<p>Hi, </p>
<p>I just got my acceptance letter from Peabody, which is good, of course. It was the only school I applied to, other than the local state university (Rutgers). However, they did state that they would not be offering me a scholarship. Since my family's income is over 150k the likelihood of financial aid is slim. </p>
<p>Basically, I'd like to get some outside opinions about whether paying to go there is worth it. </p>
<p>Presumably, I will be a composition major but I'm also very interested in computer music. Do any of these departments have much renown? Will going to school here over Rutgers, which costs 25,000 less, make a very positive difference in both my abilities as a musician and grad school/job prospects? I should point out that the music school at Rutgers is ho hum compared to Peabody and if I went there I would be a music education major. My real passion is writing music, so this would be a bit of a bummer.</p>
<p>The last question I have is about Peabody's student body itself. I'm very much into contemporary music, particularly experimental rock, and was wondering if I would meet fellow students who are into this kind of music as well. I'm not really sure really sure how conservative Peabody is, I'd definitely prefer it be very open to 20th century music and non-traditional genres. This is very important as I'd like to develop relationships with people who are on the same page as me. </p>
<p>I don't know if many here can answer the above question, maybe you guys could have some ideas of where I could go to find one.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Friend of DD is at Peabody for composition. He was definitely into rock and non-traditional music. He is still there and as far as we know happy. </p>
<p>Don't know about Rutgers. So cannot compare. But if you do not really want to teach children, do not be an education major. There are too many now who don't really like to teach but are doing it as a back up. It's not good for the kids.</p>
<p>I do know that Peabody is definitely much more focused on classical than jazz, or other contemporary genres. They have a very small, not terribly competitive jazz program, but the kids in it seem to be happy. We know a boy in that program, who is also in the recording arts double degree, and is doing very well. However, Peabody has never been known for an innovative contemporary music scene, and for some kids, this is really, really important. </p>
<p>You don't mention whether you would be taking on debt, or whether your parents would be paying, but $25K difference annually is a lot. We also know some kids at Mason Gross who really like it there a lot. I guess in your shoes I would weigh the financial aspects fairly carefully, and perhaps see if you can meet with someone in the composition department at Peabody, to try to get some sense of your opportunities there.</p>
<p>Good luck with the decision! They really are nice choices!</p>
<p>At least for performance, the Mason Gross School of Music at Rutgers is a very highly regarded program. Many of the performance faculty there have/do also teach at Juilliard, Manhattan, Mannes, Purchase, Curtis, Bard, Hartt. </p>
<p>I can't speak to the composition faculty specifically, but if money (now and for grad school) is an issue, then I would look long and hard at Rutgers for undergrad with no aid in sight from Peabody. The standard fit factors (quality of peers, rapport with instructor, etc.) should also be weighed.</p>
<p>There are Mason Gross undergrads at many of the "top" grad programs.</p>
<p>Rutgers looks like a fine program -- it has a full array of faculty -- in theory, history, performance. If you are interested in graduate school for an academic music degree, that would be advantageous to you. Its proximity to NY is also a plus. There are faculty there who specialize in theory with a focus on contemporary, including pop, music (check out Christopher Doll). As to finances, if you would acquire a large debt load, think very seriously about Rutgers -- if you do well there and make contacts, you will have lots of opportunities, especially if you can afford them by avoiding debt for undergraduate studies.</p>
<p>I would not advise that you take on a penny of debt to go to Peabody if you can go to Rutgers debt free. It is just not worth it - especially if you are looking towards the expense of graduate school.</p>
<p>As I recall at Mason Gross a student must major in one of three concentrations: Music Ed., Music Performance or Jazz Studies. How would studying composition fit into this structure?</p>
<p>If you do the music ed route will you have the opportunity to pursue many composition classes?</p>
<p>The Music Ed reqs at Mason Gross:</p>
<p>Performance: 23 credits
Music Theory: 29 credits (this includes theory, fundamentals of musicianship and conducting classes)
Music History: 12 credits
Music Education: 29 credits
Liberal Arts: 30 credits
Total: 123 credits </p>
<p>It's a daunting prospect for people who really WANT to be music teachers. If your heart is elsewhere.....</p>
<p>I know nothing about the relative strengths of the faculty in the composition departments at Peabody and Rutgers. </p>
<p>Perhaps you could call someone in the composition department at Mason Gross and talk about the opportunities in computer music and composition for an interested student with a Mus. Ed. concentration. Did you visit M-G on accepted students days this spring? Is there an option where you could be a theory/comp major? </p>
<p>Both Peabody and Mason Gross list facutly on the websites. Try contacting them. The more you find out about the programs now, the more informed your choice will be.</p>
<p>This is a topic near and dear to my heart. My D was accepted at Peabody (her dream school) and two decent state college music departments to study vocal performance. She also was not offered any scholarship money from Peabody. We also are in a higher income bracket.</p>
<p>The decision whether to send our D to Peabody was stunningly stressful. Her voice teacher, a Peabody MM grad, encouraged her to apply because she felt that the program would be a perfect fit. When the acceptances came, I asked the voice teacher if she thought that Peabody was four times better than the state U, as the tuition was four times higher. Her unqualified answer: yes. Higher caliber of student (overall), more focused faculty, better connections. But, we knew that she couldn't help but be somewhat biased.</p>
<p>On the other hand, we knew we could send D to the state U and have her (and us) come out the other end debt free. She'd be in a solid music program, though a BA rather than her preferred BM. She'd be able to switch to a different program within the university if she decided music wasn't for her. She could build a solid experience base and go conservatory as a graduate student. </p>
<p>End of story: we decided to go with Peabody. I can't tell you that your decision string will be the same, and I can't tell you that we're completely at peace with our decision. We--both my husband and I and our daughter--will incur debt, though we've figured out a way to handle it without too much damage to our futures. </p>
<p>I'll share that our D is looking forward to singing classical music, but that she's very much into what's on the radio now, too. She's looking forward to the collaborative environment of musicians. The advice posted above my post is all useful: weighing debt load, checking on faculty, being enrolled in a program that fits your goals...all important considerations.</p>
<p>The way we arrived at our decision had some other twists and turns along the way, like our D being better suited to a program that will compartmentalize her time for her rather than having to juggle a traditional liberal arts self-management program. That sort of thing is probably specific to her and may or may not be one of your issues, Rollydog.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you as you make your decision!</p>
<p>It is a very individual decision. I came to the conclusion that there was no voice program for which it was worth incurring much debt. I'm not sure that is necessarily the case with other instruments where it seems to be more important to study with certain well known teachers. There are so many excellent voice teachers at so many different schools that I think one can be found to suit pretty much any budget. There is also no voice faculty at any school - no matter how prestigious - that is without weak links so paying for an expensive conservatory but getting a teacher not known for supporting the young, developing voice or one known to destroy confidence does more harm than good. My D's private teacher has been involved in the rehab of voices from many prestigious conservatories. The teacher is always key - not the school or the department.</p>
<p>Agree with Cartera. D is so excited to be going to a "lesser" program, but to be studying with the teacher of her choice, with whom who she has already established a great rapport. She also feels really wanted there. After all, all those DMAs from the conservatories or larger universities have to teach some where!</p>
<p>We had a similar dilemma--I guess we all go through something like this. Purchase was so affordable, and offered a very good program, but NEC had the faculty and curriculum that our son really got excited about--with a very high price tag. Even with a small merit scholarship. It just has to be evaluated per individual kid. I don't think any other program really felt as right as NEC for him, so we are biting the bullet.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice... But still no word on how prestigious Peabody's computer and composition programs are?</p>
<p>I have a good friend going to Peabody for a BM in Jazz and he is very excited. He was also accepted at UARTS, SUNY Potsdam (Crane), Hartt and a couple of others.
He is not interested in computer or composition so I cannot speak to those departments. Sorry</p>
<p>My son was at the Prep at Peabody for several years so I know a little, but it's mostly second or third hand. There is a very serious classical composition element at Peabody and it looks like they are doing good things, but I don't know about computer music/experimental rock there - I'm a little dubious since Peabody generally is into classical. There is a contemporary ensemble group which used to have a very inspirational conductor (Gene Young), but he retired last year and I know nothing about his replacement. Sorry.</p>