I’m a freshman in community college looking to transfer to a 4 year program next fall/spring, but I don’t know where is best to transfer for music.
I’ve heard UNT has an amazing music program, but looking at their student info it seems to be a very big program and I don’t want to end up just another number among ~1,000 other music majors. UT has a slightly smaller music program that’s well funded, but doesn’t seem to have the same level of recognition.
These are my top 2 transfer options, but I’m open to any other school recs as long as they’re in Texas
I would visit both, if possible, tour both Music schools, and meet with and ideally have sample lessons with vocal performance faculty, because the choice of professor can be key to whether or not a music school will be a good fit for you. The reputation of the voice faculty may be different from the school’s overall reputation. UNT is especially well known for jazz, but if that’s not your thing it is worth digging deeper to find out more about their faculty. Every music school will have stronger and weaker departments, and your voice, personality and learning style may or may not mesh with a given professor.
Assuming both schools require an audition, you will have to pass the audition, so the choice might be made for you if you get into one program but not the other. Even if you are a guaranteed transfer to both schools that does not necessarily mean you are guaranteed the major of your choice. Likewise, you might be offered talent awards at one or both schools, and that amount might be different, so if cost is a factor it is worth inquiring if transfers are eligible for talent awards.
I also would check on how many of your CC credits are likely to apply to your degree and how long it is likely to take to complete your degree. Different schools have different core/gen ed requirements, and every music school teaches things a little differently and in a different order. Sometimes transfers may have to repeat part of the music theory/aural skills sequence, for example, depending on placement results and previous preparation. I know of someone who transferred from an elite conservatory with A’s in Theory 1 and 2 (as well as a 5 on the Music Theory AP test in HS) to another school and had to start with Theory 1 again at the new school because they taught theory in a very different way and in a different order than the previous school did. That may be less of an issue with a CC to in state university pathway but worth checking on what placement tests may be required and how CC transfers are typically placed.
There is a Music Major forum here at CC, you might also want to ask your question there. I know there are members with experience at UNT.
I would actually put Moores School of Music ( Houston ) as slightly higher due to their massive endowment, stunning facilities, and good student to teacher ratios. They are almost exclusively undergrad focused and they have some of the best voice faculty in the country right now. They put on 4 operas a year and it’s 100% east coast conservatory level prep with a stated goal of making sure every student that graduates can get jobs as professionals or teachers ( not just merely chasing a dream ). Very pragmatic, very challenging. Much better than Austin, IMO, for undergrad voice.
Go see their upcoming opera in two and a half weeks and prepare to be impressed.
thank you! as much as I’d love to visit both are a little too far to do so, but I’ll definitely delve deeper on both programs and transfer requirements
@JOberlander I actually have gone and met the faculty at UH before and I loved them, they’re another school I’ve been considering I’m just not fond of the houston area(which I could get over if came down to a better education being there)