<p>For a BM in Saxophone Performance, both schools have truly wonderful saxophone professors–Paul Cohen at Mason Gross and Carrie Koffman at Hartt. </p>
<p>So many grad students at Mason Gross (is that a negative?), and we’re out of state, which doesn’t help. Hartt has a strong musical theater program–great opportunities for playing in pits, and fantastic ensembles, but University of Hartford is not academically strong. Don’t know about financial aid at either one yet.</p>
<p>Any info on either would be so appreciated!</p>
<p>Who do you (or your child?) want to sound like? That is my daughter’s #1 priority.</p>
<p>If you think both are equal, then look for other factors, cost/scholarships being a big one (for us at least).</p>
<p>I wouldn’t consider playing in the college’s pits an opportunity, by the way. A good saxophone/clarinet/other reed player should be able to find pit work outside of school, and for pay.</p>
<p>We just heard the saxophone ensemble at a concert at Hartt and they were excellent. It was a very musical performance. You will have a great experience at Hartt. Hartt, the Art School, and the engineering school at Hartford all have great reputations. I think you should visit both and attend a rehearsal at each school. You will know where you fit in best after you visit.</p>
<p>D3 is a junior violist at Hartt. Her experience has been that the students at Hartt (and maybe a couple of the other schools mentioned) are head-and-shoulders above the UHart general population. </p>
<p>As a first year student, she lived in Hawk Hall on a themed floor and got to know several students in the honors program from the dorm and from sharing classes with them (there are honors sections of the general distribution classes and Hartt students are often placed into those even if they’re not officially in the honors program).She still is friendly with some of those people, but lately she seems to be spending more time with other Hartt students, probably because they’re all in the music building day and night!</p>
<p>She was hesitant about UHart’s academic reputation as well, but has found that the professors are fantastic. For her, the choice of Hartt was a combination of fit with the teacher and financial aid. Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Hartt has an excellent rep in the Northeast. The only downside to Hartt and financial aid is that they don’t give it in the traditional sense. Your child will hopefully get a scholarship offer from Hartt but they do not offer any financial aid to Hartt students other than loans and pell grants (and whatever instate aid is available to Ct residents). If you would otherwise qualify for financial aid ie grants,etc., you will not get them from Hartt. The upside is that if your student is talented and plays an instrument that Hartt wants you could qualify for an excellent scholarship!</p>
<p>My son is also at Hartt. He has really enjoyed his first year. The music students carry a pretty heavy load of courses, and only have a couple of gen ed classes per semester. My son has seemed pretty satisfied with the gen ed classes, and generally loves his music classes.</p>
<p>In reference to the financial aid, if you get a talent scholarship from Hartt, you are not eligible for an academic scholarship from the university. I believe that if you are not offered a talent scholarship, you are still eligible for an academic scholarship, but I would check with the financial aid people on that.</p>
<p>I think that the personal relationship between the professor who is going to giving you private lessons on your instument is key. After all, this is someone with whom you will be working closely for the next four years. Have you had sample lessons with each of the professors?</p>
<p>That’s mainly the problem, I think. He’s had lessons with both. He knows and likes the professor more at one school and the school itself more at the other. Most people say that the professor is most important though…he gets that. For me it might be the money that’s most important…sigh.</p>
<p>When D auditioned at Hartt this fall we specifically asked if she could get academic money if she got no talent money. We were told no and that all Hartt students were only eligible for Hartt money and not U of H money. This is how Hartt is allowed to decide on all their own scholarships with no input from the academic side. So if you don’t get talent money, you are only eligible for need based aid.</p>
<p>^^and that is the downside of Hartt (and also an upside). D is at Hartt in acting (and I am procrastinating seriously or I would not be here)… but…Hartt kids are well above the general population, academically, but only eligible for merit money based on talent. It can be a problem-- but it also means that Hartt uses its money to insure they have a well-balanced group. </p>
<p>Hartt is a pretty wonderful school, and as Stradmom says, UHartford has some great professors. It can be a magical experience to be part of a small conservatory, and West Hartford has turned out to be a very fun little college town. If the teacher he likes best is at Hartt I’d definitely look into the school very seriously. His pals at the conservatory will be serious, dedicated, smart musicians. Has he spent a full day at both schools? That could make a big difference to his final decision.</p>
<p>I, too, have a son at Hartt. He really likes it (he’s not the kind that gets overly excited about things, so I cannot put words in his mouth and say he loves it). He is a freshman and lives in Hawk Hall, although most of the kids he hangs out with do not live in Hawk. He is very glad he lives in Hawk. It is certainly the nicer Freshman dorm.</p>
<p>Academically, he is stronger than the general U of Hartford population, but so are many (most?) Hartt students. I guess most of my son’s friends are Hartt students but he also has a group of friends who are not and enjoys them too.</p>
<p>As an aside, I went to see a theater performance (musical) at Hartt this past weekend. It was a great show - all of it including acting, signing, dancing, musicians, sets, costumes, etc. I was very impressed - I love theater, my son was not involved in the show and did not know any of the kids in the show either, so I am not being biased.</p>
<p>I will agree with what the others here have said about Hartt. I really like the school and I am really glad my son has the opportunity to study there.</p>