<p>Hello. My son is considering SUNY Purchase vs. Crane for a BM in clarinet performance. My son likes the studios at both. Anyone have any thoughts about one vs. the other? Also, are the liberal arts courses more demanding at one vs. the other? My son would like to devote his all energy into music. All insights welcome!</p>
<p>At Purchase, he will be closer to NYC and hence will have more performance opportunities. Crane is in a very rural part of the state. They do have performance opportunities related to the school and several professional groups based at Crane such as Northern Symphonic Winds and the Orchestra of Northern NY. Also, Crane is predominantly a music education school and Purchase is a performance school and does not offer Music Ed. However, there are performance majors at Crane and they do go on to well recognized grad schools.</p>
<p>I have a daughter at Crane and I echo everything Momofbassist says. My daughter performs with the Orchestra of Northern NY (in fact she played with them tonight!) and they are outstanding. She even gets paid for it! As far as liberal arts requirements, they are comparable in that department, both being SUNY schools. Good luck to your son!</p>
<p>Thank you both!</p>
<p>In addition to the teacher, you really have to consider the locations- and each have pluses and minuses. Crane is more isolated and it gets COLD there with plenty of snow. That said, they do know how to handle the weather and it seldom causes big delays. Some people really find the campus at Purchase to be flat-out ugly and the construction such that it seems to channel icy winds down the walkways between buildings. Everything else is as the other two “moms” have said. If you haven’t visited the campuses, do so before making your final decision if at all possible!</p>
<p>I know you said your son likes both studios - did he have an actual lesson with both teachers? So important, particularly for a performance major. I also agree completely with Mezzo’sMama about the distance and cold in Potsdam (not only does my oldest daughter go there, but so did I and my husband for Music Ed. and Performance, respectively - and we loved it anyway!), and also about the hideousness of the Purchase campus, lol. </p>
<p>Momof@violinsts, yes, he has had lessons with both, and liked both! I don’t think the weather will matter so much as he will completely immerse himself in music, with everything else being incidental. He’s having a hard time choosing, but I think he has two excellent options. He is definitely not into music ed at the moment and wants to become a NY-based performer. So I’m wondering if Purchase would be a more dynamic setting for him.</p>
<p>ClarinetSon, if your son looks to be in NY after his undergrad, the networking process will begin at Purchase. Ugly campus or not, he will work with many faculty members, all of whom are active in the NYC freelancing universe.
Also just keep in mind this: because the professors at Purchase are active musicians there will be more teacher absences and rescheduling of lessons and classes because of this, than there would be at Crane. (This is true for any school in close proximity to an active musical city.)</p>
<p>Of course an ugly campus shouldn’t influence a decision, I was merely responding to what Mezzo’sMama posted. I too think for NYC networking Purchase would probably be the better bet. Also agree though that some of the teachers there are shared with MSM, Julliard, Mannes, etc., and perform themselves, so lesson scheduling and advising availability could be an issue.</p>
<p>Good point about the absences of performing teachers. Do find out about the policy for rescheduling make-up lessons because it differs from place to place. I know of one school where the responsibility rested completely on the student and younger undergrads often had a lot of problems co-coordinating things and some got very behind.At schools where a lot of faculty members are orchestral members who tour the procedure may be more structured.
My comment about the ugly campus and “man made wind tunnels” stem from years working at, and walking around, such a place- there were winter days when I would rather have starved than brave the walkways to the dining center.
I think that the kids are hardier though!</p>
<p>Thank you. I don’t think the campus beauty or lack there of will bother him, so long as the instruction/facilities are there. Also his private teacher now is an active performer so he is used to the need for flexibility. </p>