<p>I've been involved with two nieces and a family friend whose parents needed assistance in the admissions process in the past few years, all focussed on topnotch music programs. One's at Berklee, one at Eastman and one at Curtis. All are happy and thriving, although the one at Eastman is stressed a lot of the time but that is probably more a factor of her personality than any other reason. :) Two of the three also auditioned at Juilliard, were accepted but chose their current schools as a better fit.</p>
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<p>Our son is a music performance major at Boston University (having chosen it over UNT, NEC, Peabody, Duquesne, and Hartt). The reason...the trumpet teacher is top notch. DS loves being in Boston and has what he thinks is a great job...ushering for the Boston Symphony. He loves the huge urban campus of BU, and the small conservatory type music program (although he wishes the facilities were just a tad nicer). He is playing this year in the Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and in a brass quintet. He hopes to play for the opera this spring also. He feels he is getting a very fine music education and many performance opportunities. He spent last summer at Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro NC and loved that too. I can't imagine that he would be happy studying anything else.</p>
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<p>I'll preface this with saying that I am not a music major, but I am heavily involved in music programs at my school, and have friends who are music majors, both performance and music ed at other schools.</p>
<p>If your D wants go to into performance, the most important thing will be her relationship with the teacher there who will be teaching her for the next 4 years.</p>
<p>It's also important to keep in mind that majoring in music performance does not mean that you must attend a conservatory. James Madison Univeristy and West Virginia University are both full universities with great music programs, as a couple examples. The conservatory route does minimize what you can do if you decide music isn't your thing afterall.</p>
<p>and of course, she'll have to audition everywhere, so winter / spring senior year will be one full of travel.</p>
<p>I agree with soccerguy in that, above all, the relationship with the teacher is critical. Some schools are "known" for certain instruments, and not as good in others. The opinion and experience of your D's current private teacher should be helpful. In addition, if your D plays an orchestral instrument, the quality of the orchestra will matter. My S applied to 4 schools. Things he considered were 1) teacher, 2) quality of orchestra, 3) reputation of school, 4) ability of other students. (He didn't want to be the "ceiling".)</p>
<p>He didn't care about anything else, eg. double major, social activities, or location. </p>
<p>He is now a freshmen at Juilliard and thriving. It is a perfect fit for him. </p>
<p>He had private lessons with teachers at a number of different schools, in advance. Was able to cross some schools off his list, just because he didn't "click" with the teacher for some reason or another. He had considered Rice, but ended up crossing it off because he didn't have time to take the SAT IIs. </p>
<p>Conservatories are great for kids like my son who are single-minded and passionate. He has a friend at Indiana, equally talented. She chose to not attend a conservatory because she wanted the wider experience. Even so, she has said she gets "sick of music all the time," something my son can't even conceive of.</p>
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<p>I agree with Binx. My son is actually at Boston University. While this is not the premier place for music studies, the trumpet teacher is very highly regarded, the orchestra is excellent, he's not the top student (yet....but that's where he'd like to be) on his instrument, and the music program is conservatory program within a large university. PLUS he loves Boston for the cultural and playing opportunities too. He was also accepted at conservatory programs (NEC and Peabody) and came very close to going to both. BUT for he also considered other things...e.g. NEC has awful (mandatory) freshman housing with no housing guarantee for upperclass students. At the cost of housing IN Boston this was a major consideration. He loved Peabody, but in the end felt that Boston, and the locations of the two Boston colleges was better than Baltimore (I will say that we didn't agree with him on this one...). DS does have to take BU core requirements (8 courses) but he had AP credits for two of those courses. Everything else is within the music department and that is where he spends the bulk of his time. I do think he WILL go to a conservatory for graduate work, and I feel very strongly that if he continues his music studies that is what he should do.</p>
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<p>Hi Karen,</p>
<p>You mentioned that your daughter did get an audition at Juillard last year, which seems like a feat in itself. I am told that they will be taking only 12 classical voice majors. Can you tell me when she was contacted about the audition? Thanks.</p>
<p>PS - I'm glad to hear she's doing well at Rice!</p>
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<p>Shennie, Eastman (and Rochester) is a school that goes on and off my daughter's list on a regular basis. Her concern is precisely about the separation of the campuses and how realistic it really is to consider music and another major/minor. Could you expand on your son's experiences...is the bus availability convenient/inconvenient? Are students at Eastman discouraged from pursuing other coursework outside of music? Any impressions you could add would be helpful.</p>
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<p>Divamommy (I love your screen name- I can relate....), I think it was sometime in January that Julliard sent out their audition letters. They tell you when to show up, and you better hope you haven't scheduled something else! My daughter was nervous for the Julliard audition, which is not her usual mode. She started with a hard piece and didn't do well. She did not get a "call back" which is the next step. You know about that pretty soon after you sing. She was disappointed (I wasn't) but moved on. Her Interlochen roommate, a soprano, also didn't get a call back. My D had to fly out early the next morning to Indiana for that audition. She called me in a panic from the Indianapolis airport. She was tired, hadn't had enough fluids and was nervous that she would screw up again. I told her that she needed to just go down to IU and have fun- she didn't want to go to school there anyway, even though she had already been admitted to the university honors college and is a legacy (me). She went- had a blast- nailed the audition- felt IU would be awesome for grad school. I was really proud of her. The Rice audtion was her favorite, followed by Cleveland Institute. The Rice faculty was warm and welcoming. Let me know how things turn out for your daughter. K.</p>
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<p>Thank you so much for your encouragement! Of course, everyone that hears my d tells me that she sings like an angel and is a shoe in at Juillard. I, of course, am a realist and realize that she is just one of many many talented dedicated young people!</p>
<p>I will let you know how she does. I actually have my fingers crossed for Mason Gross, as I am a Rutgers legacy myself (definitely not voice!).</p>
<p>I don't think that others realize how much harder and stressful our children's college application process is because of the audition requirements!</p>
<p>Please tell your daughter that I am impressed that she got the Juilliard audition and will let you know how mine does.</p>
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<p>DivaMommy-</p>
<p>Our son went through the whole audition process last year. I agree with you whole heartedly about how much more complex it is for our 'arts' major kids!</p>
<p>It was a difficult process for our son (and us to have to watch!). His first choice was Manhattan School of Music but he also auditioned at Juilliard. I doubt he understood at 17 what a deal that was to even be there to audition! He was accepted at neither.
He had not failed at much to that point so was a bit shocked I think. WE knew the odds......</p>
<p>He was offered admission at Mason Gross and Hartt (with a significant merit award) but ultimately chose TCNJ. He had studied with the prof he'd have there for private lessons and had developed a strong connection. He is very happy.
The academic program there makes him work (a new experience for him) and the kids are all motivated and friendly. He may try a masters' at a conservatory later on.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you and yours!</p>
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<p>mezzomom wrote: "is the bus availability convenient/inconvenient? Are students at Eastman discouraged from pursuing other coursework outside of music?"</p>
<p>I believe there is an effort to better integrate the programs of UR and Eastman. Taking classes is encouraged, but I believe membership in ensembles is limited and perhaps not offered in some cases. </p>
<p>Without a car, it seems one would have to plan carefully to attend classes, etc. at the other campus. UR used to have a shuttle bus schedule on line (it ran about every 90 minues or 2 hours) but now the link is this:</p>
<p>There is a link for "UofR Schedules" there.</p>
<p>I clipped this from the Eastman web site:</p>
<p>"Free shuttle buses run frequently throughout the day between the Eastman School and the River Campus. Classes on the two campuses are on different schedules. Thus, it is usually possible to leave a class on one campus, get on the shuttle bus for the 20-minute ride, and arrive on the other campus in time for the next class."</p>
<p>CC has an area for the UofR; you might pose the question there:</p>
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<p>My son is applying to college, hoping to major in trumpet performance. His first audition is tomorrow, Jan. 5, for Oberlin. He has already heard--from a trumpet player he knows there--that they really have no openings for trumpet and will only take one player if they come across someone outstanding. He knows he is not THAT good, so doesn't expect much. He also has auditions coming up for Lawrence and Northwestern. He sent tapes to Indiana and Stanford, and will be sending one to New England Conservatory. (Stanford is basically just in there because his brother goes there, and son #2 wants to see if he can get in. He would only go there if he is not accepted at a good music school, or so he says now.) He is also considering North Texas (his trumpet teacher's alma mater) and Northern Colorado.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if tapes are accepted as well as auditions? We just can't afford to fly him across the country to audition, so his only live auditions are those where colleges have regional auditions in a nearby city.</p>
<p>This is definitely more work than it was for my first son, who was looking for Japanese and engineering.</p>
<p>Susan M</p>
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<p>Mezzomom: The bus schedule is OK, but not always great. Classes at the 2 campuses are offset by a half an hour. I think River Campus classes start on the hour and Eastman on the half hour. Theoretically, if you have an 8:30 class at Eastman, you are done by 9:20 and can get the bus in time for a 10:00 class at River Campus. Son had that type of schedule once and says it was not unusual for him to be late for his River Campus class. This past semester they did institute a quick shuttle in the afternoon that runs from River Campus straight to Eastman with no stops in between. He says that has been very helpful. </p>
<p>He has never been discouraged from taking classes outside of Eastman. His teacher is very supportive. The private teacher is really the most important factor. I know there are some teachers who feel that students need to spend all their time on music and discourage students from taking outside classes. Your daughter would need to talk to her perspective teacher to find out how they feel about taking outside classes.</p>
<p>The biggest factor with taking outside classes is time. Not just the travel time between the 2 campuses but time in general. I think this is going to be true no matter where a music student attends. Eastman requires 18 credits for freshman 1st semester and 17 second. (Students have more flexibility if they can test out of piano.) The classes along with ensemble rehearsals, master classes, lessons, and several hours of practice each day doesn't leave time for much else. Son seriously thought about a double degree but decided that he really couldn't cut sleep out of his schedule:) He is taking a minor in political science instead, which is very doable. </p>
<p>If you have other questions regarding Eastman, I will be happy to answer them.</p>
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<p>Susantm- New England Conservatory is really different than the other schools you mentioned. My D auditioned at NEC two years ago. We visited with her prior to the audition and my H and I did not like it at all. It seemed run-down and depressing. It offers very little in the way of strong academics to complement the music. It is also very expensive with not much merit money. D does not think very highly of it after hearing from kids who did go there. Of course, there is some excellent music faculty.
Your son sounds like a strong student. Did you consider Rice at all? The Shepherd School of Music is fantastic.</p>
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<p>Momofwildchild,
(Now I am curious about that child of yours!) Thank you for your thoughts on NEC. My son actually HAS been there, when his youth orchestra took an East Coast tour last summer. He really liked the Boston area. I'm not sure how much of NEC he saw, but they did play in Jordan Hall there, and NEC is the alma mater of his orchestra conductor. He also knows a trumpet player who is a freshman there this year, so I guess he has some idea what it is like. (I personally know nearly nothing about NEC.) He actually doesn't think there is much chance of getting in.</p>
<p>He did consider Rice. His trumpet instructor recommended he apply there. However, there were a couple of things against it. First of all, it is in the middle of a big city which is not known for its cleanliness (according to some we have talked to). Second, Rice does not have regional auditions and only accepts tapes for screening purposes. So he would have had to fly down there to audition, if they liked his tape. Mainly it was the idea of living in the middle of a big city for four years that made up his mind for him.</p>
<p>Susan M</p>
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<p>From my experience as university voice teacher, parent of an opera singer and a string player, I have a strong belief that the size and type of school that is best for different disciplines will be different. String players start so young and there are so many prodigies, it is clear that to make progress one has to be among the best, hearing the level of the competition, understanding the standard. For a singer, it is quite different. A young singer needs to (1) get older, (2) have excellent teacher (not just a fine singer/performer themselves), (3) have good older role models around in their Fach (voice category), (4) have opportunities, but no pressure to do things inappropriate. At a smaller school with few graduate students, undergraduates wind up singing things they should not sing, and it may very well injure their voices. A school with a sizable graduate program is best for an undergraduate. If they are good enough to win some roles, even if small, then they should feel encouraged by their success. It means nothing to sing leads in a small school where there is noone else available, and it probably means it is a bad idea. I would seldom recommend a singer go to a conservatory for undergraduate study. Some of the conservatories have had their own internal discussions about doing away with undergraduate voice programs because of these factors. They wind up keeping them, so that they stay competitive as music schools, but it does not change the situation. </p>
<p>The most important choice a young singer can make is the voice teacher. A bad teacher can ruin a voice (and a soul) irretrievably. A good teacher, summer opportunities, good health, physical maturity: all of these are the crucial elements for singer. Good luck.</p>
<p>Susantm- I sent you a private message.<br>
I think the last post has great advice- I agree with the need for singers to mature and not take on roles that are going to stress their voices.</p>
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<p>Susantm...your son's list is similar to my son's two years ago. He is a trumpet performance major. He actually applied in person everywhere. However, for North Texas he auditioned with the head of the trumpet faculty in the summer. In retrospect he should have also gone to a regional in person audition. North Texas has a fabulous program, but DS decided not to go there because it is so huge. I would say that if you can...try to get to as many in person auditions as possible. Many schools offer regional auditions in places around the country. That might be an option for your also. Good luck to your son.</p>
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<p>SusanM - a few words about Rice. My son auditioned there a couple of years ago. It is an absolutely beautiful school in a very nice part of the city. The campus is completely self contained and there are no city streets that run through it at all. It is next to the museum district and a very nice park. Shepard School is very difficult to get into, mainly because their undergraduate program is pretty small. They have 120 undergrads on all instruments and voice. So ultimately there will only be 30 or so freshman who end up enrolling in Shepard. Since this encompasses everything, they can only admit a few students on each instrument. Also, once admitted to the music school, students then must be admitted academically to the University, also not a particularly easy task. </p>
<p>I don't anything about the trumpet faculty at Rice, but the orchestra conductor is fabulous. Rice was my son's first choice but he was waitlisted and accepted admission elsewhere.</p>
<p>Dear Shennie,</p>
<p>Ah, I just remembered the other reason my son didn't apply to Rice. He talked to their representative at a Performing Arts College Fair, and they said they only had openings for 2-3 trumpet players. I believe their list of required audition music also included things he did not know and would not also be learning for other auditions. He has had to learn a LOT of new material in the past three months! So eliminating Rice meant less to learn...</p>
<p>He says he is NOT ready for his Oberlin audition tomorrow, and he is getting quite nervous...</p>
<p>Susan M</p>