So I’m currently a rising sophomore getting my BM and I’m sort of lost when it comes to thinking about preparing for post graduate work for voice specifically. I don’t know what the defined pathway is, whether for opera specifically or for a combination of opera, choral singing, and early music etc, and the more I look to see what schools are offering the best post grad options I get lost. There is so much bias in rankings and lists of ‘best schools’ and I would really appreciate it if anyone could shed some light on the following:
- Where, if anywhere, can I go for an MM or DMA in voice to have the best chance of accessing the opportunities and training for a high level career? (i.e. what do you think the best voice programs are for a student with a top BM?)
- What do I need to prioritize in my undergraduate studies in order to do so? (Outside of letting my voice develop and becoming as good of a musician as I can, which is obviously a main point in undergrad, to sharpen one's skill set and toolbox as much as possible).
- What is the most defined pathway for voice performance, if one exists? How do people tend to end up with careers in classical voice that sustain them and fulfill them and present them with something as close to that 'dream job' as they can get?
Thanks in advance for any responses.
The best place to go to get answers to your questions may be your current teacher and other professors (coaches, diction teacher etc ). Choosing the best graduate school for you will require a mix of opinions from other teachers and your own desires.
My D watched the results closely of upper classmen as they auditioned for grad programs particularly in her junior year. She asked a lot of questions of the students or overheard discussions of other schools. Who got in where. Why did they go or not. She also found out information on grad schools at summer programs (and was able to meet some other professors). Her peers and teachers were the best sources of information for her.
What you prioritize is really up to you…and it may become more clear as you actually have to start auditioning Senior year. The teacher is of course important. Getting good assistance on tuition mattered a lot to my D. She also wanted to be in a city and at a school that had an affiliation (even if very loose) with an opera company. She was willing to give on a lot of other “things” - even reputation. But being in a city was really important to her. Note that “being in a city” probably has low correlation to success in general but it mattered a great deal to her personally … so she went with her heart.
As for a guarantee of success or a blueprint to follow, there really is none. So how does one do this? From watching my D, at each crucial step, she gets an offer or two or three. Something always seems to work out…sometimes in big ways but most times in small ways…that just keeps her education/career moving forward to her satisfaction. So my recommendation would be to try for summer programs, try for roles, do some competitions…in general just keep putting yourself out there and see where it takes you. Even now (after grad school), my D has some goals (basics that she feels she needs to still be in the game) and in a year or two, if those goals are just not happening she will “explore other options”. But for now she has work for this next year…which she got from doing a lot of auditioning last fall/winter…so all is good for now…
Good luck. You are still young. And remember: the more you try, the more luck you will find.
@bridgenail I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to give me this advice. It is extremely helpful and reassures me that I haven’t missed some inextricable mark somewhere along the way. Really, thank you for the insight.