thumper1

glassharmonica...your daughter will not be able to do a music performance undergrad degree at Yale. The Yale SOM performance degrees are for grad students only.

That is QUITE a rigorous list...

violadad

glassharmonica, welcome. Yes, the process is a bit different and has many nuances. If you haven't already, please read So You Want To Be Music Major - One Family's Experience.

And I've got to agree with thumper1, that is quite a list. I'm assuming you're considering Mercer a "safety"? Without knowing background, training and experience, the list could well be fine, but you might want to think about an additional safety or two. I also assume you have discussed the list with her private instrutor.

Yale SOM is a grad only program as thump cites. There is a combined BA/MM that requires undergrad acceptance at Yale (with all the necessary parameters of academic admit criteria) being met, and acceptance into the MM as a junior. If you need a link, just ask.

glassharmonica

Hi, Violadad,

Thanks for replying! Actually, Yale SOM has an undergrad program, but it is only a 3-year certificate program, not a BM program. My daughter's teacher recommended she apply there, but it's not on her hot list. Mercer's McDuffie program is only a few years old. It's run by Robert McDuffie and my daughter has attended his Labor Day Strings Festival for a few years. The high school festival draws top talent-- kids who go on to Curtis, Juilliard, etc., but not many of these kids have taken the bait and gone onto Mercer. My daughter says the teachers there are really excellent, but she does not see herself as thriving in a small, Southern city (we are from the East Coast.) FYI, McDuffie is completely free- tuition and room/board are covered by grants. Same for Colburn. Yale SOM and Curtis are tuition-free although r/b is the student responsibility. CIM is known for generous merit scholarships. We know students there who are essentially spending less than they would to go to Curtis because of generous grants.

violadad

I understand the need for financial considerations, and just wanted to make sure you're comfortable with the list, the instructor's assessment and their ability to equate your d's skill set within an extremely competitive national and international audition pool.

Even for those within the best of the best, the audition process is a crapshoot.

On the subject of talent based awards, those at the top of their game typically get the "mostest", so as long as the instructor selection and peer quality will meet your d's needs, I would not rule out the likes of Oberlin, USC/Thorton, Rice/Shepherd and a few others. NEC is not known to be overly generous, unless you are at the very top of the heap.

"We" (well, at least I) tend to over react to the uninformed perception that Yale offers a performance option. The certificate program through the SOM is of course an option, but from the list presented my assumption was that it was a list of typical BM programs, and did not include the certificate options. You did your homework.

It's still a formidable list. Best of luck to you both. Plenty of info available here. Hang on tightly. It can get a bit bumpy.

glassharmonica

Thanks for the info! My daughter's teacher at Juilliard Pre-College was the one who recommended Yale, but because it's not a a BM program she is not highly interested. She sent in an application anyway. Rice and Oberlin are not on the list for a number of reasons, mostly having to do with faculty in her instrument. But yesterday a friend of hers told her that he'd read that students at Rice have been rated the "happiest" in the US. The program there is very orchestra-focused and although orchestra is not unimportant to her, she is highly interested in chamber music. She is applying to a very difficult studio at NEC and has a small scholarship there waiting for her if she is accepted but I don't think it's going to be the place, despite its reputation for chamber music. That teacher has not returned her email; another teacher there whom she studied with at a summer program has pursued her actively, but she had to turn him down because she felt for various reasons it was not a good fit-- that alone will probably prejudice part of the committee against her. She has a couple of lessons set up with Jyard faculty; the teacher she is applying to at Peabody does not like to see students at all before auditions. She's had lessons with faculty at Cleveland and has a few more set up. As for the other schools, she is going in cold. Right now the big hump is to get the recording together-- Bach on Tuesday, and Yale needs a Paganini. The admissions officer at CIM advised us to get the DVD in quickly and said please not to go to extra length to make a new video. Our date with the pianist and hall was late November, so she advised us to sent a concerto recording from last year. My daughter doesn't like the recording, but I think it will be good enough to score an audition.

Musicmanjdb

Hi all!

I'm a senior in high school who is looking to pursue an undergrad degree in vocal performance as a countertenor. Not sure where I'm going yet, but I have faith that I will make the right choice.

I have to thank the ACDA for peaking my interest in music. This year will be my third year in the high school honor choir, and once again, I am excited. I participated in the National honor choir last year as an alto.

I signed up for this site, because it had the few posts from students I have seen regarding finding a college for a countertenor. I hope it can help me do just that.

opera-mom

welcome musicman....look around and ask any questions....hope we can help

Pianofam

First post. Our son is a Junior and we are beginning our search. He has studied classical piano since he was four and some Jazz in the last few years and also loves school. At present we are looking at smaller schools with conservatories or very strong music departments where he would also enjoy the smaller academic classes. On the top of our list at present are Bard, Oberlin, Lawrence, Rice. NYU also holds interest although much larger a school than the others. Would love to hear from people who are ahead of us in the process and some pros and cons of each of these schools in terms of the piano program, the faculty, quality of the academics as well as quality of life. Others that were looking for a similar fit and have made their choice might let me know where they applied, where they got in and where they chose and why. I know this is a big question. Sorry if I have missed posts that already address this question.

violadad

Pianofam. welcome. One of the best ways to find specific info is by looking at (the last post) the master list threads

Master List of Music School Acceptances, Fall 2009
Master List of Music School Acceptances, Fall 2008
Master List of Music School Acceptances

Acceptances are listed by poster, program/discipline, and school. Looking for specific posts by a particular user within a school or discipline can be very helpful.


A few piano specific threads you may or may not have seen:
Prospective Piano Major needs HELP!
Which of these is best for studying piano?
Piano Major at Bard College (New York) / Conservatory

ilkster

I kept an eye on this website in the past as we were searching for a college for our middle daughter, who is now a sophomore at the College of Wooster. Our youngest is now a junior in high school, and her voice has developed in leaps and bounds. She was leaning toward MT as a possible major, but has really fallen in love with opera, has the "pipes" and the range to realistically look into it. At this point, we have an initial visit planned to Oberlin, and will probably visit the Cincinnati Conservatory when Heidi sings with the Ohio All-State Choir in Cincy at the end of January. Heidi's choir director suggests looking at Indiana. I'm looking to enhance my knowledge of the programs out there so that we can give her the best options possible.

violindad

Given the geography of the schools you have mentioned, I would suggest looking into the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM). It is a truly excellent school. I know of a student that applied to Juilliard merely to be able to use her merit aid offer from Juilliard to enhance her CIM merit; she was successful with large awards offered by both schools (although I think the Juilliard offer was still larger); she went to CIM, of course. Situated by Case Western, all CIM students have easy access to Case's good offerings. Mezzo's Mama has a daughter in vocal performance at CIM and is very knowledgable and helpful; you could PM her to get more information about the vocal program. Renee Fleming and Frederica von Stade have worked with CIM vocalists in recent months: it doesn't get any better. Obviously, you need to consider the appropriate fit for you daughter and find a compatible teacher, but if you have Cincinnati, Indiana, and Oberlin on your research list, I would add CIM.

ilkster

Thanks very much - POTO Mom mentioned CIM as well...I feel a bit sheepish on this one as my brother-in-law taught music theory there for many years, and yet I hadn't really considered the program when we started making a prospective list. I did take my middle daughter on a visit to Case, so I know there is significant reciprocity between the schools. I see that CIM is also hosting a first round of the Classical Singer High School Competition in February, which may be a good opportunity for Heidi to test her "chops" against talented peers. She's been getting "1" ratings at OMEA with nothing but positive feedback during the past two years...so I think it's time to step up to some stronger competition.

ilkster

Singersmom07

ilkster, Junior year is a good time to try out the Classical Singer competition. The school, scholarship information and timing is better for Juniors than Seniors. But don't put too much importance into it for college auditions. Doing well is great, but DD did not and still got into excellent schools with nice merit awards. Competitions look for different attributes than colleges, which are looking at the development potential. .

ilkster

Got it - thanks for the input.

iVocalize

Greetings,

I am a Senior in high school studying voice (Soprano). I recognized the wonderful community amoung prospective professional musicians, and I decided to check this forum out.

I am seeking help and advice for my peculiar situation; Prior to moving to Boonie-ville*, Texas early this year, I lived in a vibrant Arts area in Southern California, where I attended a high school of the arts as an Opera Major. Before I was forced to relocate with my parents, I had been rigorously studying voice aspiring to major in Opera/Voice studies at a significant conservatory of music. Currently residing in a location where private voice lessons and professional training are practically not heard of and unavailable, my ambitions continue to throb, and I continue to seek to pursue a career in vocal studies. However, with the lack of training I am currently receiving, I am having serious doubts about my acceptance into a conservatory.

Since moving to Texas, I am, unabashedly, the excelling choir student at my high school, and I have excelled in the UIL competitions and so forth.

Because of the advice I received from my public high school counselors regarding my financial situation, I am applying for Curtis and Oberlin for the Fall of 2010.

Please, I seek advice for my current situation. How can I pursue training at a conservatory and, further, a career in the vocal arts when I am "trapped" in my cirumstance? What can I do to further my artistry and knowledge of voice by myself? Any advice about applying to Curtis, Oberlin, and personal growth as an artist would be greatly appeciated.

Thanks.


*connotates my current location