<p>I’ve been given the advice to look at schools for vocal performance where your teacher will really nurture you, and the overall school has a supportive environment. I understand often times this is not a conservatory environment. I have lots of schools on my list, but I’m not quite sure which schools and teachers fit this “nurturing and supportive” bill. Does anyone have names of schools or teachers like this?</p>
<p>Also, there is always conversation about conservatory vs. university for undergrad voice. What are the disadvantages of a conservatory environment if you make your own performance and outside academic opportunities? Will employment post-graduation be more difficult graduating from a conservatory?</p>
<p>In my opinion, Rice has the level and demand of the very best conservatories, but the small number of students creates a wonderful nurturing environment for undergrads.</p>
<p>I think it fits the bill perfectly from what you just described. It will provide you with a voice faculty that can’t be bettered, a relatively large number of performance opportunities, a learning environment with some of the best musicians of our generation, and a gorgeous campus. What’s not to like? Of course I am a bit biased… ;)</p>
<p>I second operaluvr - every voice event I’ve been to at Rice has been astoundingly good. They really have their act together, and I think they’re beginning to channel even more money to the voice department (always hinting at a new opera theatre, but who knows). Both the Shepherd School and Rice as a whole are fabulous, and the small size really adds to the personal warmth of the place, in my opinion. Definitely give them a visit and have a trial lesson if you can - though two much-loved and respected voice teachers are retiring at the end of this year, I believe.</p>
<p>The thing to remember is that there is NO right school for everyone. Every few years the pendulum swings and a different school is touted as the “best”, and remember that schools also have great PR departments who are responsible for getting the word out there- quite a bit of that is just that “talk” and “hints”. What might be a great situation for a graduate student might not be the right environment for an undergrad; teachers move around, new administration take schools in different directions… In fact, what a freshman may have encountered three years ago could be very, very different from what they will be experiencing in their final year. That is definitely the case for my D. Even within the area of conservatories, schools define themselves in different ways. There are stand-alone schools, some with academics and some without, schools that are affiliated with universities and which allow you to take advantage of all those have to offer, etc. Urban (big or medium city), suburban or rural location. Student bodies of 400 or twice that amount, voice departments of 60 or 200. Where would you like to begin?
The “Employment post-conservatory” needs to be tempered with a good dose of reality. I think all of us can tell that you’ll need to go to graduate school and then begin the audition circuit for a great YAP if you want to hope for a career in opera. But there are many other ways to be happy in the field of vocal music. Some of us have kids who are making money in their field while in school or while preparing for the next phase of their education, but that’s not a certainty. Nothing about this comes easily, but if you love it, you’ll give it your all.
Lalalovely2013, I would suggest that you search the final acceptance lists of VP majors for the past 3-4 years and try to contact some of those students or their families and ask for first hand information about the schools. Then make some choices from there.</p>
<p>I would have to agree that Rice seems to be a very nurturing environment. My D, a freshman there, has been so pleased with her studio. She said they are like one big family. They even get together on the weekends to cook meals together. She said the upper classmen are always supportive, helping her and giving her guidance. She said she never feels any of the “frustrating” competition that she felt through high school and pre-college programs.</p>
<p>I think competition is good. Most people perform best when they are under a little stress, and competition creates just the right type of stress. Life isn’t aways all zen, and everyone doesn’t deserve a trophy.</p>
<p>That said, a competitive enviroment can be very nurturing, as long as it isn’t hateful or full of jeolousy. Nurturing doesn’t have to mean “babying” or “sheltering”.</p>
<p>Just to clarify I don’t think flute1298 was saying Rice isn’t competitive or is babying. Rice is probably one of few most competitive schools in the nation. I would recommend the school for any level of study really. Each degree level is provided with a wonderful environment to give them what they need at the time. The undergrads that come out of Shepherd have not only been educated and trained up to the highest level, but they are well rounded people with very real life experiences. (My fiance went to Rice and can try to answer any questions if you want to PM me)</p>
<p>From personal experience (where I did my undergrad), I would not recommend Eastman if you want to have the competitive high-level conservatory training ALONG WITH the real life experiences. The conservatory is filled with lovely people whom I loved getting to know, but it is definitely in a bubble of sorts.</p>
<p>University of Maryland (where I did my graduate studies), USC, and Northwestern might also be good options for you!</p>
<p>Thanks Violoncello! Yes, you are right…I did not mean that Rice is not competitive, just that it is not “frustratingly” so. My D definately feels the competitiveness with seating and mock auditions as well as the need to play her absolute best in studio classes. But when things don’t go as planned, she finds the students/teacher in the studio to be very helpful and supportive</p>
<p>I found BoCo to be a perfect mix of challenging and nurturing - at least for me. I spent two weeks there this summer in a vocal program and fell in love with the faculty and overall comradery amongst students and faculty alike. Ive never grown so much in my artistic life in such a small amount of time. I have never had so much critique and never felt so confident in my abilities to grow and improve :)</p>
<p>One important issue is how well the faculty gets along with each other, particularly in an area like voice, where there are multiple faculty members in the division, and there will be times of inevitable competition and conflicts. For a young singer, it is crucial that everyone has his/her best interests at heart, not just the studio teacher.</p>
<p>lorelei makes an excellent point, as usual. What you hear from potential teachers, administration and audition committees may have little in common with what you’ll actually encounter when you’re a student at a school. There are several important schools who have been in the midst of “personality conflicts” between faculty/departmental members for the past few years- schools that have top reputations and good PR departments, but the students are the ones caught in the cross-fire. For instance, roles and opportunities may be going to the students of a particular teacher while other students are overlooked. If the director of the opera department favors a certain teacher’s studio…well, you see where this is going.
These are things that are not easy to find out from the “outside” and perhaps not even if you talk to students at the school, if those just happen to be the “chosen”. Take some time, make a list of schools that interest you and then begin the process to learn all that you can. Search engines, the various on-line voice boards,etc can give you some info; then use the search function on here and look over acceptances for the past several years and get in touch with those who have kids (or who attend) schools you’re considering.
Remember that there is no one right school for everyone and there is no perfect teacher who is the magic pill for every student. While you might indeed find the ideal combination for you, there is the chance that you’ll have to pick and choose. For a young singer, I personally believe that the teacher is more important- you have plenty of time for the roles and stage time. It’s quite possible to make performance opportunities for yourself and it’s important that you do, but getting the best possible training is all important.</p>