<p>Hi,</p>
<p>My son is a HS Jr and has played the oboe for a few years. He has now decided that he would like to pursue music performance/education in college. He is a very good student academically. I know little to nothing about music. Does anyone have suggestions for schools? What should we be looking for? We are located in the NE and would prefer schools in east or north but would possibly consider elsewhere. Thanks.</p>
<p>I guess the key question is at what level does your S play at? That will help you determine which schools are appropriate. The best sources for getting this answered are probably his private teacher and school band/orchestra directors, as well as any director of any local ensembles he may play with. </p>
<p>Use that info to start researching prospective schools.</p>
<p>Welcome to the roller coaster. Please strap yourself in and remove any loose objects like eyeglasses...</p>
<p>I had to reply b/c my friends used to call me clunk all thru school.
I suggest you read old posts. There is so much info there that will help. I'm new to this also and this site is invaluable.</p>
<p>IZ thanks for your reply. What questions should I be asking? I know that he is expected to make "all-state" but I'm not really sure where that puts him. I know he plays first chair in his HS band, which is a perennial music HS. Should I simply ask the HS music director what he thinks about colleges and what my son should qualify for?</p>
<p>What are your son's long term goals? Does he see himself principally as a teacher or is he imagining a position in a major orchestra? What performing opportunities has he had outside of school, including summer programs? (By the way, I'm not sure what you mean by a perennial music HS.) What does his private teacher think (private oboe teachers can have very strong opinions)? Are there financial constraints? Can your son picture himself doing anything else?</p>
<p>If he is hoping to eventually obtain a position in a decent professional orchestra, it is important to try to study with the best teachers, either as an undergrad or as a grad student. Even so, there are no guarantees, but that will help put him in a more competitive position.</p>
<p>If he sees himself principally as a teacher, IMHO you should start your search at your state university. Tour the music school and have a lesson with the oboe teacher.</p>
<p>By reading through the many threads on this board, you will have a better understanding of the process ahead. By the way, my D is an oboe performance major at New England Conservatory, just finishing her sophomore year.</p>
<p>Clunk, those are good places to start. Here are a few thoughts.</p>
<p>This is pretty much required reading for anyone with questions. It covers all the basics and then some:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-family-s-experience.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-family-s-experience.html</a></p>
<p>Applying to music school is a lot like applying to any other college in one sense: Imagine if someone said, "My kid wants to major in math. What school should he go to?" And one person said community college and another said Harvard. A bit of a difference! (Exaggerated, but you get the idea.) Sure, both schools offer math, but at what level? And could he get in to Harvard? Is he beyond community college? We would really need to know a little more information about the applicant. That's what folks mean when they ask for more info. </p>
<p>Knowing that he will probably attend All State is a little help -probably indicates at least a certain level of accomplishment. Does he take private lessons? (From what sort of teacher? For how long?) Has he had any other non-school experiences - summer camps, youth orchestras? Does he have any other musical experience - piano? Theory? Marching band? It's okay if he hasn't done any of those things -but they are things that would give us more information.</p>
<p>Upper tier conservatories (which generally don't offer education degrees anyway) usually cull their students from those who have studied privately and pursued their instrument heavily (summer programs, youth orchestras, lots of practice.) [Juilliard, Curtis, New England Conservatory, Eastman, Cleveland Institute of Music, etc....]</p>
<p>Then there are music schools and conservatory-type programs within a larger school. The top programs here also attract the same type students at the top conservatories with a twist - these students are often interested in a broader academic education (perhaps a dual degree). [Oberlin, Indiana, U of Cincinnati - College Conservatory, Rice .....] These schools are just as difficult for music majors to get into as conservatories, regardless of how easy they are for other programs.</p>
<p>There are several more "levels" of programs - they are difficult to rank because where one school might have an absolutely top notch oboe teacher, perhaps the string teacher isn't as highly regarded, and so on. </p>
<p>And there are schools which offer a music major, and work hard to keep the orchestra even partially filled. These schools, though the program may not be as high quality, often have more accessible scholarships and such. </p>
<p>If money is an issue - especially if he wants to go private or out of state - looking for a school that "needs" oboists, and where his academics are in the upper levels, might garner more scholarships.</p>
<p>Since your S thinks he wants to pursue education, you may wish to stay in your home state, so he gets certification for that state. (and you get in-state tuition!) Yes, by all means ask the band director - But be aware that many teachers are often only familiar with in-state schools, so you might have to dig a bit more to create a broader list, if you so desire one.</p>
<p>You will probably want to have your S contact the oboe teacher at the schools that look interesting, and ask for a sample lesson. A music major spends four years in close proximity to one teacher - it's best if they get along! </p>
<p>At all but the most "desperate" schools, your son should expect to audition. Even at schools that take all - or most - comers, they generally require an audition for scholarship money. That is why is is important that you begin figuring out what level he is at. Auditioning is time consuming and expensive (if having to travel.) Better to not waste your money on too many long shots or schools where he wouldn't be happy.</p>
<p>I could write on and on, but there is a lot of good info already here on this board. We love to help and offer opinions and ideas, though, so please feel free to post questions.</p>
<p>clunK, welcome. You've been given great advice and the more we "know" about your student, the better it gets. The pinned threads and the featured threads at the top of the page are good starting points, and great general knowledge of the process as a whole, especially if you have no idea of what's involved.</p>
<p>Most of us had no clue. But we made it. Like Zep said, hang on.</p>
<p>He can start by taking trial lessons with teachers at schools nearby that he might be interested in. It's hard for anyone to say what schools would be best for a student. That's really the student's decision, and it's based a lot on how the student works with teachers at certain schools. </p>
<p>If you're in the Northeast, he might be able to get some trial lessons with teachers at the NY conservatories (Juilliard, Mannes, MSM), the Boston conservatories (BU, NEC, Boston Conservatory, Berklee), Peabody down in Baltimore, Curtis in Philadelphia, and Eastman up in Rochester. </p>
<p>Also, does he want a university with a music school, or a conservatory?</p>
<p>Hart School of Music in Hartford, Mason Gross School of the Arts in NJ, and others. OBOE is in high demand vs the tremendous number of clarinet players...</p>
<p>Thank you all for all of your great help and ideas. My son has played in a youth orchestra, his school also has a symphony band. He has done no summer programs but he also plays in marching band (trumpet) jazz band (trumpet) and indoor percussion (bass drum). His main instrument is the oboe, the others he has only played in order to participate. He is also in music theory class where he's composing a piece he will perform in chamber recital. We will discuss all this with his oboe teacher and school band instructor as well.</p>
<p>I don't think he really wants to teach at the elementary or middle school levels, but he is not sure what might be a realistic first goal at this stage. </p>
<p>He has visited Ithaca College and really liked it; money might be an issue. He has also mentioned some of the other schools cited here, including Hart School and Boston U. This idea of a sample lesson sounds very intriguing, is it something the professors are generally willing to do? Also, is there any way to find out about what schools might be more in need of oboes? Thanks again for all of your help.</p>
<p>clunK, the search function is useful in pulling up older threads where a lot of specific areas... trial lessons, music ed programs, talent and potential assessment, combining music with an academic discipline. etc.</p>
<p>Another great overview in helping a parent and student define their mindset is the Peabody articles here Peabody</a> Institute - Conservatory Admissions: Double Degree.</p>
<p>Another good overview is the Rice series here
Navigating</a> Music Careers</p>
<p>There are great teachers and programs at a number of conservatory, conservatory level programs within universities and LACs, and some great programs at a few state schools.</p>
<p>Defining the geographic environment, student makeup, academic needs, financial parameters are secondary issues as opposed to teacher and program.</p>
<p>His current private instructor would be his best source for assessing his talent and potential, snd should be able to offer a few suggestions for you to investigate further.</p>
<p>
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Also, is there any way to find out about what schools might be more in need of oboes?
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It will be easy to find out how many openings are anticipated in oboe studios as conservatories...just call! Some (I think CIM) even post the number of slots per instrument online. Also many liberal arts schools will be happy to have a good oboist, and again a phone call or email to the music department or (even better) to the conductor of the orchestra will give you some idea of whether they would be interested in a tape or a visit from your son. Some even offer scholarships for"rare" instrument players (oboe, bassoon, and perhaps a few others...) Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you all for your generous sharing of your knowledge. This has been very helpful.</p>
<p>Don't be shy about asking for trial lessons. This was a new concept to me when we started senior year craziness, but I quickly found out that the teachers in college music programs and at conservatories are very used to this, and will simply charge you for a regular private lesson. It gives the student a chance to ask some questions about the school while he is with the teacher. For my son, who is a jazz guitarist, the teachers were all stars in the jazz world, and it was the biggest thrill just to meet with them and have a lesson with a master. Apart from the practical aspect of trying out a school through an applied teacher, it's extra experience to stow under the belt for the audition season!</p>
<p>Oboe is awesome, and beautiful, and expensive. And it is super competitive. Despite the fact that people tend to think it is a “rare” instrument, there are A LOT of very, very talented young , and not so young, oboists out there. My daughter, MM oboe performance student at Depaul, is continuously amazed with the level and volume of competition in everything from school admissions auditions to summer festivals, and of course, professional auditions. Scores of hopeful talented oboists show up to every audition. If your son pursues the performance route, sample lessons are a great way to find out which teachers your son might want to work with, and in which colleges/conservatories he might be interested .</p>
<p>Being a good oboist can be a nice benefit financially if your son wants to attend a liberal arts college. I know Emory, for instance, offers generous scholarships to highly qualified musicians if they major in music (they can double major, and most do). It is true that many schools are trying to build their music programs, and they like talented oboists.</p>
<p>My sister got in a closed dietetics program at UCSan Louis Obispo because she was an oboe player--she just had to play in the orchestra every semester. Oboe can be useful!</p>