<p>I guess I'll write a little bit about me for some background info.</p>
<ul>
<li>I'm older than most of the other people applying into music conservatories and other schools as music major (I'm 21.) I know that most people go into music straight out of highschool. :/</li>
<li>I went a different route at first (art school), got an Associate Degree in design and none of my credits transfer so I've been taking GE's at a local community college.</li>
<li>I'm not a genius or anything, but I'm pretty good at voice (soprano) and piano and I was thinking about either one. I'm also not bad at classical guitar and this may be something I want to look into as well. (Or even studio guitar, such as USC offers.)</li>
<li>I'm thinking about double majoring in language/linguistics as well. </li>
</ul>
<p>1) What I'm wondering is how many people know someone or is someone that has successfully transferred as music major from a community college into an university or conservatory? Or is this a more rare case?</p>
<p>2) Is there a maximum age limit for applying to conservatories (such as Curtis)? I highly doubt I would ever make it in, but it was just something I'm wondering.</p>
<p>3) Do music classes (like theory or harmony) from a community college transfer to most places (I know this is a broad question)... On the class schedule for my cc, it says that they transfer to UC and CSU's, so would that mean they would also transfer to most places as well? Or would these classes only transfer for extra curriculum as another major.</p>
<p>4) I know USC has a studio/jazz guitar major and also a classical guitar major. Are there any other schools offering this as well?</p>
<p>I know I have a lot of questions so I thank you for your patience and any help you can give me!</p>
<p>P.S.
I'm not sure if I should post this here or in the transfer thread ...</p>
<p>Curtis has an age limit 23 (?), maybe 25 for vocalists, but I couldn’t find the specifics on the website. Not to burst any bubbles, but Curtis is beyond the reach of many. The background detail you provide doesn’t lead me to assume you would be competitive on piano or voice. Guitar is not an option.</p>
<p>There are numerous threads on jazz and contemporary guitar you may want to search. There are a number of guitar knowledgeable folks that can ad input on specific programs, but if guitar is your focus, look at The New School, Belmont, UDenver/Lamont in addition to USC. </p>
<p>You sound like you’re from California. You might want to check out the music departments at CSU Long Beach, Fullerton, and Northridge, or San Jose State, San Francisco State further north. There may be other CSU’s worth looking at, and your general ed requirements would transfer. Depending upon your gpa, maybe check out UC Santa Cruz or the College of Creative Studies at UCSB (also known for great language depts.) Many of these schools have both BM and BA options for music degrees.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response, violadad! I have been reading your other posts in other threads as well and they are always very helpful.</p>
<p>Thank you for the links. I did do some searches so I have read the “Seeking Thoughts on Older Students” but the first three links I haven’t read yet so thank you!</p>
<p>No bubble has been bursted, I already know Curtis is beyond myself. I asked more out of curiousity than anything. I personally know that my level is nowhere near what a conservatory would accept.</p>
<p>More background info:
I have been playing piano since I was 6, I did study with excellent teachers in my hometown (I’m from the southeast), she said I had potential but needs more work (of course). I have moved since then to LA and have been out of practice for a few years while trying to support myself in a new city (couldn’t afford lessons or buying a piano. Also I was one of those burn-out children but after getting over that, I really think I could see myself studying music seriously to reach another level) I am not thinking of transferring anytime soon, as I think I would need to spend at least, if not more, 2-3 years in intensive training before actually applying and having a chance.
I don’t have any summer programs under my belt as my parents were not financially able to send me anywhere so I would not say I’m “prolific” but I am an advanced piano player.</p>
<p>Vocal-wise, I started private lessons at 14 with a good voice teacher at the local University, but again I’ve moved and I haven’t found a decent teacher that’s affordable here.</p>
<p>I do realize that my chances are low and that there is a lot of preparation necessary for me to even begin the process of transferring and majoring in something like this. Even after intense training, I know my chance isn’t very high but I would rather try for it and be denied than to continue the rest of my life asking “What if?”. So I thank you for your honesty.</p>
<p>sopranomom, Thanks for your response! I am not from Cali, but I do live here now. :)</p>
<p>From my experience, I do not like the CSU system (I had a year-long full scholarship for one of my languages that included study abroad) but I will look further into their music departments as I’ve skipped over them in my search.</p>
<p>My GPA is currently a 4.0 (hoping to keep it that way!) so I will look into the other UC’s as options too.</p>
<p>yeowoobi, my D has had several music teachers who successfully went from CC’s to USC (obviously for music ed, so this may be diffferent than your situation). But I also know they are particularly tough about transfer credits especially for music classes, so you will definitely want to contact each school you are thinking about to get the right info.
All California public universities are being hit financially due to our budget crisis so it is also a good idea when you are inquiring to ask about how things look for the future. CSULB has a strong music dept and getting stronger thanks to a recent large donation. Their jazz program has been tough to beat for a long time.</p>
<p>I couldn’t figure out from your post whether you’re committed to staying in California or not. If you aren’t, Berklee College of Music (in Boston) sounds like it might be a good fit for your varied musical interests. </p>
<p>Berklee’s a serious music college, but it’s not a classical conservatory–it’s one of the best schools in the US for contemporary music, jazz, electronic music, music technology, etc.–so they may be a little more open to applicants who didn’t come up through the traditional expensive-summer-programs-since-early-childhood route. It’s possible to major in guitar at Berklee; not sure about classical guitar, but definitely jazz and probably studio. Boston Conservatory, next door to Berklee, does have a small classical guitar program, and there are cross-registration agreements between the two schools.</p>
<p>The one thing you won’t get from either school is the language/linguistics double major possibility. Neither school has anything like that kind of academic environment. Emerson College, the third performing arts school that cross-registers with Berklee and Boston Conservatory, does have a well-regarded communications program, and a lot of writing programs, so they may have more to offer in the way of language courses.</p>
<p>(Fair warning, Boston’s a very very expensive city to live in. A lot of older students make the move to Boston first, get a job and work for a year or two, and then apply to colleges.)</p>
<p>University of Hawaii at Manoa has a small music program (with good teachers) and quite an extensive language/linguistics program. It is part of the western states program where you pay 1 1/2 times the resident rate as opposed to the full out of state rate.</p>
<p>CLRN8MOM Thanks for your response! That’s good news about the CC to USC, even though it’s for music ed. I will be sure to talk to counselors at my local cc as well, about the future of Cali schools.</p>
<p>choryphee I would prefer to stay in California, but if opportunities lead me elsewhere then who am I to ignore it? I know a friend that went to Boston for schooling and he had a hard time with finances also. </p>
<p>Thanks for recommending Berklee, but I think I’m dead set on continuing with academics, too. Emerson College seems to have a great writing program, but their language selection only goes up to two levels (and they only offer French & Spanish.), though it’s good to know about their writing program! I’ll keep it in mind if I rather go down the writing track instead of language.</p>
<p>wel Thanks for that information! I didn’t know UH Manoa had a western state program. Both the music department and language program look great and something to think about.</p>
<p>If you are interested in contemporary “new” music, have a look at UCSD. They do have both classical and jazz guitar as well. Admission is based on academics only, no audition. They have a brand new building, and a strong computer music program as well. Are you familiar with the ASSIST website? There you can learn about each of your CC courses and whether they transfer to either a UC or a CSU, specific to each department or GE requirements.</p>