<p>I was speaking to a few peers living in NYC the other day and something came up since were all about to apply to graduate school in the next 1-2 years. Is it really worth it to apply to an uber expensive private school like Manhattan School of Music as opposed to a still really decent program like Queens College Aaron Copland School of Music? I've noticed that both institution churn out pretty much the same caliber of players since many are already professional in their mid to late 20's/early 30's. So all in all I'm just curious what makes the lure of a private school better than a state funded school with almost exactly the same program? and sometimes the same professors! I'm looking at both schools as well as NEC, UNT, Umiami, Uarts and City college...so the costs often vary from school to school. But I particularly want peoples opinions on MSM vs. Queens college, I think they could potentially be both great programs..and are in NYC where everyone mingles anyways especially in the Jazz world. (however over all I like UNT and NEC programs the most...jsut not in NYC) :(</p>
<p>I will be curious to hear the responses. My son is a freshman at NEC so graduate school is a long way off, but he is thinking that he will want to go to NYC for his masters. I was under the impression that many graduate schools offer generous scholarships for Masters students.</p>
<p>As for NEC don’t diss Boston. The music scene in Boston is pretty rich, especially with Berklee right down the street. Oh and BTW, Berklee is in the process of adding a Master’s program. I don’t know how well funded it will be and if they will give away generous scholarships to it or not, but you might want to look into it. Also Boston is just 4 hours from New York by bus or 3.5 hours by Train. Many musicians in Boston travel to and from New York.</p>
<p>Have you looked into The New School? My son tells me that that is a happening program for Jazz. He wanted to apply as an undergrad but I would not let him because I did not feel that he was ready to handle living in that part of town while also being at a school that is not specifically set up to help 18 year olds adjust to living in NY.</p>
<p>Yes I’d REALLY love a response too, I’m surprised no one has really given their two cents. And trust me in no way am I dissing boston It’s a great city for the arts and more of a young person city as in terms of collaboration musically, it’s one of the reason I’m thinking of NEC for graduate work! Plus I heard it allows you to discover your own voice/be creative opposed to other schools. Not to sound to desperate but would you mind asking your son why he chose NEC over other amazing programs? And does it tend to stay within the traditional Bop/be bop formula? I love tradition but to be honest the music is moving way past that now (as it should, Jazz should match with whats going on in society).</p>
<p>Berklee does have a grad program but unfortunately it is overseas in spain I believe…Why this has happened I do not know but hopefully they will have programs both in the states and overseas soon, then Berklee will automatically will be in my Top 3 choice of grad programs. The progression as well as connections at that school is uncanny. I just could’nt afford it at the undergrad level plus it seemed extremely competitive for decent scholarships that could help with tuition and living and personally I’ve seen some of the people awarded those scholarships and I was simply not at that level or mindset at the time.</p>
<p>New School would definitely be number one on my list, I absolutely love that program and the people they graduate and send into the music world. However, I’ve looked all over their site and even talked to my former professor who now teaches there and unfortunately there is NOT a graduate program for music students there. It’s a shame really because I really feel like that’s a school worth going into debt for but not for just another undergraduate degree. I’m not sure if that is wise.</p>
<p>I’d really like if you could ask your son those questions about NEC if you don’t mind…it would really help with my graduate school search. Even though it might be a couple years away I really wanted to do it right this time and take my time and research instead of just choosing a random school like I did for undergraduate school. </p>
<p>ALSO please any one tell me the benefits of studying in NYC at MAnhattan school of music (MSM) as opposed to state funded Queens College or even CIty college, who have just as good of professors/educators and almost the same exact curriculum (at least at the graduate level) thanks</p>
<p>A couple thoughts. I’m not a jazz major, but my undergrad had a very competitive jazz program, so many of my friends there were (and still are) working jazz musicians.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard ensembles at either school, but the people I’ve worked with who either had already been to or would later go on to attend Queens College and MSM were not comparable at all. In terms of a large, strong jazz school, MSM’s competitors seem relatively few. A trumpet player I knew who went there for his master’s said that he was pretty easily able to fill his schedule up with paying gigs. Conversely, of the people I know who went to Queens College, most of them have had to move back to their hometowns because they haven’t been able to make ends meet playing in NYC. Granted, my sample size is only about a dozen, but the results skew starkly in favor of MSM.</p>
<p>My other thought is that taking on loans or paying out of pocket yourself for a music master’s degree is pretty risky. Cost of living in NYC is high, and saddling yourself with debt to try to make it as a musician is doubling down on risk. However, if you’re an attractive enough candidate, MSM and Queens will become comparable in price.</p>
<p>Cool Tuba! Thanks for the info, I’m getting many varied opinions from various websites and musicians from the city. Some say that while going to city or queens college they had just as much if not more opportunity than MSM others were saying the same thing you were saying. So i guess the only way to find out is to shed for a few years and apply…I agree with you for the debt situation…I do not want to end up in 100,000 in debt over a masters degree where I could maybe teach at the collegiate level at best…that is pretty risky but like you said if i get any type of grant/scholarship to either school it should be worth it! Plus the connections, man i hear they are endless!</p>
thanks</p>