<p>Hi...Can anyone tell me about the SU music program. I understand that the MT is hot there but My D is deciding between JMU, BOCO and SU for vocal performance. Financially it is her best bet. Any feedback about the vocal program would really be appreciated. How is the social life on campus? I am hearing that it is a commuter campus on the weekend, is that true? I am looking for anybody in the know.
She is planning visits and classes in the next few weeks but inside info would be appreciated.
If she was going for MT at any of these colleges there is plenty of info on the board, esp. BOCO, but hardly any input on Vocal Performance. Thanks</p>
<p>A couple of mentions, but not a lot of detail:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/459406-vocal-su-ithaca-getysburg-jmu-bucknell.html?highlight=shenandoah[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/459406-vocal-su-ithaca-getysburg-jmu-bucknell.html?highlight=shenandoah</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/414385-shenandoah-conservatory-ncsa.html?highlight=shenandoah[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/414385-shenandoah-conservatory-ncsa.html?highlight=shenandoah</a></p>
<p>Jersey Babe, notfromme has a D who is currently attending Shenandoah. You might try sending her a PM - she provided us with the good first-hand info regarding life on the SU campus. </p>
<p>S was accepted as an instrumentalist, and was favorably impressed but opted for an LAC rather than conservatory.</p>
<p>JerseyBabe- this is from last year, but check it out:
[Classical</a> Singer: Comments on the school](<a href=“http://www.classicalsinger.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=575;t=000001]Classical”>http://www.classicalsinger.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=575;t=000001)</p>
<p>Just read these entries from the post below…and I must comment on butmyrealnameislucia post- “There are a lot of politics in the vocal department because most of the teachers have to teach because their careers failed and they are bitter about it. Although many of the other teachers are VERY nice and have the best intentions, they do NOT have good technique training and I ended up coming out worse off than when I went in.”</p>
<p>First of all…
My daughters vocal coach/teacher for the past three years is still very active opera performer. He is at his Shenandoah studio only a day or two a week due to his schedule, very selective about his students and is truly a caring man…not bitter. He is at Shenandoah because he loves to teach, not because he has to. He is a graduate of the IU, Masters in Opera. My daughter loves him and constantly seeks advise from him.
Secondly…
Politics are everywhere-school, community, real life…end of discussion
Thirdly…
You get from a program what you put into it. If you are not happy with your vocal coach, you should definately switch. Not every teacher is a match for you. Believe me. My younger d has found this out in the instrumental world. She has applied to and been accepted to schools, then taken lessons from highly sought after teachers only to come out and say…I do not think so. </p>
<p>Over all my older daughter has loved her time at Shenandoah. She is musical theater, so the training is different than straight vocal. She has a strong concentration in opera and has loved working in that field. Her love is in musical theater, so the past year she has been training more in that area. We as parents have been very happy with Shenandoah and if we had to do it all over again, we would not change a thing. Her vocals have improved tremendously…and easily finds summer work performing. Yes, politics do come into play…as they do everywhere. We have had times wondering “what???”, but in the end it simply prepared d to face what will be out in the real world. We have also found that when one door closed, another one opened for her. This school seems to prepare these kids for that. They do not sugar coat it…they make them prepare for the reality that it is a hard field.<br>
D is finishing her junior year…hard to believe. It has been a good experience. I hope my younger d’s decision will be as good of a match as Shenandoah was for older d…I believe it will. Please, ask me anything and I will as d. We talk everyday, and since she is our drama girl, she will be very honest.</p>
<p>Glad to read your comments, notfromme. That’s what I like the most about CC- everyone feels that they can share experiences and takes the time to post comments that are,mercifully, up-to-date. I only posted the ClassicalSinger link because it was the only other thing that I came across, I certainly didn’t mean to put down Shenandoah in any way. We loved the campus when we visited there in my D’s junior year!</p>
<p>Mezzo’s Momma-
I completely understand and did not think for one minute you were putting Shenandoah down. I was responding to the ClassicalSinger post. I guess in the end, it is whatever school is a match for your child. I know people were amazed that my d chose Shenandoah over some of her other choices, but it is where she wanted to be, and in the end where she belonged! Also just wanted to let anyone who is going through this for their first time to know that any school will have some issues that you may not see eye to eye with. But, that is part of life and you learn to make the best of it. Overall, she has had an amazing time at Shenandoah.
Best wishes to all who are starting this exciting journey. It is a whirlwind, but it is worth it. Just finished this leg of the journey with my youngest who has made her final decision. She is thrilled, we are thrilled and feel her choice is a perfect match for her. She is going a completely different route. She did not want a conservatory, wanted a large school atmosphere but with a small, intimate type of music school. We have learned so much going through this with our girls!! Between the two of them, we figured we have visited about 25 or more schools…
Enjoy!</p>
<p>Wow, notfromme, you should get some kind of award for all of those visits- or a long vacation! What school did your D select? (looked in the Final Decisions thread but didn’t see anything so perhaps your’re not ready to announce yet…)</p>
<p>These visits were between both of my girls!! So, over the past three years! After all of the traveling, a vacation at home sounds good!</p>