Transfer Advice

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>Hi all, </p>

<p>I'm a freshman music ed voice major at the crane school of music and am considering transferring to another music school, one that offers both performance and ed, and has good programs and opportunities in both. </p>

<p>I am considering transferring for a number of reasons. Crane was not my first choice but I ended up getting three rejections from my other schools, leaving me Crane or an Ithaca audition. I chose crane because I was sick of the audition process and Crane looked like a good school, which underlines the main mistake I made in my school choices. I didn't research the schools that deeply, and mainly looked at them based on reputation, not on teacher, etc.
Crane isn't a bad school, in fact, the voice faculty here are excellent and I love my voice teacher. The overall music program is pretty good too, but I am finding that I do not like the general atmosphere, the location, and some of the resources offered by the school/college. Basically, I am not fitting in well. I felt the same way at the beginning of the semester but I didn't want to make a rash decision so I put transferring out of my mind and just focused on school. However, I am still not happy here and I don't want to be a senior still feeling the same way. Personally, I feel that my unhappiness would be detrimental to my education, even though I like my voice teacher, and would make the years spent here somewhat wasted. If any parents out there have had kids in similar situations please let me know what you ended up doing, whether it was transferring or sticking it out. </p>

<p>Currently, schools I am looking at are BU, Ithaca maybe, and Hartt. I'm looking for low cost schools with decent programs for both performance and ed(I'd like to double) that are on the east coast/new england region. I know BU is not low cost, but I really like the school and it's location/size. Another factor in my decision is the voice faculty and if I could find a voice teacher that I liked. Any other suggestions would be much appreciated. </p>

<p>Also, I would be planning on auditioning for the fall 2008 semester, which means apps are due in about a month or two and auditions a month or two after. I know, I am really late, but I didn't want to give up on Crane. Because auditions/applications are due so soon, I have to make a few major decisions such as telling my voice teacher and enlisting their aid in preparing for auditions? I really have no idea of how to do this and whether I need to do anything in terms of letting Potsdam know that I am planning on transferring. Of course, that's based on the assumption that I get in anywhere. </p>

<p>I hope that's enough background info to provide a picture of the situation. So if anyone has any advice for me that would be really awesome! Thanks for reading this everyone.</p>

2

<p>Look at Rutgers.....excellent choral person there, and the music ed program graduates ALL get jobs. You cannot beat the proximity to NYC. There is a new baritone on the faculty, and his teaching is drawing raves. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>I have read good things about the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. I know it is supposed to be an incredible value. I'll see if I can find the email address I have of a current student who gave it rave reviews.</p>

4

<p>James Madison University (where I teach in the School of Theatre & Dance) has both strong MusicEd and Performance. The School is in VA... not exactly New England... but East Coast. It is about 2 hours South of DC. Most of the students seem to come from Northern VA, Greater Richmond, DC, Mid-Atlantic States, and Southern New England. There are, of course, students from all over the country and the world, however.</p>

<p>It is a state school, and the cost is resonable, even for out of state students.</p>

<p>JMU just broke ground on a new performing arts complex that will house new performance spaces and studios for both School of Music and Theatre and Dance. The facility is slated to be completed by the Spring '10... a little over two years from now.</p>

5

<p>I don't really know how transfers work. I have a vague recollection that some schools require "permission" from your current teacher. I think they all want a letter of reference from your current teacher. So I think it's imperative that you talk with your voice teacher soon. He/She may have some other suggestions for you - both in terms of how to make the best at the Crane School, and what other programs you might like better.</p>

6

<p>You need a release from the school if either is NASM, or you will not be able to try for scholarship aid. It may be looked upon as proselytizing, raiding another school for prime talent (ala NCAA athlethic regulations). It is considered unethical for anyone to try to lure you to transfer to their school. You can contact a new school, but you need a release form previous school before they can give you money. I think that is how it works. Good luck. Lorelei</p>

7

<p>Baritonevoce wrote: <currently, schools="" i="" am="" looking="" at="" are="" bu,="" ithaca="" maybe,="" and="" hartt.="" i'm="" for="" low="" cost="" with="" decent="" programs="" both="" performance="" ed(i'd="" like="" to="" double)="" that="" on="" the="" east="" coast="" new="" england="" region.="" know="" bu="" is="" not="" cost,="" but="" really="" school="" it's="" location="" size.="" another="" factor="" in="" my="" decision="" voice="" faculty="" if="" could="" find="" a="" teacher="" liked.=""></currently,></p>

<p>My son was a double major (viola performance/music ed) at Hartt who decided 12 credits short of both degrees to graduate early with just the BM in performance... performance is his first love. He did effectively all his ed requirements except the student teaching, so for all intents and purposes he went through the entire program.</p>

<p>Hartt has an exceptional rep as a music ed school, and are very accomodating of double majors within the list here: THE</a> HARTT SCHOOL: MUSIC-DANCE-THEATRE. All are five year programs, and it's unlikely they will accept any music credits as transfer credits towards the major requirements.</p>

<p>I'm not qualified to judge a vocal program, but as a layman I found the choir and opera performances I did see were of the highest quality. Dr. Ed Bolkovac is the Chair of Vocal Studies. THE</a> HARTT SCHOOL: MUSIC-DANCE-THEATRE</p>

<p>Hartt is by no means inexpensive, but my son's instrumental experience suggests they can be very generous with talent scholarships.</p>

8

<p>Without trying to pry or get too personal, can you tell me a little about whatever it is in the "atmosphere and resources" categories that is making you unhappy? My daughter is looking at Crane (for voice) for next year. It's not her first choice and we're just trying to look at all the angles. We are very familiar with the location!</p>

9

<p>musmom, I just sent you a pm in reply to your post. Hope it helps. :)</p>

<p>Paul</p>

10

<p>Baritonevoce, I haven't "pm'd" before, so hope the one I just sent you comes thru! Thanks for your thoughts and the time it took to write them!</p>

11

<p>Have you looked at Stony Brook?</p>

12

<p>Baritonevoce, I have no experience with voice majors; however, my son decided that he needed to transfer by November of his freshman year, so I am posting to offer support, understanding, and a little bit of advice.</p>

<p>Your voice teacher can be an excellent advisor if that is a good relationship. You will need a strong recommendation from your teacher. If this person is a thoughtful professional he or she will care most about helping you to be in the right place to learn. You need to be able to communicate very clearly what you are feeling and be willing to listen to what the instructor says. This person is likely well-connected in the region and can possibly offer some suggestions of collegues with whom you may be a fit. When our son went through this, his teacher was very kind and supportive, and while son did the leg work and research, his teacher offered additional suggestions. It took him two tries (two years of auditions) to get into his top choice studio at his current school. He also left behind a hefty scholarship and is paying full freight for his last three of five years. While things took longer than he had wished, he felt he benefitted from completing the entire theory sequence and satisfying some general ed. requirements before transferring. </p>

<p>I wish you good luck for a satisfying outcome. Sometimes things don't work out exactly as planned but the growing that occurs while developing plan B can provide an invaluable experience. In the meantime, try get as much out of the current situation as you can and work hard to get good grades. Stay involved in school of music activities and campus life. A mature student finds a way to,"Love the one you're with." The transfer application looks for evidence of personal, musical, and academic growth. You will need to meet with the school of music dean to have a form signed and he or she will want to know the concrete reasons why you will benefit from the transfer. If you can do this without burning any bridges you will end up much happier.</p>