<p>Opinions? I'm just wondering since after auditioning this morning they seemed really interested in me. I've heard mixed reviews about SFCM. No offense, but a lot of peoples complaints revolve around the level at SFCM. I personally want to be in a supportive/yet some what competitive environment. Will I find this at NEC? I'm going there later this week but I was wondering if you guys had some stories to share.</p>
<p>My daughter is a junior VP major at SFCM…her roommate is an exceptionally talented violin major and from what I hear is very happy with her teacher at the conservatory. Her roommate could have gone to several high level programs…I believe she is still happy with her choice. SFCM is a small school (around 400 students) so it seems to be easy to get to know faculty and other students since you see them so much.</p>
<p>The city has so much to offer culture wise…my daughter will be very sad to leave when her time is done…she has had many amazing experiences while there.</p>
<p>There are definately things to consider about SF…cost to live there is very high…DD shares a 1 bedroom rent controled apartment which cost almost $1600 month. For awhile she lived in a house shared by several other students. Although it was cheaper, the commute from further out became an issue…there is a dorm close by that a couple of the nearby schools send students too…She lived there her freshman year. I believe we paid $800/month for a room (no food)…they were working on upgrading the builidng at the time and it had some issues…DD says it is better now.</p>
<p>if you have specific questions you can PM me and I’ll ask my DD.</p>
<p>We know students at both SF and NEC. Both are very happy. I have told my S to stop listening to everyone else and concentrate on how he feels when he visits, auditions, sits in on classes, has a private lesson, et. You are the one that is going - listening to others is good for input but don’t make your decisions based on this. Listen to yourself, you do really know what you are looking for. :)</p>
<p>That is true and it’s also about the teachers as well. I don’t know if i’ll get accepted to NEC but I’m getting a lesson w/ Nicholas Kitchen. It’s between him and Axel Strauss. Does anybody know these two?</p>
<p>Oh, for NEC I put no preference for teachers so idk who else would take me heh.</p>
<p>Like with any program, there is kind of a chicken and egg thing going on with SFCM, ‘conventional wisdom’ is that SFCM, specifically on violin, is not as competitive as let’s say the NEC’s, Juilliards, etc…and because of that, they may (I say may because I am not certain) not get the very top students applying there, so it may be a bit less competitive relatively. I agree with others, check out the school, check out the teachers and make your decision based on that, rather then what others tell you, since you will be the one doing the lessons. NEC is one of the ‘elite’ schools by conventional wisdom and they have a very strong, name faculty.</p>
<p>You will find some very strong students at SFCM, but as others mention, the overall calibre may not be as high as NEC or Juilliard or CIM (but I don’t see this as a reason for dismissing SFCM–you do need at least a small group of peers that are better than you and you will find this at SFCM). I know a violinist that was accepted everywhere with full rides (was accepted on the spot at Curtis) and she chose to go to SFCM–preferred the teacher, her boyfriend was accepted there, and preferred the climate.</p>
<p>NEC is about double the size of SFCM; NEC has almost 800 students and SF has just under 400. The dorm situation is not ideal at either (although NEC at least has dedicated dorms).</p>
<p>violindad- Just curious what you mean by the dorm situation is not ideal at either SFCM or NEC. We’ve toured both (saw NEC yesterday). We didn’t get to see a room there, but were told that you can live there all four years and there is even graduate student housing on the top floor. The NEC dorm is right across the street (a little closer than SFCM).</p>
<p>I have heard from various sources that the rooms at NEC are not in the best of condition and that repairs sometimes take an extraordinary time. Of course, many college dorms leave a lot to be desired, but more than one person who has toured rooms at many music schools has put the NEC rooms in the bottom half in terms of condition and comfort. Certainly the location is excellent and NEC has a meal plan (whereas last time we checked SF did not).</p>
<p>Thanks, violindad. Something we’ll check into more if we get “the” email or package. 
I know someone who did her master’s there.</p>
<p>los: If you are considering Axel Strauss seriously, be certain to investigate whether or not he will be around next year. He is at McGill this weekend “auditioning” for a violin prof position (doing a brief concert and a masterclass) for next year.</p>
<p>We toured NEC a hot day. Practice rooms were terrible, in poor condition and no AC, pianos were horribly out of tune. The library had leaking window AC units dripping onto the floor working, hard to attempt to cool the space, most dorm rooms do not have AC either. Not what one would expect for the money at all! Extremely disappointing. They did mention that they do now have a meal plan and that they might get some AC when Northeastern does some reno but honestly we decided that the cost was not worth it as an undergrad.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>He’s considering McGill? Aw, well he wants me to come back to SFCM for a private lesson with him. Hopefully he won’t go but we’ll see! Is he a good teacher? Any thoughts?</p>
<p>That’s who my daughter’s roommate studies with and she loves him…I’ll see if I can find out any info for you LOS and message you…might be a day or two…hitting the ski slopes today and catching up with my daughter is never easy.</p>
<p>Thank you! Is your daughter’s roommate really good? I’d like to study with him but if he plans on moving then I’ll have to think twice.</p>
<p>It is by no means certain that he’ll get or want to take the McGill position. There are two prospective teachers auditioning, but Strauss is the best-known.</p>
<p>Roommate does not know anything about a possible move…which does not mean it might not happen…Teacher probably would not tell the students at this point. Daughter’s roommate is very good.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with directly asking a teacher if he/she is interviewing for positions elsewhere or if he anticipates remaining at the current school for the period of time that you will be there. At this point in the school year, a teacher who is planning on leaving is not being fair to their current students by keeping a secret. I knew of a teacher who was scoping out new positions and upped and left his position in mid-August, stranding those in his studio. Seniors were left with no one to help with grad school applications and pre-screens and other studios were full, so the lesson rosters were full- chaos reigned.
Any student has the right to question a teacher about plans that could impact their future and a good teacher will be honest and upfront.</p>