<p>Hiya, does anyone know about Illinois' music program? I know someone who goes there and he seems to enjoy it. Any feedback would be great since I'm trying to compare music departments in the state of Illinois.</p>
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<p>That's a very open-ended question. It would help if you would elucidate a bit further on whether or not you intend to to Music Ed or Performance and what instrument you intend to study, along with the program.</p>
<p>In general, the state of Illinois has "OK" programs at exisiting universities. Illinois has a solid program, although those autographed pictures of John Phillips Sousa in the main music building are housed in their original source, read that a very old building. There are many grad students so competition for spots in the premier ensembles is tougher for undergrads.</p>
<p>I understand that Western Illinois has a decent Jazz program. Roosevelt and Columbia in Chicago are reputed to also have good jazz, as well as solid music programs. My unfamiliarity with UIC, Southern and Northern precludes any comments. </p>
<p>Illinois Wesleyan has a decent program if small schools intrigue you.</p>
<p>That leaves Northwestern, which also has a solid program and emphasizes double majors. Fifty percent of their music majors are double majors so figure 5 years of high-priced tuition. They too are suffering from an ancient music building which, according to many alums here, has been going to be "replaced next year" for the past 20 years or so. If you're inclined towards Jazz, the NW is out since their program has been disbanded.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>I understand that Western Illinois has a decent Jazz program. >></p> </blockquote>
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<p>That may be very true...but Macomb Illinois is VERY far from most anything and not a place where you will find a big "music scene". I went there for grad school, and their education programs were quite good. I don't know whether their music ed program is good or not...</p>
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<p>Both UIC and Northern Illinois both have some very solid faculty, particularly in the string area. </p>
<p>At Northern, The Vermeer Quartet was the resident quartet, have subsequently retired and been replaced by the Avalon Quartet, first prize winners at the Fischoff's and Coleman competitions.</p>
<p>UIC is probably the premier program for performance studies within the state system. The Pacifica Quartet, a strong force among the "younger" generation of quartets is the quartet in residence.</p>
<p>As ImpZep said, it's difficult to pin down specifics without knowing your intended music path.</p>
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<p>My son has a friend who has just started his freshman year at UofI (Champaign-Urbana) in cello performance. He was awarded the All-State cellist designation in our IMEA festival. I'm thinking it must be a strong program because this talented young man could've chosen to go anywhere in the country.</p>
<p>Sorry about being vague. Music Education is what I was looking for and I play the tuba.</p>
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<p>This may be of interest: <a href="http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/music/undergraduate/music_ed.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/music/undergraduate/music_ed.shtml</a></p>
<p>You can find general info on music ed from my post here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=393307%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=393307</a></p>
<p>Most state programs are designed to virtually guarantee certification within that state's legislated parameters provided all criteria are met satisfactorily.</p>
<p>A competent studio teacher and one that you can function well with is imperative. A sample lesson is highly recommended. Another factor is orchestral versus a band or jazz concentration... you'll want to pick a program that has the proper emphasis in your concentration.</p>
<p>It might make sense to talk to your hs music instructors... they should have a feel for the strongest overall state programs.</p>
<p>If you haven't read it already, please read BassDad's excellent post here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258796%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258796</a></p>
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<p>Then UofI is an excellent choice. I've always been a big fan of state schools for Music Ed majors for 2 reasons. The first is cost; no sense logging up big debt to go to a private school because, regretfully, educators are underpaid and it will take forever to get caught up financially. The second is that you get all the requirements and certifications for your home state taken care of at one fell swoop.</p>
<p>My D's HS in Northern Illinois which is a perennial winner at the "Super State" competition has had many Illinois student teachers and they have mostly been great. AAMOF, being able to student teach at our HS is actually a "carrot" used by the Music Ed Dept at Illinois we've been told by students there who have heard, "Well if you don't do this or that, we won't consider you for the spot a XHS."</p>
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<p>ISU and U of I seems excellent. How are their band ensembles? Besides the public schools, I was looking at Elmhurst Music Department and they seem to have a decent program too surrounded by a nice town, close to Chicago but their tuition is killer. Do you guys know if Elmhurst is generous with music scholarships?</p>
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<p>Elmhurst is good school, but not very generous from what I've heard. Friend of mine son went their for Jazz guitar, but transferred to New School after Freshman year. His complaint was too far out of town, making Jazz "pilgramages" tough...</p>
<p>That being said, low brass is usually in demand so you've got a leg up for $.</p>
<p>Illinois ensembles far superior to ISU based on reports from HS classmates of D.</p>
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<p>Nottingham- from a quick glance at their website, Elmhurst looks very reasonably priced for a private college. Their scholarship info is here: <a href="http://public.elmhurst.edu/finaid/1288677.html#freshman%5B/url%5D">http://public.elmhurst.edu/finaid/1288677.html#freshman</a></p>
<p>A quick glance at the music scholarship seems it is auditioned based (as are most music talent scholarships). Better audition = better scholarship.</p>
<p>Whether a school combines other merit scholarships (grade or stat based) with a music talent award is institution specific... you'd have to ask the school. Your overall financial picture will impact possible grants and federal aid.</p>
<p>As a tuba player, you play what may be a desireable instrument at a school, particularly a smaller one. If you're really good, you may well be offered a very sweet package.</p>
<p>It's possible to get an education at a private school for less than one would pay at a state. Alot depends on the combination of factors I've cited above.</p>
<p>In the absence of substantial merit aid, I'm in complete agreement with ImpZep regards state schools if you're pursuing a straight music ed (rather than a performance or performance/ed combo degree).</p>
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<p>Elmhurst is a great LITTLE college. Do they really have enough music majors to field any ensembles? The suburban location is nice, but it is NOT all that easy to get into downtown Chicago from there. </p>
<p>I agree with others...your state universities are a great bargain and will virtually guarantee you that you will meet all the certification requirements in YOUR state. It sounds like there are a number of in state U choices for you to research. And I also agree, talk to your band or orchestra director...very likely they know grads of all the in-state programs, and can give you some guidance (which you sadly will NOT get from your guidance office at school...ah but that is another thread).</p>
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<p>I have a friend at Elmhurst who is studying Music Ed. (plays sax/clarinet) and he absolutely adores it there. I've talked to my assistant band director at my h.s. and he recommended Elmhurst also, but he's a horrible teacher so I don't really know how to take he's advice. What I'm concerned is that the competition of Elmhurst's ensembles aren't that competitive. My friend was placed in their top band when he was freshman and I attended one of their concerts - overall I wasn't impressed which really bummed me cause I was really liking that college. On another note, my director of bands (a graduate of DePaul) said DePaul, of course, was very good, but competitive so I'll be looking at that school too.</p>
<p>Upside of DePaul is that it probably has more CSO members teaching there than most of the other schools in Chicago.</p>
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<p>At one time University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana was quite a thriving voice mecca, excellent voice teachers, and the doctoral choral program from the 60's and 70's was seminal to the choral world today. While the original Music Building still stands and is used, there is the Krannert Performing Arts Building, and another newer large music building close by. The original Smith Building is on a corner of the main quad. The university's music programs have dimished in stature, partly because of the limited financial assistance for graduate students. The faculty is still good, but the quantity of students has not kept it on a par with Michigan and Indiana.</p>
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<p>Careful with the acronyms! UIC is the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana is known as UIUC. </p>
<p>Sorry to nitpick, but it would be unfortunate if someone got excited about the wrong school</p>
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<p>The responses have been a great help. I'm not generally picky in this process of choosing schools but more than likely I'll be auditioning for Illinois, ISU, and DePaul. I heard Northwestern has a solid music program also but I know I don't have the grades and numbers to be accepted by that university. </p>
<p>I'm not only choosing schools on the quality of their program but the overall atmosphere of the campus. Just because I'm going to major in music doesn't mean I can't have factors such as the "home" feel.
My reasons for not choosing these schools aren't weak, right?
DePaul: If I don't qualify for a nice scholarship then it's a no. Heard great things about it but money is a factor. I want to graduate with little or no debt and music education doesn't pay that well. Would love to receive a pretty package. In the city of Chicago, which I absolutely love.</p>
<p>Elmhurst: Close to Chicago and my home. Maybe too close. I visited the campus and it's so clean...campus is like the size of the quad at U of I...
Same as DePaul: tuition is mad crazy. It's private, this I know, but from a guy who never heard of it until my assistant band director graduated from it I really question their program. Shallow I know, but I was never impressed by this school. I have a friend right now who's going into deep debt because he couldn't afford the tuition. What's even more horrible he's majoring in music ed. But hey, he's happy.</p>
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<p>Schools that I'm actually considering:</p>
<p>I've spoken to some recent Illinois Alums who are now assistant band directors at schools that pay big dinero. Said the quality of the program was solid and felt fulfilled in their training as undergraduates. I'm going to catch a few concerts, heard Illinois has about six band ensembles, and see how they sound. Planning on talking to the directors of the band that I see. Also, I'm going to talk some peers I know that graduated from the ISU program. I'm only a junior so I'm rather excited about this process.</p>
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<p>Nottingham- For privates like DePaul that have strong audition based programs (and often grade/stat based academic merit scholarships), you may well see some talent scholarship money based on your performance at the audition relative to the rest of the field on your instrument. Some schools also allow additional scholarship monies based on your academic stats. Some schools will allow the combination of these awards, while at others, it can be mutually exclusive. The merit academic parameters are normally detailed somewhere on the schools webpages. I've found trying to pin down or ballpark talent awards almost impossible. </p>
<p>As I and others have said, the most economical route to a music ed degree is through your state schools. It is possible to attend a school like Depaul (with sufficient talent/merit aid) for about the same costs if you get lucky.</p>
<p>I would not rule Depaul out without first trying to ballpark what your potential merit aid COULD be. In any event, there are fine state options available in Illinois.</p>
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