Hello
Does anyone have any experience with this program? D was given in state tuition plus an academic scholarship making it an affordable option. She sang for 2 professors last year. Both were very encouraging. She has passed prescreen, and her voice teacher says the school tends to favor light lyric coloratura voices like my Ds.
D is a kid who wants to do everything. Her concerns are this school include lack of performance experience, not having time to play french horn, not being able to do any musicals, and being so far from home.
On the plus side - D will be encourage to conduct (at least by professor Molly Fillmore, who sent an email indicating her interest in having D at UNT), she will be surrounded by excellent musicians of all kinds, she will have grad students to learn from, there is a music dorm full of practice rooms
Specifically - does anyone know about performance opportunities for undergrads and whether undergrads have voice lessons by grad students or professors?
My D is a music ed major at UNT (and instrumental, not vocal). Her instrument lessons are with a professor; in her first semester she was assigned to a grad student but also saw the professor each week. UNT does not do musicals, only opera and choirs. Depending on her course load, your daughter may have time to take lessons on a secondary instrument (her french horn) or audition for one of the bands. The advisors are pretty good at helping them map out a 4-year plan. Lots of music majors are from out of state (compared to the rest of the student body being mostly in-state), but be advised that campus can be quiet on the weekends since many kids either go home or live off campus (after freshman year) and do not hang out on campus on weekends.
Thank you - good information! I don’t think a quiet campus would be an issue. This is an affordable option, assuming she is accepted as a voice major. The theater school is doing a musical this year, but it did not sound like opera majors would have time/be encouraged to audition. D enjoyed her visit there last year, but is now second guessing every life choice. We are going to have an interesting few months ahead!
Hi, @cgmndt - my S started at UNT this year, but is in jazz studies, rather than vocal performance. We are visiting him right now on the campus and are very familiar with the grounds, buildings, and surrounding town layout, and the drive from the midwest. I can say something about the practice rooms. Across the street from the music building (not an urban street, just a campus street) are two good sized practice buildings. In Bruce Hall, which is across the driveway from the music building, there are about 10-12 practice modules. It is also very normal to practice in your room. When school is in session, I can walk to s’s room and hear 1-3 people playing every time I go. It sounds quiet through the doors/walls. There are quiet hours, however some floors may be more flexible depending on the mood of that floor.
I mentioned your post to S last night. I can’t write a precise or balanced statement about the vocal program based upon his comments, but he did say his vocal friends are busy. Maybe if there was a laser-focused question, I could ask him and see if he would know how to get the answer. I can only say things about the town, campus buildings, and some scholarship and curriculum topics, from the parent point of view.
BTW, if a student happens to be vegetarian or vegan, they will find a lot of support in the dorms and the town. It is also a very compact campus that is easy to walk around.
Thank you! Do you know about performance opportunities for undergrads? She wouldn’t be expecting a featured parts right away, but hopes undergrads are at least cast in the chorus. The professors we spoke to said undergrads are cast, but I wonder how often.
My son played clarinet at a high level in high school but did not want to pursue it as minor or major in college. UNT makes their two lower level symphonic bands open to all students who wish to pursue their intsruments in college. Tutors will be assigned and they will perform four concerts per year that can be live streamed at home, which has been super nice.
He’s done quite well there his first semester, likes his professors and enjoys his band director.
I have no idea about their vocal program, but several of my son’s classmates chose UNT to major in a variety of band and orchestra programs and all seem to be excelling this semester. His roommate is a theatre major and loves the program.
The school is renowned for its voice, instrument, dance and theatre majors.
The dorms are nearly empty from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening - she needs to make some friends who aren’t from the surrounding Dallas/Ft. Worth suburbs if she decides to attend. Most UNT students live within a 30 minute drive from home and they head there every weekend. It’s the school’s biggest drawback for my kid from Austin.
***If she chooses to attend UNT; Clark Hall is the grubbiest dorm - avoid it if at all possible, Victory is the newest but a very long walk to campus, Honors and Bruce are very nice and central.
I am just going to remind posters that it’s not wise to mention specific professors by name here, espcially when one is attaching a negative description. The music world is very small and there are a lot of people who read these forums.
Also, a teacher who doesn’t work for one student may be a great match for another so it’s good to take lessons- or sit in on studio classes- with as many teachers as possible to get a feel for their styles.