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lapazfarm
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My daughter has decided she wants to major in music in college. She is just finished with 10th grade so we need to start looking at schools next year, plus bump up the lesson intensity a bit as she wants to switch from clarinet and bass clarinet to oboe.
Anyway, dd is no prodigy or anything like that, she just really enjoys playing in the school band and dreams of someday being in a real orchestra. She has been playing for about 6 years, but unfortunately her school's band program is small and not very strenuous, so she is perhaps a bit behind where others her age might be. Her career goal is perhaps teaching music at a high school or college level.
That being said, can anyone recommend a good college for music that is not so very competitive for entrance try-outs that she wouldn't get in? If it is a Catholic college, even better, but not necessary.
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JennGM
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Theresa, I don't have an answer...but I'm looking forward to seeing the suggestions. Your daughter sounds like me...except I was a pianist. I wanted to teach piano, I wasn't a prodigy. And the entrance try-outs scared me. When I looked into music majors at collegs, it was too competitive and intimidating for me. And, at the time, no really solidly Catholic colleges had a music major, only a minor.
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MacBeth
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Hey Theresa...is region improtant? Ithaca College has a great music program, and many of their grads teach music in schools in NY.
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Christine
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I just e-mailed one of my aunts to find out where one of her daughters attended college. All four of her daughters are very musically gifted (singing, violin, flute, and piano). The one about whom I e-mailed, plays the flute. After college, she went on to play in Paris and lives there, still. When she got married, she stopped playing professionally and started offering flute lessons to children. I will let you know, if I hear back from my aunt.
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marihalojen
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You might look into College of the Ozarks, my old Alma Mater! I wasn't a Music Major but had lots of friends in the program and they had so many neat opportunities, usually one International and one National tour a year. Loads of local opportunities too, both in the college setting itself and in Branson. It looks like the Proficiency exams are not until the Sophmore year?
It is very difficult to be accepted, financial need must be proven, preference is given to the local 5-state Ozark region, but other regions are considered. When I gave tours a few years ago 1 in 2000 applicants were accepted. But once admitted the College guarantees that you will graduate debt free. Students work 15 hours a week during the school year to pay tuition and have the opportunity to work 40 hours a week during the summer to pay for room and board. Scholarships and Grants cover the remainder.
It is a Christian college and the Chorale toured Italy one summer and sang/toured the Vatican!
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JennGM
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For some reason I was thinking you were on the West Coast, Theresa and wasn't going to even bother with my suggestion.
Catholic University has an excellent music program. Probably too excellent...as it is intense, but it does have a Sacred Music program and it hosts the Ward Method during the summer. Now I know CU isn't that solidly CAtholic all the time, so this is for what it's worth.
Another idea, a little closer to you, is Shenandoah University. Years ago they used to work out arrangments with Christendom College students with the Conservatory. I don't know any more details than that, but you could perhaps look into it.
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Theresa,
You might check out Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. I majored in vocal music education there. I know that they have an excellent vocal music program--we always swept up the awards at the regional National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. They are also known for their opera and musical theater programs. I don't know so much about the instrumental programs, but you might check into it.
Here's a link to WSU's webpage.
Dawn
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lapazfarm
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Thank you all so much! I will start looking into these right away!
And Christine I would love to hear what your aunt has to say as well once you hear from her.
Thanks again!
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ALmom
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You may want to look at local music schools in universities as opposed to just music departments in local universities. Basically don't go for the big name music schools for undergrad work. Unless you have won major competitions or are already being recruited by faculty, you will generally pay big bucks for graduate students. It's better to get solid instruction from a very good professor and move on to the bigger schools for graduate school if that is in the picture for you. Some of your less well known schools have top notch instructors in a specific instrument and a much more cooperative environment. Obviously we know more about piano. But you can research who teaches the instruement your dd is interested in. What is this person's credentials? Does this professor perform in some way, have connections or a graduate from some of the big name schools for your instruement? If faculty members are gone on performance tours most of the summer, that is a good sign. We don't live near a bunch of music schools like folks on the east coast - but we have access to a great music school within a few hours of us. It won't be listed on the schools you have to go to like Eastman, Julliard, Curtis,etc. but many graduates go on to do masters and doctorate work at these and other big name schools and many become faculty members in small colleges around the state.
Go to the music schools within universities around you. Get a feel for the atmosphere and the professors, talk to the students coming out of orchestra or band practice (at least in the south you can do this and it isn't considered odd at all). A violinist told us great things about the orchestra, expressed surprise at the calibre of music here (never dreamed he'd come to AL for music but was following his professor) and said that the thing he really loved was the collaboration between musicians. It was the only school that he'd seen with that calibre of music and drive and yet students helped each other. He hated to leave but was following this professor around. Now all this information helped us out - we liked the collaberattion, dd felt she would be challenged here and we already knew the piano faculty was fabulous. The orchestra we observed had more violas than violins (a very rare event indeed) and coupled with the info about violin faculty going in and out, we knew that our dd would find faculty willing to work with her in violin even though it isn't her major and she is not a competitive violin soloist. She did want to keep her violin skills up as a secondary instrument and perhaps play in some ensembles (more her strength in violin). If her top instrument had been violin, then this info would have told us to go elsewhere for school.
There is also a difference between a music performance degree (very intense) and a music education degree. You should research what you want. You generally get more intense instruction on your instruement with a performance degree, but that may give more options for later. There are also music therapy degrees, church music, conducting, music theory, etc.
Our dd will be attending a university in the south with a very famous band director that draws people from all over the country.
I don't know your instruement. Find a really solid local private teacher for lessons and begin getting used to performing, competing, playing in large ensembles (band and/or orchestra). The really good teachers will know the opportunities in the area - and also get you prepared for college auditions and theory courses. Another thing you should know is that every music major must show proficiency on piano - voice, strings, wind, etc. so any piano lessons you can get now will help in both music theory and the piano requirement for the degree.
Also begin to think about duel enrollment, AP or some means of getting credit for core courses so that you can begin light and ease into college. A performance degree is one of the most demanding in terms of time required - 5 hours minimum on your major instrument (per day) plus ensemble practice, ensemble and other performances and music and other academic course work.
One way to check out music schools is to participate in their music camps. That way you get to meet the faculty before deciding on a school and the faculty gets to know you and your ability to learn quickly with good instruction. Most music majors select colleges based on the faculty in their prime instrument. The university my dd will be attending in the fall as a piano performance major has had a number of violinist transfer in from bigger name schools because they were following the faculty member. But you want to be sure that the faculty is somewhat stable - ie if the school has a new faculty member every year in your instruement then you probably want to keep looking.
Music credits generally do not transfer as easily as academic credits from one school to another so you do want to make sure you are happy with your major teacher before deciding on the college.
Hope this helps. Also encourage dd to follow her dreams, be prepared to work hard for them but it is doable. Our dd was similar in that she only began thinking about music degree in 9th grade. She worked very hard to be prepared and competitive but had done nothing besides lessons until 9th grade - not even memorizing pieces. Finding the really solid teacher made a big difference in this being a reality rather than a dream. Hope this helps.
Janet
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lapazfarm
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Janet, that was extremely helpful! What a wealth of information! I had no idea that dd would need to learn piano also. She already plays clarinet and bass clarinet (and a little baritone) and is learning oboe, but it looks as if we will add piano to the mix as well. She is not sure about performance vs education, etc yet, but lacks confidence that she will be able to work up to the calibre needed to be a performance major. She is starting private oboe lessons next week inorder to improve more rapidly in that instrument(she really likes it and her band director wants her to play oboe in next year's concert band). Luckily her instructor for her lessons is a professor at the local university, so she should be able to help us in this process as well.
Thanks so much, everyone for all the info!
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Kelly
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Theresa,,
Take a look at Ave Maria in Naples. I believe it has some sort of Sacred Music program, and it's definitely Catholic!
Of course, I'm biased toward Florida State (but aren't you a gator????) I think their music program is pretty good, but I don't know how stringent their requirements are.
Kelly in FL
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lapazfarm
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Kelly wrote:
Of course, I'm biased toward Florida State (but aren't you a gator????)
Kelly in FL |
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Yep. Orange and blue all the way for me!!
Thanks for the tip on Ave Maria. I hadn't thought of that one!
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MacBeth
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Kelly wrote:
Theresa,,
Take a look at Ave Maria in Naples. I believe it has some sort of Sacred Music program, and it's definitely Catholic!
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Kelly, I looked a while ago, and saw a complete music major course load online. A few weeks later, it was gone, replaced with a minor. A bit after that, I got a call from a recruiter, and when I asked about this, he said he thought there was some music program, but it was not very big. 
When I originally looked, the major looked wonderful. I really hope they do flesh it out and make it work. I know the orchestra in Naples is good, too.
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Katie
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Theresa,
I notice you are in North Carolina. My dh went to Brevard College and they have a really nice music program. They have an annual music trip to Austria (they used to anyway), and I believe they have vastly expanded their music program recently. The school itself is small and everyone I have ever met from there is very nice. Not necessarily something to base a decision on, but I thought I'd add it for what it's worth. 
After Brevard dh went to Furman for his BA and Columbia for his MA, so going to a two-year college first was not a hindrance.
Just another thought!
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lapazfarm
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Katie,
I am familiar with Brevard college as I went to high school in the next county over (Henderson) and had a boyfriend who went to BC. It is a lovely campus and the school has an excellent reputation. Since we now live one county over on the other side (Jackson) it is still close by. That is a bonus! We will check it out for sure!
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Kelly
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Theresa,
I just remembered that my niece, who majored in music, attended Converse College in South Carolina. It's not too far from your neck of the woods! She loved it and was very happy with their collegiate atmosphere and music program.
Sorry about that Orange and Blue problem
Kelly, making a Seminole War Whoop in FL
PS Hmmm, Macbeth, that's wierd about the music program at Ave Maria. Seems like I just spoke with someone who is doing something musical at Ave Maria, but I'll have to do some sleuthing. Being a new school, I guess they're still ironing out the kinks. That would be a real shame to lose that track.
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ALmom
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Brevard also has a summer music program but entrance is by audition. You might look into repertoire requirements at these schools to get an idea of what audition pieces will look like. Brevard is one of the more famous schools. Better players here audition for summer camp there - I forget which instruments though.
BTW if you check into music schools, they will list reperoire/ audition requirements and deadlines so you have an idea. Music auditions are generally done earlier than other things so look at it now so you know your timeline.
Janet
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lapazfarm
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Just wanted to update on dd.
She had her first private oboe lesson with a professor at the local university last week. It went very well, and the teacher was very pleased with her and told her that if she sticks with it she should be able to get a scholarship, as they really need talented oboeists at this university and many others! Well, needless to say dd was very encouraged by this news, as was I. Added to her excellent grades at school, we are very hopeful that she will be able to study music if that is indeed the path she chooses.
Just wanted to share our good news!
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MacBeth
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Good to hear, Theresa. An enthusiastic and supportive teacher is so important for talent-based pursuits  . So happy for your dd! I know that music has meant so much in our house--it makes the whole atmosphere; and oboe is lovely to hear. Congrats!
Say, Libby knows the violin part to the Bach Concerto for Oboe and Violin--she played it on tour in Italy two years ago...maybe someday they could get together! 
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lapazfarm
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It might be awhile before she is up to that! But what a great goal to shoot for!
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: good colleges for music majors?
