<p>Does any one know anything about the program there? I've looked at the curriculum and it looks ok.</p>
<p>Music - 17 credits includes voice lessons, music theory, music history, piano (class or private), and an ensemble.
Theatre - 13 credits includes acting, theatre history, technical theatre, and participation in productions.
Musical Theatre - 11 credits includes courses in musical theatre history, performance, and dance.
Dance - 8 credits includes four semesters of ballet, and two each of jazz and tap.</p>
<p>I believe that they are working very hard to put this MT program on the map. I met the head of the program last winter and he is really doing some impressive things with the program. They are becoming more and more known and they are attracting lots of students. The head of the program is a graduate of Syracuse Drama himself and was a working actor for years. I believe his wife heads up the dance area -- she is a former professional dancer.</p>
<p>One of the great things about auditioning into this program is that they audition late into the season -- meaning they are still holding auditions when the other schools are done -- like early to late spring. </p>
<p>I would check it out if I were you -- call the head of the program -- and also visit. They are very, very welcoming.</p>
<p>If your looking for a BFA MTR program in the SUNY system look at University at Buffalo & Fredonia College. They have much stronger programs than Cortland.</p>
<p>I know this about all SUNY schools. New York State has already slashed $247000000 this year from the SUNY budget - that was before the nationwide crisis in the economy. NY gets about 20% of it tax revenue from wall street. The deptment of budget has announced their original projection of a 1.2 billion dollar shortfall in this year's budget was wrong (that is what resulted in the 247m cut). They now say the deficit is closer to 2 billion - so more cuts are on the way. The effects of these cuts will begin to felt next semester, with the full brunt hitting next year. It could be rough on departments that have few full-time, tenured faculty as adjuncts could be let go - it is all very iffy and scarey right now. No one knows where each college president or dean will make cuts.</p>
<p>I think this may be an issue for many state schools. I know that budget cuts in New Jersey have already affected Montclair State, for example. That doesn't mean you shouldn't apply to these schools, just keep in mind that it may affect the programs in years to come.</p>
<p>This is affecting all schools, including privates accross the country, which is clear to see with the tuition of all schools increasingly going up.</p>
<p>I dont know how these cut backs will affect my dept. next semester and also in the next few years to come. But the state schools, along with the privates will still provide a good quality and concentrated education in your major regardless. You just have to weigh whether you want to pay 30-40,000 a year for it or not.</p>
<p>SUNY Fredonia has a good music department for a state school and Buffalo is also up there- both are known to be far better than Cortland. One way to judge is to look at the applicant and acceptance statistics. Another way is to know graduates of the various programs and our latest encounter with a SUNY Cortland grad has shown that if she was one of the best, I’d hate to see the others. I have a rough time understanding how a graduate of that school (now teaching “theatre”, although uncertified) with a degree in MT can NOT know of musicals such as “Secret Garden”, “Pal Joey”, “Barnum” or “1776”! Maybe she’s just a fluke, but seriously, there’s no real excuse for such omissions. If you have a choice, do look at other schools.</p>
<p>Like someone mentioned before, it is a quickly growing program. Things change. Several of the graduating seniors already have gigs lined up in regional theatre and off-Broadway after graduation. A school is only as good as the work the students put into the classes themselves. The musical theatre history teacher is a very highly respected historian who recently published THE musical theatre history book for Oxford University Press. In addition he’s published over 15 other reference books for musical theatre that are used by professionals and universities throughout the United States. The musical director for the main stage productions is a working NYC professional with great contacts who is working in the business when she’s not at Cortland. And as mentioned before, the MT dept head is an active performer who is passionate about building the program. </p>
<p>Its worth a visit for anyone considering the school.</p>
<p>For many people, I am sure the program is good; for my daughter, it was a trainwreck. She left at the end of the fall semester, sophmore year. She did appreciate some aspects, but very few. Anyone with specific questions can PM me, but a search would find my past posts.</p>
<p>I grew up in Cortland. And I have seen almost every show at SUNY Cortland. I attend a different school for musical theatre, and i must say SUNY Cortland’s productions are some of the best college shows I have seen. </p>
<p>It’s not a very well known program yet, but that kind of makes it great. Lots of individual attention from professors who really care about you. The downside is the faculty is small too… but it will be growing in the next couple years!</p>
<p>You have to be willing to work very hard to be in any MT program.</p>
<p>My S will be attending Cortland MT next semester. We liked it because it is a small up and coming program, with a very enthusiastic director and students. We went to Cortland twice, once for the audition, the second time for a tour, we were very impressed with the enthusiasm of the kids in the department, and the time that the director took to talk with my S.</p>
<p>Well it’s probably best to audition at a few of these SUNY programs and then see how you feel about your auditions and visits. A visit can seal the deal! BAL!!!</p>
<p>In the three years since I last posted on this thread the SUNY system has been cut a full third of its operating budget. Many programs are reeling from these cuts. Acquaintances of mine at Fredonia tell me they have been sparred from these cuts by their admin - this is because the Arts are long established at Fredonie and the school’s admin believes that the arts is what Fredonia does. The other SUNY schools that have MT do not enjoy the same protection. Cortland and Brockport are so small that they may not be too affected (because to cut one person would be equivalent to ending the program) and so may not be too affected - however the potential for growth in those programs is hard to concieve of in the near future. In any case, please ask about number of course required now as compared to three years ago, number of teachers, adjuncts included, now as compared to a few years ago , etc. Remember, in all SUNY schools the MT tract is taught by dance teachers, acting teachers, vocal teachers (maybe with the music dept.) - so cuts in these areas also affect the MT program. By the way, there is no indication that this assault on public higher education is going to ease up in the coming years. Just be aware.</p>
<p>I would be aware of the NYS budget difficulties but know the State considers the SUNY system one of its jewels. Not all of the SUNY schools are hurting, SUNY Potsdam just started construction on a new $41 million Performing Arts space for theater and dance. And Fredonia was adding on to their music school, too. Also, the SUNY schools get around the low tuition and lack of full funding by adding on special fees. Son will be paying $1300 more that the regular Potsdam students for a special Crane School student fee. (Still a bargain.) The Dean of Music on audition day said that in the past 5 years he has not had to deal with any cuts to his budget. Also, Potsdam is in the process of upgrading their dorms. Older son is at SUNY Plattsburgh and they too are upgrading dorm space. So when you visit Cortland you should ask what impact the budget problems may have on your MT program.</p>
<p>Momofbassist and others – I do not want to rain on your parade… but…
First let me explain that I live in Central New York and among my many interests is my political activity in
Albany on behalf of public education. Here are some things that are true. NYS has cut the operating
budget of the SUNY system by about 34% in the last three years. The operating budget is what allows
teaching to occur, it is the money that pays teachers’ salaries, maintenance, utilities, and such. You
mention that Potsdam is beginning construction on a new building – it is very important to realize that
funding for capital (buildings, facilities, sidewalks, etc) projects is “different” money – it is funded
through a university construction fund that is planned and paid (monies set aside) for five to ten years in advance of the project. Any buildings you see going up today or in the next year or two were planned and paid for prior to the recession. Also, dormitories – dorms are a money making project that is typically paid for in some public-private partnership and does not rely at all on state funding.
This year, in higher education, the governor and legislation cut $100 million dollars from SUNY’s operating budget – the cuts were worst, as monies to the teaching hospitals were cut severely, but then had $64 million restored only to the teaching hospitals – not the general education operating budget. The teaching hospital in Brooklyn has cut three entire departments, SUNY/Albany has cut whole departments (no long accepting students) including their entire performing arts department. This past season Stonybrook did not produce a show – no production money. Buffalo has more 200 fewer teachers today than it did three years ago – including reductions in their performing arts department. This list could go on. By the way the governor and senate wanted to raise tuitions about $800 a year for five years – but the assembly stood up for accessible public education and got that reduced to $300 a year (yes, still a bargain compared to privates). What happens when these cuts come is this: the chancellor divvies up the cuts per campus, the presidents and provosts then divvy the cuts to the schools in the college, the deans then divvy the cuts to the departments, then chairs decide what courses, activities, and faculty to let go. At a school like Fredonia, the admin protects the arts as best they can – other schools maybe not so much. Public Higher Education has been cut by a third – other state agencies are riding between 5% - 15% cuts. It is a reality that must be taken into account – and by the way, all you parents can contact your reps and let them know you do value public educational opportunities – and SUNY is a gem that should be protected.</p>
<p>Yes, please do contact your NYS legislative reps and the governor, and express your support for SUNY! OP should do research to see how committed Cortland is to her program. We decided on SUNY schools because they offered a quality education at an affordable cost. The SUNY schools are not the only schools effected by budget problems. The Hartt School in CT where son audititoned and was accepted advertised as a positive that they held increases to 3% a year versus comparable private schools. Well, 3% on 41k is still $1230 in year one alone. They also were holding their increases on fees to 8%/year. Tuition increases and program cuts will be inevitable at colleges especially at SUNY schools so the OP will need to carefully review the institution’s commitment to her program and hopefully Cortland will be as dedicated to their small MT program as Fredonia is.</p>
<p>Hi everyone. My daughter is looking at schools for musical theater. Does anyone have any current info on Cortland, Fredonia and New Paltz in the SUNY system? We were impressed with the head of the dept. at Cortand but were not able to see facilities due to construction. Our visit to Fredonia was nice but were unable to see the theater dept. facilities since we went in june on junior day and there were not any theater people around. I am concerned at the level of teaching in these schools compared to Hartt, Pace, Syracuse University, Ithaca and Wagner which are some of the other schools we are looking at. Of course cost is an issue too. I don’t know if the more expensive schools can really become more affordable if they like her audition, grades, etc. Any help would be appreciated.</p>