parrol

Although Northern Illinois University has a well rounded music program with everything from symphony to gamalan, don't be fooled. I am an alumnus of this school and have been refused financial aid for grad school due to my race, I have been abused by slander from faculty members to colleagues, and I have been completely ostracized from the professors that I studied under for over 4 years! This school is great if you just want to go in order to get experience and then get a job as a secretary of something, but if you want to actually be a musician - stay away!

glassharmonica

parrol, that is a serious charge, but I am having trouble understanding what you are saying. Which schools have denied you financial aid for grad school because of your race, and how is this deplorable situation connected with your being an alumnus of of NIU?

StacJip

If you have been denied financial aide or admission due to your race that is a serious civil rights violation and you need to call the Office of Civil Rights and file a complaint.

I am sorry you had a negative experience and are now struggling, but all musicians need to be aware that making it in the profession is challenging. I know many a successful musician who has done other jobs in order to pay the bills while they are figuring out how to make it as a musician. That is unfortunately life. Good Luck and I hope you can find a way to pursue your passion and be financially independent.

Britt236356

Mansfield was the first Pennsylvania state institution to grant a certificate to teach music, and has a long, rich tradition of music excellence. At Mansfield you can pursue:

Undergraduate Degrees and Concentrations

B.M. Music Education
B.M. Music Performance
B.M. with Elective Studies in Business
B.M. with Emphasis in Music Tech.
B.A. Music

Graduate Degrees and Concentrations:

MA Music with Concentrations in:
Choral Conducting
Collaborative Piano
Instrumental Conducting
Music Education

Minor:
Music Technology

The Music Department has 20 faculty members and a student body of about 230 majors. The department is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and approved through the NAMM Affiliated Music Business Institutions.

For more information: music.mansfield.edu

hawkrn

Wow! Just saw the misguided post from Parrol. Sounds like a personal issue and is not representative of the music students, such as my S, who are currently at NIU.

NJViolinDad

Britt236356, we are in the Mid-Atlantic my daughter is looking for low-cost options. Do you have any info on the professors? Are any of the instructors known in their field?

MusicMomNY

NJViolin Dad, my son goes to Mansfield and loves it. The downsides, it is in the middle of no where and if she is looking for weekend activities, many students do go home. The upside, there are many music clubs, concerts, theatrical shows (he was just in Guys and Dolls) to become active in and NY and NJ residents get a nice tuition discount. He has become a vocal major, but still plays in the orchestra (his prior experience was the reverse). Almost all of the music professors are doctorates and the choral professors are very well known. Although I thought the recent concert I attended was excellent, he feels the orchestra/program is not that strong. Is she looking for Music Ed or Performance? I feel for the Music Ed, this may fit the bill, but if she is looking for orchestra performance, it may not be a strong pick.

mytegirl

To chime in here-

I have daughter, Junior. She loves her flute. I think intimidated by being a music major. Plays her piccolo, as well as taken up piano-private lessons this year to go with music theory in school. She brought a cello home and is playing it, she is not bod.

She intends to major in Chemistry, with a nod towards medicine especially surgery.

She has done the all state gigs, festivals and high end CA flute camp.

She also loves to swim, been swimming for 10 years. These past few years she picked up diving. She placed in the top 10 last year and ceded at 3rd this year.

I want college to be a place where she can work out her choice between music and chemistry. We are in the Northeast, we have strong family ties to the west coast and I encourage her to go away for school. I'd love (who wouldnt) school to be paid for with an enormous scholarship. She is taking 3 AP classes and one honors, her GPA is over 3.6. She recieved an award for having a GPA over 3.6. ( I don't know more than that, SAT is coming up. ) I don't see her in a school of more than 20k.

Please suggest options that should be considered.

electricbassmom

Mytegirl, are you in Massachusetts? U mass Amherst has a good music program and I'm sure their science programs are good too. Plus, you have all of the five college opportunities.

mom22girls

Though not on either coast, I'd recommend Oberlin. My husband went their thinking of an instrumental major and ended up majoring in Chemistry.

CLRN8MOM

The University of Southern California will often give generous awards for high academics and financial need. I don't know about their talent awards. I'm pretty sure she could apply as a dual degree then decide later. It's a great school!

StacJip

mytegirl,
You do not want to pay more than 20K? Do you mean total (including room and board) or just for tuition? It is hard to tell whether that will be possible or not. There are so many variables that come into play with financial aide and scholarships. Eastman/University of Rochester has many scholarships. My son's friend got a generous scholarship from University of Rochester for a student who was interested in pursuing music but not majoring in it. Depending on your income level the ivy league schools could be financially very affordable. And certainly a program like the Harvard/NEC dual degree would offer your daughter what you want. My son has several friends at Columbia who are not majoring in music but continue to pursue their musical interests successfully.

jb1966

@mytegirl,

Don't know how the chem dept is but University Of North Texas has a huge music school and is known for being generous, last I heard.

Motownpiano

I hear Bard Conservatory has an excellent double degree program with great studio faculty and that they are offering generous scholarships. The D of a friend of mine was also looking at Oberlin-another school with a good double degree program.