S is living in Lewisville now, between Denton and Dallas. He occasionally makes his way back to UNT as some of his friends are still enrolled, either finishing up their first degree or working on their master’s degree. S played bass for one of those vocal ensembles during his time there - he rotated among a lot of the band types - big band, guitar ensemble, vocal jazz, Latin jazz. Having time in the Latin Jazz band was very helpful, as it has a different feel, and he got to learn about it. S was an Avenue-C bassist (Avenue C lunch time syndicate - YouTube), and I “think” he might have been a Third Street singer (memory fading).
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My son applied to UNT for music ed. He is a percussionist. I am just stunned at the size of the percussion studio and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a bit concerned… @GoForth your son’s group is outstanding!
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Sure. Everyone has different perspectives and goals. Is the concern that a student can get lost in the mix? This is true. A student must reach out and set a mind to keep up. Is the concern that there will be too many students per opportunity? There are a lot of opportunities. Definitely go with what you like.
Thanks about the group. I think they might have semi-disbanded. A lot of these adults have at various times been thru the UNT program. It is so unique to have a big band in a restaurant just so casually like that.
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Yes, you touched on some of my concerns. I also wonder how good the teaching and training is and who is doing it, because it’s obviously not Mark Ford or Paul Rennick. My son wants to teach, but he also is interested in coming out with top-notch skills in percussion. He is looking at a combo performance/education degree at another college for that reason. Obviously we need to tour the school and talk to some students to find out the scoop. Thanks!!
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There tends to be layers. For example, in jazz, the 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and when it exists, the 9 o’clock bands are directed by grad students. Well, how else would they get that experience leading bands? But the 1, 2, and 3 o’clock bands are faculty-directed. There is probably something similar in the non jazz bands. So, maybe that is “bad”, but in another way it is also “good” because there are so many levels of “fit.” S’s private jazz bass lessons were sometimes taught by a doctoral jazz bass grad and sometimes taught by Lynn Seaton. Whereas, if S had accepted University of Miami, then his lessons may have all come from Chuck Bergeron. So, S got to meet more people and see more flavors. After so many sessions with any instructor, you absorb what they have to offer you and possibly benefit from other points of view, I imagine.
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Yes there are a ton of opportunities, and many many opportunities to learn from others at UNT, as @goforth says. My son has a professor for his voice lessons, and a grad student for lessons on a secondary instrument. All of his classical choirs are conducted by professors but also have a graduate conductor assigned who spends some time leading the ensemble. There are a couple of nonauditioned choirs conducted entirely by grad students. He is also in a lower vocal jazz ensemble that is conducted by a grad student and it’s been a great experience for him. His roommate is in two choirs right now-the one he auditioned into and one of the lower choirs which he chose particularly to learn from that particular conductor. That’s all the tip of the iceberg. My son’s problem has been too many opportunities, not too few.
It is an important consideration as you’re choosing a school—the big pond or the smaller one, and what will work best for a particular student.
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I love this comment. It’s something that I have said before when parents are concerned about “getting opportunities” particularly at large schools. IMHO, the concern should be “having enough time”.
The opportunities in college are always so plentiful. The professors are brilliant to amazing. Your fellow students are mostly highly ambitious and talented. The grad students can be great to collaborate with and learn from. They won’t be “hogging” YOUR opportunites. The struggle is finding time to take advantage of YOUR opportunites while trying out other opportunites …those grad students are ALWAYS looking for people to work with.
Also in the professional world, my D needs to work with a variety of people. Collaboration skills with peers, grad students, professors are really, really important. It ain’t high school anymore where you are “directed” by your teacher. College becomes more and more collarboration and self-direction.
There are many environments in which a student can trive. A small school may be best…just bc it feels right. Still I stand firm against the idea that at a big school, a student will goet lost, have fewer opportunities and be taught too much by grad students. The primary teacher is always a faculty member at these select programs. The grad students are usually well-liked collaborators. There’s nothing wrong with that. But if big feels chaotic and someone would do better in a smaller environment…then that is where they should go. There, they will probably have too many opportunites (and not enough time) as well.
Just my 2 cents…
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Thank you everyone for all the great comments! Can’t wait to see if he gets in.
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I think about the next next step - is that being a professional musician after college, for example? If so, it might be good to use college to learn how to deal with being lost in a sea. Also having a greater number of contacts (fellow students) could be beneficial.
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Yes, all good points. Right now, he is thinking he wants to be an educator and not many states are like Texas in what they offer to their public high school and middle school percussion students — access and availability of instruments, lessons, etc. It’s really remarkable and another compelling reason for him to stay in-state. His audition date at UNT is the end of February!
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