. Majoring/minoring (what I did) is slightly better, but just be very careful watching when to take what courses (the College of Music has several pre-req/co-req courses for a plan as a music major; if you miss one, it might place you a semester or year behind). And considering you're out-of-state (though our OOS tuition is one of the lowest in the country), it may place a big hole in your pocket. Unless you're coming in with 237489203432 AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/CLEP credits to get your Liberal Studies credits out of the way, or don't mind the extra time/costs, I'd say go for it. And start planning early when to take what courses when!</p>

<p>If you have any more inquires about the music side of things, you can PM me.</p>

<p>As per the party scene, yes, it exists, but the school is pretty large and it doesn't exist everywhere. You can find students who are pretty much only here for their academics.</p>

<p>And I'd second both skibird's and cybermom's recommendations on your inquiries about Jewish life on campus.</p>

7

<p>Oh, and I just saw your question in the Music Major board...sorry for the late reply.</p>

8

<p>ChoralFanatico,</p>

<p>My son will apply as an oos to FSU CoM as well, majoring in cello perf. & Music Therapy. What insight can you offer in this area? Do you have friends in this field?</p>

<p>Like you mentioned, he also chose FSU because of the cello professor and the strength in the Music Therapy program. </p>

<p>Also, can you list (or pm) music related fraternities?</p>

9

<p>rudysmom,</p>

<p>The music therapy program is one of the most intensive programs within the College of Music. And I know I'm biased, but there are so few undergraduate music therapy programs out there, and I think we have one of the most comprehensive programs out of all of them. Perks are small classes with faculty in the field starting the freshman/first year, as well as the hands-on experience. Students work closely with local health centers, retirement communities, and schools throughout the entire degree program, and then spend their final semester of the degree program interning with a clinical site (the plus is the variety of locations across the US offered, so if your son chooses, he may return to where you're from to intern). Students in the program do have 100% occupational placement.</p>

<p>The four music fraternities offered at FSU are:
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (international fraternity for men in music)
Sigma Alpha Iota (international fraternity for women in music)
Kappa Kappa Psi (national band fraternity)
Tau Beta Sigma (nation band sorority)</p>

<p>Sorry for the late reply...my computer is on the fritz.</p>

10

<p>Thanks, ChoralFanatico!</p>

11

<p>I think the College of Music at FSU is far superior than any other in the Southeast. They truly do have the best of the best. My s auditioned last February but was not offered a position. Some of the things to remember for the prospective students and parents is that there are very few open spots. My son was a 6 time "All County Honors Band" (middle and high school) award winner. He was also 1st chair the last two years in percussion. He consistently received superior ratings from FBMA. But, he had to compete for 5-6 spots against 50+ other applicants. He did not have the heavy performance experience like many of the others that attended "school of the art" high school programs. He had applied for the Music Composition program, but no one ever looked at his scores or listened to his CD's. </p>

<p>He auditioned and was offered spots at both UCF and USF. But couldn't imagine going anywhere else but FSU.</p>

<p>Going into his freshman year, he's not sure what he wants to do. This was his dream for over 3 years. He was told that he can possibly get lessons if spots were available and then re-audition for fall 2009.</p>

<p>A good friend is a cello performance major going into his sophomore year. He loves the program and has commented on the heavy practice schedule. But, practice makes perfect.... :)</p>

12

<p>^Good luck to your son. :) I hope he selects FSU and tries again.</p>

13

<p>plk1981 - - </p>

<p>Hopefully your son can audition again next year. </p>

<p>People do not realize that by the time a musician is at the college level they have already had many years (at least 10 - 12) of private lessons, and years of performances and competitions already on their resumes. Conservatories or serious music colleges want musicians that have basically spent their every waking hour fully immersed in their music on their primary instrument.</p>

<p>They themselves don't necessarily know when they're 7 or 8 years old that they should study and prepare for this but their music teachers know and help guide them and the families toward this likelihood. It's a long haul.</p>

<p>Yes, the competition IS cut throat. Hundreds audition for just a few spots. </p>

<p>Your son should try to find other music opportunities to fulfill his need and utilize his talent. The music department would be able to help guide him.</p>

14

<p>FSU's music school has been known as the "Julliard of the South" for a very long time and deservedly so. The competition to get a slot in their music department is beyond intense.</p>

<p>If you don't get a spot for the freshmen year, I do encourage practice and prepare for another audition for the sophomore year.</p>