<p>That is why I suggested sample lessons. The other issue is whether you are able to request a studio and be accepted into that studio prior to being admitted. I don’t know the answer to that.</p>
<p>My understanding to the question you raise Cartera45 is…no you do not get a choice in your studio…unless you were recruited by a teacher prior to the audition…and then I’ve heard from other sources that you may not even get to stay with that teacher past the 1st year…(head of the department - Jac- makes those decisions)…</p>
<p>From things I’ve read on other forum…retention rate is very low at this school. However, on positive side…Everyone I’ve visited with or read information from did say they learned a lot there especially the stage aspect of it… do your research carefully…I think the few that make it through all 4 years love it.</p>
<p>That is my take on it too. I put more value on the teacher relationship than the production value though so I’d have major concerns in the way decisions are made. I’m sure it works for many though and that’s great. Good thing there are so many choices out there.</p>
<p>opera-mom is right. Purchase is known for “moving students around” after their first year, and there have been posts from those that have left the school because they weren’t comfortable with that. cartera, you and I are in agreement about the student-teacher relationship too. It’s one thing if things are just not “gelling” and it would be benficial to both student and teacher to find other arrangements, but I know that my D would not be comfortable at all if she had to operate under the shadow of possibly being told that she had to change studios, even if the decision was made by the head of the department. That seems like something that really should be discussed ad infinitum until all are satisfied with the outcome.</p>
<p>Dear Gladys,
Thank you do much for your post! I will be graduating this spring with a duel major in vocal performance and music education. I added the education part just to assure that I would be able to eventually get a job…but I really want to pursue my career in vocal performance and am kinda lost.</p>
<p>The school I am graduating from has done nothing for me in reguards to performance. I am usure what my next step should be. I am so happy to hear some advice because none of my professors are offering me any! I have plenty of advice from the homefront…but they are not in the music field.</p>
<pre><code>I would love any advice anyone would like to offer. I am a lyric soprano with a voice that lends itself to schuburt and mozart.
</code></pre>
<p>Get prepared to audition for some YAPs, I think they usually start in the late fall. Check over at the New Forum for Classic Singers. If you haven’t already, while at NFCS see if you can get a referral in to YAPTracker. Also Subscribe to Classic Singer Magazine, you can just get an online subscription and they have great listings for auditions and competitions. If you want to perform, get out there! Now if you want to teach, well, you’ll have to ask someone else, although I am sure someone with that info will weigh in. If you really feel you need some performance opportunities prior to YAPs and competitions
Then look into PTS (pay to sing) programs, a good way to get some stage experience, you can find this information at the above sites.</p>
<p>My D met singers from all over the world at the YAP she sang at the summer after her junior year. She was the youngest singer there and benefited from the advice on teachers and grad schools from the graduate students and professionals in attendance. However, most YAPs for the coming summer (most auditions are Oct-Dec)have been already been cast and if you have little experience in performance, your chances at acceptance are dicey at best. Why not take some lessons from the best teacher you can possibly book with, if necessary travel to a reputable music school or conservatory. Get an honest evaluation and advice.</p>
<p>I am currently a junior at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. This school has great opportunities for aspiring young vocalists. I have been in the mainstage opera here every year, with a leading role my soph. and junior year. All roles are double cast which provides many students the chance to further their skills while here at Millikin. There is also a great voice faculty as well as a great opera scenes program that does a few performances a semester. Also there is normally a shorter one act opera in the fall semester performed in Kirkland Hall.</p>
<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I am surprised Rice isn’t listed in the “top ten.” It’s a newer program than some, but it is certainly top-notch. I went there for undergrad and chose it over Oberlin, NEC, USC and Peabody; and I’m confident I made the right choice, as the academic environment is also very stimulating, and I was able to pursue all my academic interests while I was there.</p>
<p>Recently Rice has gotten a lot more press and has become a lot more popular, so while I was there we started to get quite a few grad students coming to study who had done their undergrads at famous schools like Juilliard. There are also several Rice undergrads who do their grad work at Juilliard, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence–I think the training is really very good at Rice.</p>
<p>Besides voice, the departments in horn and bass are considered the best in the country.</p>
<p>There are only three voice teachers, and there are very few spots (I think around 35 singers grad+undergrad), but the small size of the program is a plus in my opinion. Rice may be small but it produces some wonderful musicians and has a focused environment. No one falls through the cracks; they do not accept more students than they can train thoroughly. I would urge anyone to consider Rice.</p>
<p>Lawrence can be fairly competitive - I think you may have underestimated it in that regard.</p>
<p>I have am in the preparatory division of the San Francisco Conservatory as a voice student. I know several of the students and teachers and the opera stage director in the real conservatory for college students. The opera program is apparently very good, especially for tenors. However, there are no academics, so anyone who comes out of SFCM will have no back-up career and not much chance for getting a graduate degree in anything but music. The teachers are very talented and skilled and the facilities are beautiful, though, so it is a great place for people who are sure they want to be musicians as a career. It is located just blocks from the War Memorial Opera House, the ballet, Davies Symphony Hall, and City Hall.</p>
<p>Anyone looking for a great undergraduate education in Vocal Performance should apply to Virginia Commonwealth University. There is no graduate program, therefore ALL of the performance opportunites go to undergraduates. This includes multiple choruses, recitals (lessons taught by teachers AND coaches–you get to work on solo repertoire with 2 different people!), and full scale operas. VCU Opera puts on a gala of scenes every fall and a full-scale opera every spring, both of which are wonderful. VCU Opera’s Music director Melanie K. Day (artistic director of Opera Festival di Roma) and stage director Kenneth Wood could not be better at what they do. In fact, their Hansel and Gretel from last srping just placed 2nd in a nationally-ranked competition for undergraduate operas. I will be graduating from VCU in the spring of 2012, and I can honestly say that I have gotten so many more performance opportunities and have come out with a better education than so many of my peers from other universities. Go Rams!</p>