<p>Violadad: Thanks very much for the suggestions. I look forward to reading all of the information, which I’m sure will be most helpful.</p>
<p>What colleges on the East Coast have a graduate program (preferrably Master’s) in recording technology or something like that related to training for working in a recording studio? Thanks!</p>
<p>BurnThis, there is a list of schools here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/787110-music-industry-program-major-minor-help.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/787110-music-industry-program-major-minor-help.html</a> and here [MEIEA</a> MEMBER INSTITUTIONS](<a href=“http://www.meiea.org/schools.html]MEIEA”>http://www.meiea.org/schools.html). </p>
<p>You’ll have to check the parameters to see if a masters level in your specialization is offered.</p>
<p>Another source of info are your peers and faculty/advisor(s) if you are curremtly an undergrad.</p>
<p>Thanks, violadad, those sites were great!</p>
<p>A starting point for those looking into these programs
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/957443-music-business-industry-management-technology-production.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/957443-music-business-industry-management-technology-production.html</a></p>
<p>I know that top ten music programs lists can be as useless to a student as a jelly sandwich is to a drowning rabbit…but I’m a UCLA alum and glad to see that their VERY strong music program is getting some recognition:
[Fiske</a> picks UCLA Music program for 2011](<a href=“http://www.music.ucla.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1285%3Afiske-picks-ucla-music-program-for-2011&catid=36&Itemid=225]Fiske”>http://www.music.ucla.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1285%3Afiske-picks-ucla-music-program-for-2011&catid=36&Itemid=225)</p>
<p>I would encourage anyone looking into UCLA to attend one of their opera or orchestral concerts this Fall.</p>
<p>Hi, CC users! Looking for some advice here…</p>
<p>I’ll be a senior for the 2010-2011 school year, and while I have a million schools in mind, I was wondering if anyone would be good at narrowing down realistic ones for me. I’ve got pretty good academics (2140 SAT, 4.0 unweighted, 32 ACT) for future reference. </p>
<p>I’m both a tenor and a trumpet player. My passion lies in all things instrumental; my talent lies in singing. I’ve been told by every voice teacher that the sky is the limit for my voice, even that I could be an upcoming opera star (Granted, I realize that this means nothing to forum users, but stay with me here). On the other hand, I love my trumpet and teaching instrumental music. I’m at an all-state level on trumpet, but I still feel like it isn’t enough to match my voice to get into a school doing both. </p>
<p>So, as ridiculous as this sounds, does anyone have any schools in mind that wouldn’t be ridiculously competitive for trumpet? I still want a good fight to get in, but I’m pretty sure Curtis, Juilliard, and the likes are out of reach for trumpet. Thanks so much for your time.</p>
<p>Edit: For future reference, I’m located in super south Louisiana - don’t really plan on staying here though. Money isn’t a big issue.</p>
<p>If i was in your position honestly i’d go for the voice, i love singing as well and only recently got into it and i’m obsessed with opera and wish with all my heart I could pursue that but I don’t feel confident enough to get into the good schools against people who have been singing all their lives, if you have the voice and like Opera then that would be an awesome career choice in my opinion, but that’s just me. As far as trumpet I’m not knowledgeable on things exactly pertaining to that instrument but looking at smallerish schools that don’t seem to competitive would be a good bet, I’d suggest looking at Oberlin in Ohio, it’s a great really non competitive and supportive school </p>
<p>and is it classical or jazz trumpet you’re looking for?</p>
<p>Hi guys! I’m going to be a senior in high school this year and (surprise surprise!) I want to be a vocal performance major, specifically in Opera. I’ve picked out some schools that I want to apply to and I was just wondering if anyone had any extra insights about them. I’m the oldest in my family so the first to go to college and my parents don’t have any experience with majoring in music in college so any help would be great!</p>
<p>I’m a mezzo-soprano and I’ve been taking classical voice lessons for 4 years. I currently take voice lessons at the local university here with a fantastic teacher and sing in the advanced choir at my school. I also have consistently received highest ratings in every vocal contest I’ve ever done and done solo work for choir and at my church I cantor. I haven’t done any summer music programs though and I would like to know if there would be anything I haven’t done that would hurt my chances at getting in. Does not having done a summer program put me at a disadvantage? Should I do more contests? Usually I do 1-2 a year. I have very strong academics (all college in high school/AP/honors) and have a 4.0 gpa unweighted as well as 30 ACT so in that regard I feel like I have a pretty good chance in that part of my applications.
I am applying to/auditioning for:
Columbia University
Boston University (audition)
Catholic University (audition)
Carnegie Mellon University (audition)
Rice University (audition)
The University of Minnesota (audition)
The University of Pittsburgh (this is the only school that does not have a music performance major, it’s a safety school and they have a lot of student groups and I can take voice lessons with staff at Duquesne University or CMU so even though it’s less than ideal in some areas I’m not that worried)
I was hoping specifically someone could tell me about the strength of the vocal programs at Catholic U and The University of Minnesota as those are the two that I have the least amount of info about. How selective are they? Are they good programs?
I know a lot more about the other five schools though any info on those would be really helpful as well.
Thanks so much!
sophieangeline</p>
<p>While I can’t tell you anything in particular about the voice departments at any of those schools, I suggest that you and your parents check out the first dozen or so posts on the thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/258796-so-you-want-music-major-one-familys-experience.html</a> to get a feel for what the process can be like.</p>
<p>Your grades will certainly help, particularly at a few of the schools on your list, but the audition will still be a huge part of the decision for any BM performance program. Summer programs can help you understand where you stand among the competition for spaces in the top programs and they can introduce you to some wonderful teachers that you may not otherwise have had the chance to meet. The lack of summer programs will not be held against you if you can deliver the goods at audition time.</p>
<p>Audition is almost everything except for the really top schools like carnegie-mellon (as far as i know…which is nothing 
) but you’re not at a disadvantage for nto doing summer programs, you don’t have to go over the top and do everything under the sun just to impress them, just sing your heart out and they’ll know. i’m not sure about the schools you have questions about but just check out the websites and don’t be afraid to email/talk to professors and teachers in the programs you’re looking at and just ask them some questions, they’re more than happy to answer them. I will also recommend the New England Conservatory (in Boston) as a great choice for Opera, as well as the Cincinnati Conservatory in Ohio, and Jacobs Schools of Music in Indiana has a phenomanal program and puts on 6 operas a year, which is more than most professional companies put on, they’re fully staged as well. </p>
<p>and also if you’re taking lessons at a local university you might just want to apply/audition there as another safety, unless it’s already on that list</p>
<p>“Audition is almost everything except for the really top schools like carnegie-mellon”</p>
<p>Audition is “almost everything” at most “really top schools” as well. I’ve yet to hear of someone who delivered the goods, but was not accepted due to a lack of summer programs.</p>
<p>Would anyone be able to give me a general sense of how these conservatories compare in difficulty of admission (for piano student):</p>
<p>NEC, Oberlin, Eastman, Bard, Lawrence?</p>
<p>Are there top-notch conservatories that are known to be somewhat less competitive in terms of admission?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>thank you all for your help! It’s definitely a relief to know that not having summer programs will not put me at a disadvantage. Unfortunately the college websites are not too too helpful as far as helping me know what the program is actually going to be like. In particular the U of M, which was recommended to me by a friend who goes there but is not a music major, he just has a friend who really likes it. I looked them up and realized it was a pretty feasible option but I’m still a little nervous, I’d like to know someone else’s first hand experience and knowledge of these schools before I commit to attending.</p>
<p>and a welcome to AquaPatty, Sophieangeline, and PennsylDad.</p>
<p>The pinned (or “sticky”) threads at the forum page top are largely informational, and specific questions can get lost or hang unanswered.</p>
<p>It’s usually best to start a new thread or tack on to an existing similarly themed thread.</p>
<p>There’s a tremendous amount of info here, as well as many willing to lend a hand.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/892168-search-tips-other-insights.html</a> may help you find past threads and potential sources of current information.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/901390-2010-collective-experience.html?highlight=2010[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/901390-2010-collective-experience.html?highlight=2010</a> has a number of selected thread links collected from the last application and admissions cycle.</p>
<p>Violadad,
thanks for the welcome and the suggestion about starting a new thread. I’ll give it a try.</p>
<p>18karat:
I’ll be going with classical trumpet. I’ve always been under the impression that I wouldn’t be able to get into Oberlin…does anyone know how large the trumpet studio is?</p>
<p>AquaPatty, repeating the advice I gave a few posts back, these pinned or “sticky” threads are largely informational, and often specific questions get overlooked or go unanswered.</p>
<p>I’d suggest starting a new thread in the lower section for specific questions.</p>
<p>At one point I believe Oberlin posted openings by instrument on their webpages. You can always call or email the Conservatory and ask. Many schools are forthcoming with this type of info, a few aren’t.</p>
<p>Now sure about the how large the studio is but just email the trumpet professors and ask how many students are in the program and how many are graduating this year, the more that are graduating, the more that they need to fill up the studio</p>
<p>^ Simple subtraction may not always work. Seems like it would, but faculty can take sabbaticals, positions vacate and be left unfilled, program makeups change. Last minute decisions by students staying or extending their time due to health, academic or other considerations.</p>
<p>It’s always best to ask for the number of anticipated openings.</p>