<p>My freshman, string performance D is in her fourth week of classes. I was happy that she seemed to actually be finding her way around campus on her own. </p>
<p>Already, however, she's been introduced to the idea of studying abroad in Europe for a semester or even a year. The university encourages it. In fact, she was given the information by the Dean's office along with a list of candidate schools for the various countries. (Perhaps they haven't seen what's happened to my brokerage account over the last week!)</p>
<p>She tells me that the study abroad program is recommended during the sophomore year because a junior year abroad can interfer with junior recital requirements, etc.</p>
<p>It seems we worked so long and hard to find just the right program and professor here in the US, and I really think we've found it. Why go to Europe already?</p>
<p>No direct experience from our standpoint, but it does raise some interesting questions. Agree about the intricacies of finding the right teacher, especially for a semester or year abroad. The same caveats apply as to general atmosphere, peer level, etc.</p>
<p>There is some transfer of faculty across the pond for some summer programs, festivals, and it would pay to see if names appear from the choice of schools. It may not be too hard to get some direct feedback from a student, current faculty as to a potential instructor's methods, style, personality. This is where a network really helps.</p>
<p>It's a tough call, but I'd have reservations for such a program unless all aspects could be well vetted in advance, and preferably through input from as many sources as possible.</p>
<p>DS did a study abroad at the Royal College of Music in London. He was a Boston University student. BU has study abroad programs in London including apartments and classroom space. They began their affiliation with RCM the year my son applied to BU. It was one of the reasons he matriculated there. The opportunity was outstanding for him. He had three terrific teachers, but one in particular was the principal of the London Philharmonic and he was wonderful. DS had great playing opportunities at RCM plus he also was able to attend concerts in London for practically nothing. He could walk to the Royal Albert Hall from his apartment. In addition, his teacher invited him to play a very small offstage trumpet part with the London Phil when they came to the U.S. that spring. I can't say enough about the positive experience my son had. Plus he took the opportunity to travel to Vienna, Amsterdam and Munich...all places where musicians thrived and there is a great history of music. And he went to concerts in all of those places too.</p>
<p>In my kid's case, BU had done the "vetting". It was well worth it.</p>
<p>Living in a new country, whether for a semester, a year, or longer, will enlighten a young person in ways one can never imagine. Today, many consider travel abroad to be an essential step in a young person's education. Immersing oneself in a new culture, among new people, places, and things, will not only broaden one's worldview, but also better quip one to face the challenges of a rapidly globalizing future.</p>
<p>I'd have her investigate several musical things:</p>
<p>1) What does her current teacher think of the idea - for HER? For example, the prof may have concerns if she/he sees technical problems/weaknesses in her playing that should be corrected/strengthened. Prof may be mentally establishing a game plan (ie, technical development, repertoire development, performing experience, etc.) for your D that a year/semester abroad could disrupt. (After 4 weeks, he may not know her well enough yet to advise - won't know how fast she develops, changes, learns, etc.)</p>
<p>2) Will the year abroad potentially disrupt the school's theory class sequence? Theory tends to be very school specific. Often, transfer students end up in lower level classes than where they'd been in the previous school's sequence because the skill emphasis was different. Jumping into 2nd year abroad and then returning may not be a smooth ride. (As her current school encourages exchanges, they can probably answer this one.)</p>
<p>3) Will she fall out of step - even socially - with her peers at current school? If she needs contacts to set up chamber groups, etc., will they be there when she returns or is there a possibility that other groups will have formed leaving her without a desirable spot? </p>
<p>4) Has she defined goals for life after music school and how would study abroad help? (ie. name teacher on resume and consequent improvement in playing, ensemble playing experience not otherwise available, new contacts/friends etc) </p>
<p>5) Could the same advantages of "seeing the world" be accomplished through a summer program abroad that wouldn't disrupt the school year? There are many European and Asian summer programs of various lengths and various degrees of selectivity. Maybe she could simultaneously investigate some of these as she considers the exchange.</p>
<p>I should add that because BU had a relationship with RCM, the music students maintained all of their course sequences without issue, including music theory. The only added thing they had to do was an additional seating audition when they returned in January. The program was limited to 12 students total, with an application process that involved a letter from the current teacher. I think Fiddlefrog did the same program and posts here. Perhaps will comment.</p>
<p>Indiana U takes part in an overseas program in Vienna, which is musically based. I'm not sure which group puts it on, but there are students from several colleges there. They are able to study with members of the symphony in Vienna. My son chose not to go over, because he was afraid it would put him behind--practice tends to fall off when one has Europe to explore, and he was already behind--but he has heard good things about it.</p>
<p>oojung, Yes, they can take part in any of the study abroad programs offered. My son looked into some, but decided it just wouldn't work out for him. But I know there are quite a few different programs available.</p>
<p>Both of my daughters did study abroad (each for only one semester) ...one in Seville, Spain (Northwestern) and the other in Heidelberg, Germany (Pepperdine), but they were not music majors. However, just to give you my 2-cents worth...I am not sure it's worth the added expense and disruption of the school year here in the states. Spending time abroad is a terrific experience, but I think the student would be wise to wait until after they graduate to pursue spending time abroad. When they are undergrads, there are too many distractions and sometimes it's difficult to get classes or enough credits that will actually apply to their majors. And while it may cost the same tuition-wise, be aware that there are numerous added expenses (air travel, sight-seeing and travelling to neighboring countries, etc.) My son is currently a junior violin major and his goal is to pursue his master's degree or an artist certificate somewhere in Europe (preferably Germany) AFTER he graduates from his 4-year program. </p>
<p>There are many summer programs (all over the world) and they do not conflict with the school year. I would check out the many threads here on that subject and start looking into those programs right away - some have deadlines coming up before you know it!</p>
<p>Re the above on summer programs, one of the highlights of my college life (last century!) was travelling around Europe with a friend, violin and cello on the way to a summer program. We'd drag the instruments aboard trains, into hostels and inexpensive lodgings, visit friends at other summer programs and crash on their bedroom floors, etc. We arranged travel explorations around the summer school we attended using that occassion as an extended rest stop! (And I did get something out of the program as well.) </p>
<p>The world has undoubtedly changed, but the $ wasn't much stronger then than now and we arranged things cheaply (which in retrospect was part of the fun). Do Eurailpasses still exist?? </p>
<p>I bring this up only as an example of ways in which the advantages of a foreign experience can be found without disrupting the on-going experience of her univeristy education. (If she even sees disruption as a potential problem - I'm not implying that I could make that judgment for you!!) </p>
<p>My school back in the Dark Ages also offered a year or semester abroad. Salzburg intrigued me, but I made the decision that the relationship I'd established with my teacher and progress I was making were going too well to interupt. I've never regetted foregoing an undergrad year abroad. </p>
<p>Your D is lucky to have such a supportive, interested Dad! Good luck to you both in the decision-making.</p>
<p>My daughter is currently studying in Vienna in a music performance program. She is a soprano and there are vocal students in her program from Jacobs School of Music at IU as well as Northwestern. There are pianists and I would assume instrumentalists as well. She is not taking theory this semester abroad but is beginning her music history sequence with syllabus similar to equivalent course at Univ. or Rochester. Her vocal teacher at Eastman did complete a recommendation as well as intended pieces to focus on-they will be doing choral work and opera scenes as well as having the opportunity to see the opera and the Vienna Philharmonic at minimal student costs. There are always pros and cons in study abroad-for our family we felt it was worth the additional cost to have this experience. Our older daughter who is not a music student had a outstanding, maturing experience with her study abroad.</p>
<p>D's (vocal performance) teacher didnt want her to leave during the school year, but was perfectly happy letting her go to a summer program in Italy, as long as she (her teacher) knew the teachers there. She felt that my D was at a critical point in her development and didnt want her to loose her momentum. In Italy the musical portion of the program was harmless at best, but the experience in learning and speaking in Italian everyday for two months was invaluable. If you are a voice student try find programs where you would be living with (and learning from) native speakers. Come back with a perfect accent and you are golden.</p>
<p>My daughter (HS junior) would very much like to apply to a vocal performance and/or music ed program that supports or has study abroad programs in Italy/France. Anyone know about Suny Purchase's exchange program in Italy for voice performance? It looks fabulous. or any other good programs where you can study voice abroad for a semester or year?</p>
<p>D attends NYU as a VP (music theatre) through Steinhardt. They have a program in place so that students study abroad in Florence through NYU in the spring semester of sophomore year. Students will continue with their sequence of theory, history. aural training and composition classes, but surprisingly (to me) do not take voice lessons while they are there.</p>
<p>The department encourages all students to take advantage of this study abroard program, but obviously do not want to risk vocal instruction that differs from the approach of NYU and their vocal studios. If enough students attend, they may send over an instructor from their staff, but as of now, the thought is that they do not want students to risk private instruction that the university cannot control. They prefer no instruction to bad instruction. The students are sent over with exercise tapes and repetoire to work on from their NYU instructors.</p>
<p>hello again sopranomom92 (i replied to your thread about sample lessons/safety schools today): I just looked at Purchase's website at that voice study abroad. It was never mentioned when we went for auditions last year. We heard from the (?assistant) Dean, some other lady whose job title I don't remember and the head of the Voice Dept. This just makes me wonder if anyone really does it, since it certainly wasn't used as a selling point. Also, all instruction is in Italian. Does sound intriguing, though! Another school that has a seemingly well-thought out program abroad is Syracuse. Kids can go to Strasbourg, France for a semester sophomore year. No disruption in theory, history etc, these classes are taught as they would be at home. Don't recall what they do about lessons. You are doing a good job to be looking and asking some serious questions early!</p>