My daughter is just beginning the audition process for Vocal Performance (classical voice). We have started a spreadsheet to compare different aspects of the universities and their vocal performance programs. I wanted to ask what is important to you (or your child) in a vocal performance program? Looking for any thoughts we have have overlooked!
Make sure thatt the program overall is one that your student is happy with because teachers can, and do, leave. Also. check the required courses as when applying to grad school, there will be tests in music theory, music history and languages.
There was a similar thread not too long ago. This may give you some insight. If it doesn’t attach properly, just look for the title in December.
I also second the comment above about “an environment she can be happy in”. The social aspect/environment is important in the long run. I would recommend encouraging and supporting “gut instinct” from your kid. If the music school is reputable (and affordable), let them make the call based on what feels right to them. This is something parents can’t always see…but students do pick up on the environment and if its a good fit.
“I also second the comment above about “an environment she can be happy in”. The social aspect/environment is important in the long run. I would recommend encouraging and supporting “gut instinct” from your kid. If the music school is reputable (and affordable), let them make the call based on what feels right to them. This is something parents can’t always see…but students do pick up on the environment and if its a good fit.”
I agree wholeheartedly with this!!! After visits and audition weekends, there were definitely some surprises here for my D (schools we thought would be an excellent fit just…weren’t; and schools we thought might have a snobby feel were warm and welcoming). As a parent of a Freshman VP who is 2500 miles from home, I’ll say it’s hard enough, but being somewhere you feel happy and connected has made many of the usual struggles easier! Teacher fit is paramount here, too, but even the best fit with a wonderful teacher won’t solve the problem of not being happy with the overall environment. For this reason, although it is such an expensive journey anyway, I HIGHLY advocate for a thorough visit to each program you are strongly considering. This can be done during audition weekends (which is what we did), but you’ll need to fly in a few days early and set up campus tours, trial lessons, and sitting in on classes and rehearsals. There is no other way to know if fit is going to be good. You just cannot know from even the most thorough research (which I suggest you still do!).
I am fine combing the rest of the graduation requirements to try and help my D understand what will be expected of her. How much math is required? What are the other GE requirements?
@BearHouse - Do you mean for a college VP degree? If so, the answer to that is: “It varies widely”! Some conservatories don’t have any math and just one or two gen ed-type courses while others may have a full compliment (a math and a science course, English Comp, etc) and of course, the languages and diction classes. The course lists for each school will detail what’s required.
Many schools, that we looked at, had semester-by-semester curriculum guides per degree on their websites. We did find this very helpful particularly as offers came in. It gave my D a good idea of her class schedule; and I think allowed her to visualize her first year…and think…would I like this. She liked knowing she could take theater classes and some interesting GE classes at the school she chose. If you (or anyone else) have a hard time finding these, it’s simple to call the music dept and ask for it.
@“Mezzo’sMama” Yes, for a VP degree. I am concerned about her progression in any degree program (get the degree, kid) given her penchant for “academic distraction.” Since she is mostly applying to big state u, there is a wide range of required classes. She can focus well on music and creative arts. Math and science? Not as much. So, trying to figure out what she will have to take in the GE realm is something that we are starting to think about more.
I wish she had applied to a few more conservatories but she didn’t want to leave the west coast.
My daughter is a junior and interested in vocal performance. We are trying to make a list of schools, but I just have no idea. Her teacher told her to look at smaller programs and bring in her list of schools, but we don’t even know how to narrow it down. She would prefer east coast or Midwest, but I’d doesn’t really matter. Her grades are great, as well as her ACT. She has a beautiful soprano voice and has been studying for years. Everything I read says find as school without a grad program and then the next thing I read says you learn so much from the grad students. I’m driving myself crazy googling. The school websites don’t give you any info, like is it MT heavy or classical? Small program or large? I’m frustrated and we’ve hardly started this process. We can’t visit all of these schools that might not even be appropriate. She is the type of kid who could be happy anywhere. She would find friends easily. To make things more difficult; she eventually wants a law degree. Anyone have a list of schools with smaller vocal performance programs that I could start researching?
@singingdaughter I would consider creating your own thread… list your daughters interests, goals, etc and I’m sure you will get responses to build a list from.
I’m gonna chime in real quick and tell you to maybe take a quick peek into music business programs (voice can be her primary instrument) where you get vocal training, performance experience and business classes (including things like contract law, etc). Maybe it’s not what you’re (she’s) looking for, but it has been wonderful for my D and has given her a taste of a lot of subjects and a lot of knowledge that I think will help her in real life (including helping her manage her music career) and is making her very employable / marketable. A lot of musicians need a day job or a supplemental income. Especially starting out. She is in a BM program so it is still extremely music heavy. It’s a small program / school and yet she’s getting wonderful opportunities. She is already a working musician earning real money and she is being offered opportunities outside of music as well. The more opportunities the better IMO. Classical voice / opera seems to be a different animal / require a different path though. I’m no expert there (even though D is getting classical training.) I only chimed in because you mentioned the law degree. My D has shown an interest in law all of a sudden because of her classes. Something I don’t think she would have been exposed to in a pure performance program. And she may not ever pursue it at all, but isn’t college a time to explore??? Just my $.02. Good luck!
@singingdaughter I don’t have time today, but I’ll try to chime in tomorrow! Hang in there!
@singingdaughter , if you could give us a little more information about your D it would help a lot! For instance, what is her focus musically-strictly classical, MT, jazz?? Has D done any summer programs/festivals? Has your D participated in any competitions, etc.? What are her dreams? What are her goals for college? And what are her career goals? The answers to all these questions will help us all give you some recommendations of schools to begin looking at. Also, and this is tricky, have you been given a sense of where your D’s talent and potential level are in relation to other singers (usually high level teachers will comment on this)? This is why I asked the question about summer programs and competitions, as well, because if D hasn’t yet done these, she just may not have had enough people hear her to give her this information!
Ditto to the above. Has your D been on any campuses? Big Universities, LACs? With all respect to the teacher, your D must enjoy the environment as well. As for grad students, it’s another important item on a list of things to consider along with goals and fit. And, dare I ask, is law school … a plan b … or something your D is adamant about…bc that would be an important consideration as well. My D went to a big U and prior to graduation she got several letters from the law school recruiting her (and any student with high GPAs as an auto-entry into their law program). Note this was a few years ago when law schools were really hurting.
She has attended 3 different vocal intensive/opera summer camps and participles in local competitions as well as the classical singer competition. We will attend the college fair at the classical singer convention in Boston again this year but it hasn’t helped to narrow down schools in the past.
@singingdaughter below are some programs we came across in my D’s journey. This list is by no means exhaustive, but I tried to include smaller, mostly LAC programs with strong academics (from your description of your D and her strengths and goals…) and well known, strong classical voice/opera programs:
Oberlin (double degree possible)
Vanderbilt
Lawrence University (double degree possible)
Carnegie Mellon
Miami University (Ohio)
Eastman (double degree possible)
Peabody (double degree possible)
DePaul
DePauw
McGill
Shenandoah
Ithaca
St. Olaf
Pepperdine
I hope others will chime in. Since we don’t know too much about what your D is looking for, i hope this will give you a good place to start your research! Way up this thread are some great posts about things to consider to help you compare programs. Best of luck as you get your feet wet in this process! Keep us updated and please don’t hesitate to ask any other questions that may come up.
@singingdaughter Luther College in Decorah, IA has a strong music and academics program!
Thanks so much everyone! This really helps,