<p>Hi! I have my heart set on double majoring in voice performance and creative writing. I know this will be tricky, but I am prepared! I have been taking classical voice lessons for many years and preformed many times in vocal masters classes; I have also participated in many writing workshops and intensives. </p>
<p>Please don't post about how this is an "unrealistic fantasy", etc. Trust me, I've had my reality check MANY times. </p>
<p>I am having trouble finding colleges. I am REALLY looking for a B.M. in Voice, not a B.A. or B.F.A. </p>
<p>I am also looking for creative writing as a MAJOR, not an English major with a creative writing concentration. This is the trickiest part. </p>
<p>While it is obvious that Oberlin is perfect with it's double major program; it is equally obvious that acceptance is NOT a decision that one can count on! I also have UNC Wilmington as a safety school on my list, but I feel like I can't just apply to two colleges.</p>
<p>Anyone have any ideas in mind? I saw that the degree programs in Columbia College Chicago were PERFECT (not to mention that it's in CHICAGO!!!) but I am a little intimidated by the fact that the program doesn't have an audition? That seems a bit absurd to me! </p>
<p>Any other ideas? I appreciate all help :)</p>
<p>P.S. I had to write this post in about 2 minutes so please don't judge my writing skills based on my illiterate abbreviation. :)</p>
<p>Susquehanna University has both a creative writing major and a BMus in performance degree. The music department is strong - not sure about the creative writing but you should check it out.</p>
<p>Another option would be Ithaca College. They have a music conservatory and a writing major. I am not sure how easy it would be to get the double degree there. Everyone I know that has gone to Ithaca has loved it - music majors and English majors…</p>
<p>These seem like very narrow and strict demands. Some of the best writing programs in the country are concentrations rather than majors. Why eliminate them? You don’t want to read literature and write the essays that would be required for an English major with a concentration in Creative Writing? I am interested in your reasoning.</p>
<p>And many BA’s in vocal performance at the undergraduate level are great programs with wonderful professors and opportunities, and solid extensive basic training. Graduates with BA’s in music, or even just studying privately, are admitted to elite Young Artist Programs or for MM’s in Vocal Performance at a time when their voices are more mature.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Spiritmanager…why a BM instead of a BA? Not all BM or BA programs are created equal. It will have no effect whatsoever if you plan on going to Grad school for voice. There are BA programs that are as music intense as any of the other BM programs. Also, do a search on the Music Majors forum <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/</a> where double majors and VP are frequently discussed.</p>
<p>Thank you all SO much for the quick replies! Chapman University and Ithaca College look great! Bonanza, John Hopkins would be absolutely perfect, you’re right, but it’s quite obvious that I would be betting against the odds on getting in! :)</p>
<p>You all are being so helpful and I really appreciate it!</p>
<p>In response to the other contradicting opinions, yes, I have very strict limitations. (Hence, why I felt the need to refer to strangers online for advice in the first place?) I am sorry if I gave the off the inaccurate vibe that concentrating in a topic of interest was worse than majoring in it, or that receiving a B.A. in music was of less value than receiving a B.Mus. Trust me, these were not my intentions. I do not feel that one direction is necessarily better than the other. However, I do feel that these directions differ greatly. </p>
<p>There are numerous articles explaining the difference between a B.A, a B.F.A, and a B.Mus. I encourage you to read them so you can see for yourself the various intention each major possesses.</p>
<p>As for the concentration, this scenario can be applied to many aspects of life. An undergraduate who desires to be a marine biologist might prefer to jumpstart this passion within his/her major. While a standard Biology major will most definitely cover marine biology within it’s curriculum, it may also cover unnecessary topics of interest for the student, such as Botany. With a major in marine biology itself, the student will dig DEEPER into their topic of interest within the same time frame as previously because the curriculum is focused around budding marine biologists.</p>
<p>The student will also posses a basic knowledge to the necessary biology needed because while marine biology is not always a part of biology, biology is always a part of marine biology.</p>
<p>LaJolie - Thanks for clarifying your reasoning. However, I still think you’re ruling out some phenomenal writing programs. Just, for instance, my son is at Bard - and I’ve been involved with writing and publishing my entire adult life - and I cannot imagine a better writing program. But it is a concentration, not a major. That is just one example. And, btw. my son is getting a BM in music in the conservatory, and a BA in the college - so, yes, I do know the difference between the degrees. However, BA’s vary dramatically from school to school, with widely different requirements. You’ll need to look at each program specifically to see if it would serve your purposes - and not based on the degree or major offered.</p>
<p>If I were you I would check out all schools which are known for having great writing programs, and then look into their course offerings for vocal music. For instance, I know of a young man who just graduated from Vassar who is now at Bard’s graduate Vocal Arts Program run by Dawn Upshaw. Similar stories abound from other schools.</p>
<p>lajolie-- My D did her BM in VP at a large music school within a large university and did her MM in VP at another music school at a large U. She is now making a living via vocal performance alone. The place where she did her MM offers a BA in VP. A very small program that sends their VP undergrads off to grad programs such as Curtis, Yale, and Juilliard. And their MM students show up in NYC as Met finalists every year. I did not take your opinion as a slight in any way. I will say that for vocal performance in particular (as opposed to marine biology) it is all about the particular program(intensity , stregnth of music theory, et al) and the teachers and not the letters after your degree. I would strongly encourage you to look at each programs relative merits. Ultimately: do they send their undergrads off to good grad programs and do their post MM students work professionally. Those are the “directions” you should heed. You might want to read: <a href=“http://www.auditioningforcollege.com%5B/url%5D”>www.auditioningforcollege.com</a> look at vocal performance “what does and operatic career look like”</p>
<p>NYU offers a BM through its Steinhardt division and a creative writing minor in College of Arts and Sciences. Class sizes in the writing workshops are capped at 15 people and the master classes, which because of NYUs location are often taught by some pretty amazing authors, are capped at 12.</p>
<p>You would need to apply to Steinhardt and add the minor when you attend. Students in all the divisions take classes at CAS.</p>
<p>I’ll bet that if you look closely at any creative writing majors that the requirements won’t look that much different than an English major with a creative writing track. I would think that a creative writing major would have a significant amount of reading and literary analysis involved.</p>
<p>Thank you all SO much for all the suggestions and sharing your personal experiences! This was very helpful and I definitely agree with everything that has been said!</p>
<p>St Olaf? I don’t know for sure if it has a creative writing major, it has some sort of creative writing though. You should just look at the requirements.</p>