<p>I figured I'd start a USC site dedicated to the School of Music...we are down to USC and FSU, and my S is leaning towards USC. I think FSU has a better rep and it would make more financial sense, but he seems to have his heart set on USC because he loved the campus and the faculty....Audition date is February 18.</p>
<p>Accepted, still between the two, hoping SC comes through with a decent scholarship…</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I absolutely love the School of Music here. I’m only barely in it. (I play in the non-audition university band). Even still, it sounds amazing. There are so many talented musicians here and the faculty are amazing.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about FSU, but I do think that USC is definitely not a bad place to be a music student at. I know a lot of really talented music majors and they all seem very pleased with the SOM here.</p>
<p>Congrats StoneMagic!</p>
<p>Other than some out of state price reduction due to marching band, I wouldn’t expect a whole lot in the way of music scholarship though. We complained about what my son was offered because it was way below some other colleges, but they said it was the top scholarship for his instrument. Maybe they need trumbone players more.</p>
<p>I was recommended by my high school band instructors NOT to come to USC if I wanted to do anything with music. The program is good, but nowhere near excellent. I have heard some bad things about the individual studios as well. FSU, on the other hand, has one of the top music programs in the country. It’s rigorous and demands the very best out of each musician. A good friend of mine plays french horn there and she absolutely loves it, and they do give out better scholarships for music than USC does.</p>
<p>I live in Florida and all the band personal and directors are from FSU. They have a tremendous program. I went to FSU’s band leadership camp this past summer, truly phenomenal place to study music. I have no idea what USC’s music program is like, but FSU is a great school.</p>
<p>And i know its too late, but did your son ever consider Blair school of music at Vanderbilt? They have a phenomenal undergraduate only music school and they give the top applicants a full tuition scholarship. (Cornelius Vanderbilt)</p>
<p>It probably does depend on the studio. </p>
<p>My son selected USC over a more prestigious college that offered him 4 times the scholarship amount largely because of the quality of the trumpet studio professor at USC and the guest professor who is under contract there for this year and at least two more years.</p>
<p>In the trumpet world you don’t get much better than Ackley and Vizzutti and neither teach at FSU.</p>
<p>imagep, I have to say that it’s very encouraging to hear that we have professors that are the best in their field. USC always promotes its professors as being “top notch”, but it’s hard to really corroborate that claim. I hope your son ends up at USC. I think he will love the School of Music facility and he would benefit from the new performance auditorium being build in the new Moore School of Business, which is under construction:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.thestate.com/2011/09/23/1983065/darla-moore-school-of-business.html]Darla”>http://www.thestate.com/2011/09/23/1983065/darla-moore-school-of-business.html]Darla</a> Moore School of Business building design<a href=“slide%2019”>/url</a>.</p>
<p>Actually he is already there is very much loving it.</p>
<p>All - thanks for the comments. I can’t argue that FSU is an outstanding program, the challenge is it’s so large, they admitted he would be taught by grad students at least 50% of the time. In addition, they seem to focus a good deal on their graduate students as far as making the top ensembles, etc. S. Carolina is about half the size, and highly underrated - the trumpet studio is world-class, and the wind ensemble just back from touring China. Also the trombone professor, Brad Edwards, is outstanding and sends lots of people to the Cincinnati Conservatory. It may not have the national reputation for music like FSU, but maybe it should.</p>
<p>If it sounds like a lean to S. Carolina, I think it is a better fit for my son - he wants to take lessons from the professor all the time, not a grad student. He also doesn’t want to have to compete with tons of other people and grad students for good ensembles. The challenge is going to be financial - I can’t swing SC unless they step up pretty good, so it could be FSU after all. Hopefully this will all shake out in the next 2-3 weeks.</p>
<p>Sorry, I don’t mean to sound like I’m bashing the USC music program, because I’m definitely not. I just wanted to reassure you (StoneMagic) that if your son did have to go to FSU, he would definitely become a great musician.
And it’s true that a lot of the courses are taught by grad students at FSU.
But I really do think that the rigor of their program there (brought on by the vast amount of people) is what truly makes or breaks a great musician. Think of the difference between getting into a good ensemble at FSU and USC. </p>
<p>But on the whole, I do love USC. And I hope your son can come here because it’s spectacular and amazing and a whole host of other adjectives that would sound cheesy. I think that he’ll be getting a great education at either school, so best of luck with the financials!</p>
<p>@GamecockGirl, you’re living proof - look how articulate you are already, and you haven’t even graduated yet! Heck I went to UF and had to get my MBA before I could write as well as you do…that gives me piece of mind as well. Thanks for the wishes, either way it will work out well for him since he somehow ended up with a modicum of talent.</p>
<p>Son received his music scholarship to SC today, he is over the moon and will be a Gamecock this Fall…!!!</p>
<p>So exciting! Congrats to your son StoneMagic!</p>
<p>Thanks AUGirl - we’ll be up for Orientation on June 8, back for move-in in August (I believe he has to be up early to attend marching band camp), and probably back again in September for Parent’s weekend. I’ll be putting lots of miles on the car from Orlando!</p>
<p>StoneMagic- I will be a freshman next year at USC, and i’ll be in the marching band. I’m from Longwood, FL. What school does your son attend? I’m glad there’ll be more kids from the area going to Carolina!</p>
<p>@Nc7777, that’s awesome, glad to hear there are others from this area. My son goes to West Orange HS in Winter Garden, what about you? What instrument do you play? PM me if you are interested in exchanging e-mails, I’m sure he would enjoy touching base with another incoming freshman from Orlando.</p>
<p>I’m a USC grad from Orlando, so I’m really pleased to hear that the area has become somewhat of a recruiting pipeline for the school. I hope your son loves his time at USC!</p>
<p>@fleagle10 - appreciate another local Gamecock, but I’m not quite sure Orlando is exacly a recruiting pipeline for USC. Having a music major son, I do believe they could do quite well if they did more HS campus visiting down here, especially with music kids because their program is really good…go *****!</p>
<p>On another subject - does anyone know the date(s) for 2012 marching band camp yet? I know it’s typically a week or two before the official freshman move-in date, trying to plan time off from work, book hotel room, etc.</p>