Important read for potential Vocal Performance/Opera students and families

bridgenail
Wed, 08 Nov 2017 22:58:39 +0000

Well…can’t disagree with any of that! Here are some comments/observations for people looking at VP.

1.) I didn’t know all this when my D was applying to college. But I did know that a “performance career” was NOT going to be high pay. Therefore money was a big factor in our school list. So LIMIT debt!

2.) Determine what you are willing to pay for a “bachelor’s degree” or equivalent and hold to that…bc March can bring a lot of emotions. We knew a performance degree had some risk but so does a history degree. Nevertheless, she would have a bachelor’s degree from a well-known school. We felt that she would be “employable” regardless of major.

3.) The comment on “no one knows how an 18 year old will grow” is very true. We did pick a school that would allow our D to change majors. As a classical vocalist she had only been studying “seriously” for 3 years. Who knew how she’d do in college? We wanted her to know she could change majors if necessary.

4.) IMHO UG is still different from grad programs. In UG, I do think the field was more even (but I could be wrong). My D’s school had the same amt of boys and girls entering VP (10 each); and from evening discussions amongst students enhanced by “jungle juice”, lips were loosened and scholarships seemed pretty similar.

5.) Understanding the game and pulling the plug. For my D, it was in summer programs that she started to see how the game was played. And at IU, she watched and learned how the grad students were treated. There were grad stars at IU (many 25+ and/or foreign) with guaranteed roles, successful students with a big role a year and the rest (small roles or none). There is also some big name faculty players; and they will fight for their students to get roles. So yea…it can get political (but UG is not often involved in this). All of this “stuff” informed my D on grad studies. She thought seriously about stopping…as she was unsure if she could really get to the top echleon where you get a lot. She threw a wide net for grad schools (not always common) and in the end stepped down to a less selective grad programs…bc that’s where she got a lot (promises on roles etc) and nearly tuition free. She felt lucky she got that deal (they were desperate for mezzos). She was accepted at big names but with only one good offer, the others were ho-hum. She was pretty sure that she would not be getting opportunities at those schools. She was a realist. She also could have waited to get older…but she didn’t want to at that time.

6.) Now she is out of school and I’m happy to say…she just got her first offer for a YAP program residency (4 mo short program)! I imagine the opera company personnel sitting around the table trying to figure out the ABSOLUTE LEAST amt of money they can pay and still entice 4 young singers to come to their program. Yea…I knew it would be low…and it is! This brings us back to point 1 - limit debt! My D can do the program bc she has no debt, lives pretty frugally…and is still on my health insurance and phone bill! She will also have a GAP in pay for a few weeks as she leaves her theater job…so a little nest egg from her grandparents will help there. Luckily she has a gig when she gets back. I’m trying not to assist…until inevitably I have to…but pay gaps…yep I see those in the future.

I hope this helps in some way.