Music schools for students without private vocal education?

College Majors Music Majors
1

I am a junior in high school who wants to major in music. I would like to explore the field more before I commit to a specific music degree (like Comp or VP). I have no private music education and didn’t start my music education until ninth grade. The majority of my education is with a public school choir director, whom I meet with privately. I will likely need financial assistance, and my parents are not willing to pay for any of my education.

Schools I have looked at and will apply ot:

Ithaca College(Yes, I know this one is expensive, but it is a dream.)

SUNY Potsdam (Crane)

Udel (OOS. i am looking to get away from home (upstate New York not far from Ithaca)

SUNY Oneonta (I’ve heard really good things about this school)

Rowan U. (NJ, good music program)

Syracuse(expensive too, but in a city that I like)

Hougton U (In NY, good music program, opportunities)

Alfred University (Close to NYC without the extra cost, also a good music school)

Bard college (good music school, possibility of grad school there if I want)

Geneva U (PA, seemed nice)

Colleges I have contemplated but took off the list

NYU (Expensive as all get out and low chance of getting in)

SUNY New Paltz (not a good music program)

Furman (Way to far down south)

Cedarville(required bible study courses; I am not religious)

Berklee(expensive and who knows if i can get in, though Boston sounds like a good idea)

Belmont(in nashville which I like, but a little far South than I would like, and expensive)

Any advice on the schools above? How is the experience? Is my impression of some of these schools not right?

2

A few thoughts:

(1) You might want to explore whether it’s possible to enter any of the schools as “music undecided” or whether you need to audition in a specific major. I don’t know about composition, but I expect many of these schools see incoming VP students who have not had any/much private instruction, so you aren’t behind starting in 9th grade.

(2) Your limiting factor is $. I would recommend reaching out to potential teachers at these schools. You might be able to do a trial lesson (but let the teachers know if you can’t afford to pay—they might do a lesson anyway). Be honest with the teachers/schools about your needs and ask if they will be affordable. In general the SUNYs will likely be the most affordable.

(3) When thinking about music at SUNYs, Crane is amazing. I’ve also heard great things about Fredonia.

(4) Ask your choir director where they would recommend you go. Have you participated in any NYSSMA activities? People you meet through that might have ideas also.

Hopefully others with knowledge of VP and NY chime in!

3

If your parents won’t pay for any of your education, how can you attend college? Do they not have money ? You will need to do a chance me and find out about their finances.

If they are unwilling to pay but can pay, you will have no options short of a full ride. If they have financial need, you could apply for a need based scholarship.

Your list is likely unrealistic if they’re not paying anything.

4

This is a major point.

I once had a guitar teacher who had started at a school that he could not afford, gotten half way though a bachelor’s degree, and ran out of money. He had taken on substantial debt, but did not have a degree and could not afford to finish his degree.

He transferred to an in-state public university that was close enough to home that he could live at home, with significant merit aid. He completed his degree. However, he would have been way, way better off if he had started at the more affordable university. He was having to give a huge number of guitar lessons to pay off his debt for a school that he never graduated from.

I would encourage you not to start any degree program unless you have a realistic way to afford to complete the degree.

Paying for a four year degree without any help from your parents can be tough. It is not obvious to me how this would even be possible unless you somehow get a great deal of aid from the school.

At the risk of asking a difficult pair of questions: What do you expect to do after getting a bachelor’s degree in music? Why do you want to get a bachelor’s degree in music?

I have worked in high tech my entire career (with a degree in mathematics). I have been surprised how often I have been at a music event and seen someone I knew from high tech get up on stage and play. In one case a colleague played so well that I then spent the next month learning to play the same piece (it was something by Turlough O’Carolan). There are lots of people who have degrees in other fields and work in other fields but who play music, and often play music quite well.

Would your parents pay if you were majoring in something else other than music?