<p>I got accepted into the UM School of Music Theatre and Dance for the fall of 2012, and I was hoping to eventually dual major in Piano performance (what I got accepted for) and Screen Arts and Cultures. I'm currently trying to decide between University of Texas at Austin (my state school, so in-state tuition) which has a pretty well-known film department and University of Michigan.</p>
<p>I was looking a lot at the SAC website, and it seems like a great program. But I was wondering if I could get opinions on the Screen Arts and Cultures major. Is it a pretty good program? Does it offer opportunities for students?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>An LSA and Music school double major is very demanding, so just keep that in mind. I’ve heard very good things about the SAC program here, but I have no direct experience with it. I know that opportunities do exist if you actively pursue them (in terms of fim experiences and working on a real set). </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Kwei, Texas Austin had a pretty good rep back in my day, but my knowledge is too dated to be useful (I used to study film.)</p>
<p>UMich SOMTD is IMHO outstanding.</p>
<p>Some of the BMus students have a great deal of difficulty with scheduling dual degrees in less than 5 years – but others manage. I think piano may be more forgiving because you won’t have the same ensemble requirements (presumably.)</p>
<p>SAC is on one hand NOT a portfolio/talent based program, so depending on the volume of your prior experience, you may not feel some of the other students are as experienced as you are. However, after the first two general years, there are minimum grade requirements to proceed in production that do cull the herd a little. But be clear, it will not be the same as a highly selective portfolio-only admit the way Tisch or USC or FSU are, for example.</p>
<p>THAT SAID, if you PM me about your specific areas of interest, I can share a little detail. In SOMTD, there if a performing arts tech program that is highly involved in the upper years of SAC production courses – so if you were wanting to score or work sound, etc., there WILL be opportunities if you can get permission for the classes. You might also down the road decide to change over to the PAT- BMus degree, which actually includes production SAC courses.</p>
<p>By way of background, my son started out dual degree at SOMTD and SAC, but found his degree at SOMTD included so many of the classes he wanted anyway, did not pursue the second degree. He may elect to do an MFA at a film school to accomplish the same thing and net a terminal degree which qualified one to teach as well.</p>
<p>Hope that’s helpful, and sorry I couldn’t provide more comparative info. But kudos on the piano admit – I suspect you’d love SOMTD and the faculty there. Top drawer!</p>