How difficult is it to transfer from one music school to another?

jsmom · February 8, 2010, 10:47am

My son did not feel his audition process went well. On the bright side, however, he was accepted into one of his choices music school. He’s been rejected at one and waiting to hear from three others…So if he only gets in to the one school and goes there what is the likelihood of his reapplying/auditioning to another music school after a year and getting in? Are there many transfers from one music school to another? Or once accepted do students generally stay and finish at that school?

violadad · February 8, 2010, 11:20am

Students transfer for any number of reasons including academic, artistic, financial. Some follow faculty if they change affiliations. In the case of music studies it may well be more difficult, and require additional time (and expense).

It can be so instrument and school specific that generalities don’t apply.

The collective wisdom:

There are specific institution criteria for transfer students, and you need to know these in investigating transfer options. Some accept tramsfers, some don’t, some require transfers at the sophomore level only. There are specific procedures for National Association of Music School accredited institutions that will also need to be followed. Theory credits are typically the hardest to transfer, and rarely do. Some academic coursework may also be in question. It would be smart to keep al course syllabi and graded work, rubrics as some institutions will review course materials in evaluating what they will accept. Financial/merit/talent aid may also be limited at some schools for transfers.

And there’s always the gap year option:

ChrisP · February 8, 2010, 11:49am

I transferred after my first year. Most of my performance and applied music credits were not accepted by the school I transferred to. Conservatories and music departments generally don’t let you transfer music credits from another institution.

musicamusica · February 8, 2010, 11:58am

D transfered as a sophomore. Though technically her credits transferred, each school has their own music theory track and her music theory classes could not be applied to her BM graduation requirements. It took her an extra semester to graduate, even when she carried 18 to 20 credits.

violadad · February 8, 2010, 2:19pm

One more comment re “My son did not feel his audition process went well. On the bright side, however, he was accepted into one of his choices music school. He’s been rejected at one and waiting to hear from three others…”

It’s honestly not over till the fat lady sings.

(Excuse me for being a bit un “pc”, and no offense whatever intended to vocalists).

It makes sense to start thinking about “what ifs” and recouping plans to a degree, but the reality is that you don’t know until ALL rejections/acceptances are in and on the table.

Sometimes it’s nigh on impossible in gauging how an audition went. You often just cannot tell. A stonefaced, uncommunicative panel does not mean things went badly, nor does an open, caring engaged experience or “I nailed that one” indicate a shoe-in.

Once again, there’s this <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/654765-analyzing-post-audition-events.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/654765-analyzing-post-audition-events.html</a>

Hopefully he’ll have plenty of great options, and a few weeks from now the angst will be over financial packages and choosing between schools.

The best of luck!

cartera45 · February 8, 2010, 2:56pm

Yes, violadad, you need to change that saying to “It’s not over until the svelte, sexy lady sings.” The days of the stereotypical fat lady singing are coming to an end.

I don’t think it is common for people to transfer but it is certainly done so if he ends up not being happy, it isn’t the end of the world. Of course, he could love wherever he ends up.

violadad · February 8, 2010, 3:13pm

cartera, I was trying to avoid another baseball metaphor and was reluctant to use a yogi-ism. ;)

musicamusica · February 8, 2010, 4:39pm

I think a more appropriate metaphor would be…
“It aint over 'till Peyton Manning throws an interception”

musicmom · February 8, 2010, 5:19pm

Our son reapplied to his ‘dream’ conservatory after 2 years at another school (was rejected first time around). He was accepted, offered some merit money but ultimately did not transfer. Even with the merit award, it was cost prohibitive as he would have had to spend 3 additional years to complete undergrad due to non transfer of music credits.

He finished undergrad with honors and is now a happy music grad student.
Life works itself out.

Mezzo_sMama · February 8, 2010, 10:48pm

Hey, violadad and cartera, didn’t you two see the Met’s “Aida” this year?!
My apologies, but I still have to watch that one in small (and I use that term very loosely) doses. So much for the “Svelte” ladies of opera, there are still some parts that require quite a bit of heft to maintain, not to mention hauling around the costumes that weigh in at 40-60lbs each!
There are some considerations with transferring and some of them are the same with applying to grad schools at certain schools- if they happen to have a particularly rigorous theory sequence, or requires Eurythemics(yes, look it up!) it’s entirely possible to find that you need to pick up the entire sequence over again. For singers, it’s the languages and maybe acting or dance courses that could make you double up or take some extra time. You have to weigh the time and money against where you really want to be- the earlier the better, would be my advice, no more than a year. But your S may find that he really likes where will be and the “other school” will be nothing but a memory!

xoxtinysingerxox · February 14, 2010, 1:57am

Transferring is the biggest pain in the butt that exists. Granted I transferred from a conservatory in New York, to a state university in Florida, but it’s been awful. What school takes this course, but not that one. General education requirements are different at most schools.
I would avoid this at any cost.

How difficult is it to transfer from one music school to another?

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