<p>(Apologies if this has been discussed; I didn't find much in my search.)
So it looks like my daughter wants to try again, at least at a couple of schools. In the meantime, she has started giving up her Saturdays to an intensive and selective classical voice program. Her voice teacher has started to talk to her about colleges that combine great academics with great voice programs. I doubt that she will end up a professional singer, but I also think it's great that she is taking her music so seriously. However, that seems the one area of her education that will suffer if she goes to boarding school. Do any of you have any insight into vocal music instruction at boarding schools? This is a kid with a wide array of artistic and academic talents and interests, so a narrowly focused program such as Interlochen's would not be appropriate for her. As of now, she only wants to apply to Mercersburg (where her brother is) and St. Andrew's, but I wouldn't mind her adding 1 or 2 more to her list.</p>
<p>Most boarding schools we looked at offered the option of private instruction in instrumental music or vocal performance. Some schools offer music classes for academic credit. If your daughter is strong in the area, interested in music, and wants to have time to devote to music during her high school years, I’d recommend taking the time to read the school’s course of study carefully. </p>
<p>Things to think about:</p>
<p>What’s the highest course offered for students taking academic music courses? Do they offer AP Music Theory? Are there courses in composition? If so, how “serious” are they? Are they courses which encourage creativity, or are they “fun” courses for senior spring, or are they aimed at helping students prepare portfolios for applications to music conservatories?</p>
<p>Are students allowed to put together independent study courses to “dive deep” into an interest in music, should they outstrip the school’s offerings? (Ask)</p>
<p>Does the school offer choir, select choir groups, a cappella groups, opportunities for solo performance? Are the A cappella groups advised by the choir/music director, or are they student run?</p>
<p>Has the school had any recent graduates matriculate at music convervatories, such as Juilliard, Eastman, Berklee or Oberlin?</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I would recommend you check out St. Mark’s School (in Southborough.) </p>
<p>The Putney School encourages a wide range of arts and also encourages students to create curriculum around their passion. </p>
<p>Many schools have voice opportunities of varying quality. But there are also many kids who are serious about music of various sorts who take Saturday lessons at conservatories. I know you think a school like Walnut Hill is too narrow ( and indeed it IS pretty narrow), but they bus kids to the New England Conservatory every Saturday. Many kids at other BS around Boston also go to the NEC on Saturdays, so sometimes a day parent can drive, sometimes the school will get kids there if several kids attend. Of course, it’s more difficult if the kids want to do high level sports (Satuday games), and almost impossible if the school has Saturday classes. Still, it’s worth checking out.</p>
<p>Westover offers a great program with the Manhattan School of Music, as well as individual voice lessons. The Chamber choir performs classical pieces.</p>
<p>My daughter had been singing professionally with a chorus and was being classically trained when we were appying for schools last fall. She wanted to keep up her training and all of the schools we applied to had private voice lessons. It would be easy for your daughter to keep up her training. Gl</p>
<p>You should look at Concord; it has rigorous academics and a great arts program. For music, they have courses in music theory, music history, and composition. They also have electives, such as Broadway songbook. You can take private lessons in classical voice and popular voice, and you can do independent studies in composition, history, analysis, or performance. There’s a chorus open to all singers and a select audition-based vocal ensemble. If your daughter’s also into singing popular music, there are many opportunities, such as coed and female a cappella groups, a group that sings showtunes, a vocal/instrumental pop ensemble, usually a mainstage musical each year, and often singing opportunities in other theatre productions.</p>
<p>Take a look at Choate’s arts program on their website, specifically the opportunity to participate in the Arts Concentration Program:</p>
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<p>There are many arts-based clubs and opportunities outside the classroom for artistic expression, including six a capella groups. The Music Lesson Program is staffed by professional musicians/teachers from the surrounding community, including Yale, Wesleyan and the Hartt School of Music and include voice.</p>
<p>I don’t have personal experience here, but Choate is known for this arts program, so it might be worth researching.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the suggestions! She does not want to go far from home, but Choate and Westover are within a reasonable distance of us. @Periwinkle, I appreciate your “things to think about”; very helpful.</p>
<p>Well, I would think first of Hotchkiss. They have stellar facilities, programs and instruction in all areas of music – it is something that really stuck out in my opinion. I also think that unlike most schools their individual lessons are included with tuition, if memory serves, so in that sense it is all maybe a bit more integrated. Tough admission rate though. It’s also a bit far from St. Andrews and Mercersburg, if staying close to her brother is important. I also second Choate. Although they did not stand out musically in my mind the same way Hotchkiss did they have a very impressive arts program</p>
<p>If she likes Mercersburg, Blair is very similar in many ways – size, arts, academics. The Blair community is also very similar to both St. Andrews and Mercersburg in terms of warmth and support. The music program is similar to Mercersburg and I know they have a capella, chorus, individual lessons and the like, along with a very nice arts center. <a href=“http://www.blair.edu/the-arts/vocal-music/index.aspx”>http://www.blair.edu/the-arts/vocal-music/index.aspx</a> I am happy to share more about Blair via PM if you wish.</p>
<p>Two other schools I recall having notable programs were St. Paul’s and St George’s. St George’s has choirs and a capella groups. St Paul’s has a big focus on singing. These are a lot further afield from PA though and further than it sounds you want to go. St. George’s also did give off the warm community vibe, at least to the same degree, as did a lot of these other schools (although this is only my opinion and it still seems like a great school).</p>
<p>I am sure other schools are similar as all have very good performing arts departments. These are the ones that stand out in my mind, though.</p>
<p>Twinsmama, my daughter is a singer, and I’d be happy to share about Westover. PM me if you have questions!</p>
<p>At first, I didn’t see that you had listed SAS…but here’s a link to the Choral Scholars program there in case you haven’t read it before:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.standrews-de.org/arts/choral-music-and-voice/index.aspx”>http://www.standrews-de.org/arts/choral-music-and-voice/index.aspx</a></p>
<p>D graduated from Interlochen as a voice major. Now at Oberlin. Interlochen is a great place. PM if you have questions. </p>
<p>All these schools sound wonderful! I particularly like the availability of the MSM program at Westover; that is very similar to what she is doing now. However, she loves her brother’s school and wants to be there with him, so that is highest priority. With luck, this thread will help someone else along the way…</p>