<p>Hi,
I'm currently a student a small LAC in New England concentrating in vocal performance and Italian. While there are many things about the school that I admire, I'm beginning to have doubts about the strengths of the music department. I haven't decided to leave yet, but I know I want to audition this year so I have the option. With that said, I'm looking for advice in choosing programs. These are the qualifications I have in mind (I know I'll have to compromise):</p>
<p>-Great voice faculty
-Performance opportunities
-Affordability (public school or a private school with really amazing aid for transfers)
-Urban/somewhat close to a city
-Somewhat low student/teacher ratio</p>
<p>Music transfers are tough. My D did it (under extraordinary circumstances) in her sophomore year and it effectively added an additional semester to her studies. It is very difficult to transfer your performance classes and more often than not, though your theory credits may transfer, the schools sequence will be different and you may have to retake a year or two of theory. In short, be prepared to add close to a year of additional study…</p>
<p>If your current teacher is not working for you…can you switch to another within your music school?</p>
<p>My current teacher is leaving and I’m really not really that enthusiastic about the other ones. She was pretty much keeping me there and now I’m starting to question everything. Thanks for the advice, though. It’s probably going to be even harder to transfer for me given the free structure of my school.</p>
<p>If you do stay, just try your best in being proactive with your path at your current school. Maybe amplify your experience with a summer program or two?
Good luck.</p>
<p>How much can you afford to pay to complete your undergraduate degree? </p>
<p>What year are you currently?</p>
<p>There are likely many schools that will accept transfers into VP, but many may take 3 - 4 years to complete because of loosing credits in transfer.</p>
<p>It will be easier to suggest specific transfer schools if posters have a better sense of your specifics. </p>
<p>I assume you are considering graduate school? You will also want to keep those costs in the back of your mind.</p>
<p>Is your teacher being replaced by a new teacher or is the school cutting a voice faculty member?</p>
<p>I have to talk to my parents about the cost specifics. They’re paying a lot for me to go where I’m going now, even though I get decent financial aid. I’m currently a sophomore and yes, grad school is in my future plans unless things change drastically. My school isn’t a music school, so I probably can’t transfer anything. I don’t think I’ve taken a real theory class yet. My teacher will be replaced, but I can’t guarantee that person will be of the same level.</p>
<p>You cannot be getting a degree in vocal performance without taking music theory. It sounds like your LAC offers an interdisciplinary degree of some kind, where everyone creates their own plan. Graduate school admissions will be mostly about your audition, no matter what your undergraduate work has been. However, you would be remedial in theory, music history, etc., and those things would have to be satisfied. You also would need to have given an undergraduate recital. If there is a good voice teacher there or available, at this point, sticking it out to get an undergraduate degree would be your easiest route. You should speak with the professors involved with music courses to find a way to cover the core music subjects. They want to keep you and graduate you. If you are not willing to study with any of the remaining teachers, or who will be coming in to fill your teacher’s place, tell them that. Is there someone in the area who comes highly recommended who they might let teach you as an adjunct professor? Schools can get very creative about solutions to keep their enrollment numbers! Good luck.</p>