<p>I’m a junior in high school so of course now is the time to start looking for schools to figure out pre-screening and audition repitoire but also what schools I want to apply to in general. I’m attending Manhattan School of Musics precollege program for voice now and I love it and want to audition there as well as all the other big name schools. Every one of them claims to have great programs for undergrads and I’m sure they do, but I what I really want is a place where I can learn all the technique and languages I need and still get a chance to participate in an opera or two a year. I’m just worried that if I do end up going to one of these schools that all the graduate students will get all the roles and I will get very little or no performance time whatsoever. So does anyone have any suggestions for schools that could give me that?</p>
<p>As at MSM, the majority of conservatory programs provide limited opportunities for undergraduates, especially freshman. Some limit by not allowing freshman or sophomores to audition, while at others you will be competing against MM and DMA students when allowed to audition. Many will offer the chance to do opera scenes as well as providing guidance for appropriate summer festivals to audition for.</p>
<p>As most people on this forum will tell you, as an undergrad voice major, performing should not be on your criteria list. Yes it is important to have stage experience, but as an undergrad your main goal should be developing a solid, consistent techinque. That’s it. As far as school recommendations go I would stay away from a HUGE program. Go for the small, med-small programs. Those will give you the best attention.</p>
<p>Do not worry about performing in “an opera or two a year”, there will be plenty of time for that later on. Every school will tell you that they have great programs for undergrads but that should not include performing with a full orchestra. You should be spending the undergrad years working on learning good, solid Bel Canto technique, languages, diction, music theory and music history in addition to your academic requirements. Perhaps a chorus part when you are an upperclassmen and opera scenes, performed with piano.
The name of the school doesn’t matter as much as the teacher you will find and the philosophy of the department within the school. You want to sing safely and to grow into the voice you will have later on.</p>
<p>Agreed. I know many high schoolers have a great time performing in lead roles in their high school or community theater’s productions but an undergrad VP major should not be performing ANYTHING with an orchestra. Choruswork would be acceptable as an upperclassman as MezzoMama stated. I would also recommend not taking with a teacher who has 60+ students for undergrad because believe me, my D is there right now…and it sucks. She feels very insignificant. Our preference was for the smaller programs. Read through some of the threads here and you will find the info. There are waaay too many identical threads to this one. Also take a look at this thread:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1239590-what-conservatories-colleges-have-you-applied.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1239590-what-conservatories-colleges-have-you-applied.html</a></p>
<p>It gives an idea of where a lot of VP majors are applying/want to go.</p>
<p>I do always find additional info reading these threads-- and it won’t influence where my D applies as those applications and prescreenings are, of course, by now all signed, sealed, and delivered. I am curious what is considered “small” “medium” and “large.” I know, for example, that Shepherd is small and IU/Jacobs is large-- but I don’t know what size a lot of others are considered. If there are 100-120 VP students, undergrad and grad combined, is that medium or large? I think Michigan has about 120 combined and Northwestern 80-100. I don’t think anywhere my D applied has 60 or more students per teacher… but size definitely is something she will want to consider ultimately. So… how many students (and please say whether you are including grad students in your numbers) constitute a small, medium, or large program in your opinions?</p>
<p>There are small programs at large schools. UCLA only has 35 students. That’s undergrad and grad combined. But then again they only admit 12 total per year. So as far as admissions go you might want to add in a larger program as a “safety”. 60 has to be some sort of exaggeration. If each student gets an hour long private lesson each week…well you get the picture.</p>
<p>60 is hardly an exaggeration…I shouldn’t name her, but my D’s teacher teaches at at 3 different music schools as well as a YAP studio and many other private students. Obviously, not all the students have WEEKLY lessons. Theoretically that is reserved for her students in the conservatories.</p>
<p>Got it musicmom! Some of these big names, at big name schools really stretch their time out. Too bad. Especially if you are paying big name school tuition.</p>
<p>I think we have mentioned before that a good question to ask when visiting schools would be where else the teacher teaches and what their availably is for their students. At Rice the VP professors do not teach at other schools, the studios are small and unless on the somewhat rare performance trips for the one currently performing professor, they are there all week for students. </p>
<p>operasinger016, you could also look at schools that have a more undergrad focus such as Oberlin. And there is more to performance than operas. DD was only in the chorus on one of the school operas, but she made her own performance opportunities through optional recitals, working with composers to present their work and working with instrumentalists for special performances. There were also solos in chorus and other campus events. </p>
<p>The best advice is to find a good teacher and a place where you can grow. It might not even be a big name school. Singers come from all kinds of undergrad schools. Grad school is a different story.</p>
<p>“but she made her own performance opportunities”</p>
<p>BINGO singersmom07. By the time D finished grad school, this initiative was the indicator as to who would be successful and who would fall by the wayside. Performance opportunities are out there. You need to network with other musicians, get to know your schools collaborative pianists, find out who is composing music for voice on your campus, discover which churches hire singers for classical rep, seek out local and national competitions, audition for concerti that the schools orchestra might be performing. Do not just wait for your school to offer you roles in the two or three operas they will be producing.</p>
<p>Ditto singersmom07 and musicamusica. The focus at my D’s school is all on the grad and post grad students so she has actively pursued performance opportunities by not only holding soloist and section leader church jobs but by singing in/organizing recitals and performances in the community and performing new works. Lately, she seems to be singing somewhere 3-4 days week, but it’s work that’s safe for a young voice. There is plenty to do out there but you have to be willing to put yourself out there, network, talk to everyone and anyone and have rep ready for different occasions. When she graduates, she’ll have a very nice resume to offer to grad schools…
When a student looks at schools, find out if there is a big disparity in the numbers of students in the various studios. If one teacher has a much larger number, it could well be that not all of those students are getting the required number of lessons per semester or are not getting the full amount of time allotted in each. Time management is a skill not all teachers possess!
I keep saying this but it’s worth repeating: pushing a young voice can result in damage and a student doesn’t always have the confidence to say “no” when asked to sing beyond their comfort level nor the ability to know when something has gone wrong. Once damage is done, it’s often not easy to repair and could require months of vocal rest, relearning technique or even surgery. Go slowly, there is plenty of time- singers don’t usually “retire” at 40!</p>
<p>SUNY Purchase has an amazing vocal program for undergrads. The studios are very small - teachers only have about 10 students, sometimes less. It’s super well known for being such a great undergrad program. And not that it should matter, but we do put on two operas a year - which you will be a part of. And we have won opera awards all around the country - no denying it’s a good program, with most of the leads being undergrads. And not just seniors - last year, we had an amazing sophomore lead.</p>