Singing/opera Conservatories

College Search & Selection
21

<p>If you have a car, Oberlin to most parts of Cleveland can be done in under an hour. If not, you can take a bus from campus to the airport for $2 (I hear they want to raise it to $5 next year) and then connect to Cleveland public transit. Unfortunately, the last bus from the airport back to Oberlin leaves at 7:45 PM even on the weekends, so it is not much use if you wanted to attend an evening concert. Cab service from the airport is available but very expensive.</p>

<p>See <a href="http://www.droneything.mine.nu/%7Eoctransit/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.droneything.mine.nu/~octransit/&lt;/a> for more info.</p>

22

<p>Even tho DS is not a voice major at Peabody, I have to speak up on its behalf. Musictoad commented that there were too many "homeless and scruffy" people in the neighborhood, and it's true, they can be around. But DS has been at Peab for 5 years - finishing his MM in Composition - and neither he nor any of his friends have ever felt intimidated or uncomfortable because of the local residents. There is actually a soup kitchen around the corner from DS's apartment, but no one ever bothers him (other than one woman who tried to hit him up for "cab fare" late one night as he was walking home). If you walk south a few blocks, you're essentially at the Inner Harbor, which is about as hopping a place as any city can offer, and if you walk north a few blocks you're in the heart of one of the gay neighborhoods, where no one is the least bit threatening. As in any city, you need to keep your eyes open and your wits about you if you go walking alone at night, and it certainly wouldn't be recommended, but DS has never felt threatened or afraid. Peabody is a wonderful school, and now that they've finally completed all the renovations, the physical plant is terrific. Frankly, DS and I were much more turned off by NEC than by Peab - NEC was dreary, shabby and totally unimpressive the day we went to visit. Certainly people make snap decisions about schools - heck, we did about NEC - but I'd hate to have anyone rule Peabody out because of a few street people. Welcome to the big city - they're everywhere.</p>

23

<p>Marcyr,</p>

<p>I agree that NEC is pretty shabby-looking and that the neighborhood around Peabody is safe if you keep your wits about you. When taking my daughter to look at Peabody, we walked back from there to the inner harbor area at around 10 PM. There was a three or four block stretch there that might have worried someone who has spent all their time in suburbia. Having grown up in one of the less desirable areas of Philadelphia, I did not feel threatened but did find it prudent to cross the street a couple of times to stay in well-traveled and well-lighted areas.</p>

24

<p>Patrick,</p>

<p>In answer to your question about how far is Oberlin and CIM from each other? It's not too bad, by Cleveland standards. By car, it'd take around 45 minutes. It's pretty direct, too, now that they have a turnpike exit on Rt 58, the main north/south drag in Oberlin. As far as any public transportation from Oberlin, Bassdad has the info on that. It pretty much stinks in Cleveland, unless you're downtown or in University Circle. University Cirle is a vibrant area of town, just east of downtown. CIM/CWRU, lots of museums, University Hospital. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchesta and much more, are all right there. Little Italy, a neighborhood right by campus has good restaurants, shopping and art galleries. It'd be a good place to be a student, I think.</p>

<p>Oberlin is way different. I know their music/opera program is world class. But it is very different from CIM in feel. An intellectual island in the middle of a cornfield - there are really 2 Oberlins. If you want to go there, spend some time there, be sure you'd be comfortable. It's very liberal, "alternative lifestyle". It's a good fit for some, not for all. As my D has gotten more into opera in the past year, and away from musical theatre, I am sure we'll be spending more time there, taking advantage of their offerings. But she knows she'd not want to go there for college.</p>

<p>If I'm not mistaken, Lyric Opera Cleveland is only in the summer. Cleveland Opera is in the winter. They both have websites so you can confirm this.</p>

<p>I agree with you in that we have to visit these places. What looks good on paper may not be a good choice after you get there. So before we do the prescreening c.d.'s to (hopefully!) be asked to audition, we hope to check out CCM, Eastman, Mannes, CSPA. Why take the time to fill out the forms if you hate the place? Taking a summer program at a place you're considering is always good. Spending a few weeks there is better than whirlwind weekend visit to get a feel for someplace. Patrick, I know Oberlin has one in the summer. </p>

<p>We missed the due dates for Interlochen last year. In fact I was on their website to find out the very day it was due! Argg! We have family in Michigan, so I know it's fairly close. Another good thing doing a program that draws from all over the country, you find out how you stack up with everybody else. After going to BoCo, my D knows that she can compete. It's one thing to be a big fish in the little pond at home. Get yourself into a larger pond and then see how you do.</p>

25

<p>I would like to second what a.c.bay says about Oberlin. It is a fantastic place, but also very quirky. The summer vocal program there is excellent and would give you a good picture of the campus and facilities, but you still need to visit when school is in session to get a real feel for what the students are like.</p>

<p>The "middle of a cornfield" thing is metaphorical. The school is actually in a small town of about 8000. Some folks do have a bit of corn planted, but don't envision a "Field of Dreams" scenario where thick rows of corn start everywhere the college ends. If you are looking for life in the big city, Oberlin will probably not be your cup of tea. On the other hand, if you look at the school calendar of events, it is hard to find a day on which there is not an interesting concert or other cultural event going on.</p>

26

<p>The music department is in the School of Arts and Architecture. The opera program is small, very competitive and provides exciting opportunities for freshmen. The professors have moved to UCLA from some of the most prestigious conservatories, and many of the students emerging from the program are performing in top young artists programs and moving on to opera careers. One of last year's four Met Audition finalists is from UCLA. </p>

<p>S was accepted to the double degree programs at Oberlin, Tufts/NEC, JHU/Peabody, and Northwestern. He also got into and visited Boston University, and USC. We live in CA, so he really originally wanted to go farther away to school, but he was excited by everything he saw at UCLA when he visited. Now that he is there, he is finding that the music classes and professors are excellent, studio competition among teachers is nonexistent because all the students eventually study with everyone (what a concept) and the program is as complete as any conservatory.</p>

27

<p>My D is a sophomore at Lawrence University in their 5 year BM (vocal performance)/BA (Art History or Classics) double-degree program. If you are looking for both great music and liberal arts take a look at their program. For her, it came down to Lawrence and Oberlin as she did not want a straight conservatory. She was not comfortable in Oberlin's overall environment and, though a double degree is doable there, it is difficult to integrate with the conservatory. Lawrence, on the other hand, has a very integrated double-degree program which is supported well by advisors and scheduling. In addition, my D wants to go abroad -- which was definitely not supported by Oberlin's program. Of course, choice of a teacher is paramount for a singer and she had sample lessons everywhere she applied. She liked the teacher at Oberlin but loved her lesson at Lawrence (as well as everything else!). She is just now finishing a very rigorous 5 term sequence (Lawrence is on trimesters) in theory/aural skills/sight singing as well as voice lessons, choir, diction. However, she also takes Italian (as a tutorial with one other student!) and Art History. Lawrence does one opera production a year as well as opera scenes and at least one musical theater production (sometimes more). There are plenty of voice area and studio recitals and master classes. I would recommend taking a look! D also looked at Northwestern but didn't apply (didn't like teacher or facilities), BU (had gone to Tanglewood so loved Phyllis Hoffman but, again, facilities and integrated degree lacking), CMU (her high school teacher was there who she liked) but program very restrictive to music and CMU is very weak in the liberal arts. She also liked McGill and Ithaca (particularly a teacher there). Rice and Vanderbilt are excellent as well (D went to Tanglewood with Momofwildchild's daughter!) but she didn't want to head south. I would second CCM as not optimal for undergraduate voice. CCM's program is excellent for grad students and the program is geared that way -- i.e. undergrads do not get their teacher of choice and performance/recital roles, etc.). Again, it all boils down to 'fit' for the student, the teacher (VERY important!), and the place. GOOD LUCK!</p>

28

<p>I would add the following to sopranomom's comments for the benefit of any non-voice majors interested in double majoring at Oberlin who may be reading this. In many departments, the double major is not at all difficult to coordinate with the conservatory. We have had excellent experiences with the double bass faculty in the conservatory and the math faculty in the college, some of whom have gone out of their way to help my daughter rearrange her schedule to get the classes she needs. I think this is something that needs to be explored on a xase-by-case basis. </p>

<p>Also, Oberlin did suspend their study abroad program this year, but there was such an uproar that they are working on restoring it in a modified fashion next year. Whether that program will be open to Conservatory students is still unknown.</p>

29

<p>I know two class of 2008 students, both very strong sopranos - one is extremely happy in Cleveland, the other thrilled about her opera program at Maryland. It seems to me you have a lot of visiting to do, and since you have to audition, you will probably meet the teachers that you would be working with. I believe that by the time the acceptances come in, you will have an excellent sense of which place will suit you best.</p>

30

<p>Has anyone auditioned for Curtis in vocal performance? I know they take next to no one but it's currently in my daughter's "way beyond a reach school" category and I'd love to get any feedback. I've heard very briefly from two different teachers - one had their Manhattan School of Music pre-college student go there and have to quit because it was so difficult. Another has two students there and Curtis pays for the students to take the train into Manhattan for lessons with her.</p>

31

<p>Agree with MomofWildChild re: Northwestern. The Voice Department is good, but not amazing and the practice facilities are abysmal. The MT department is first rate. Last night, my D (who has applied to UMich, been accepted to LSA, and is awaiting her audition in January), took Northwestern off her list.</p>