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jollypear New Member
Joined: 16 May 2018 Posts: 2 Location: Missouri
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2018 3:33 pm Post subject: Graduate School Options |
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I'm quickly approaching my final year of my undergrad performance degree, auditions are looming, and I still don't know the right places to set my sights for my MM.
I can put together some of the big name schools easily enough (and have decided that my pipe dream school is Rice), but to be comfortable, I would like to apply to some schools the next tier down, like some other state schools. I'm currently based in the Midwest, but a flight or two would be manageable for me. My current trumpet professor has suggested I look into Ball State, and I think Stephen Campbell is a buddy of his.
Who are some of the good names in smaller/underrated schools like these? I potentially could have a DMA in my future so could have another school later as well. |
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Betelgeuse215 Veteran Member
Joined: 20 May 2015 Posts: 186
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2018 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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After doing my research, I chose to do all my degrees at Peedwater Community College |
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JoseLindE4 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 791
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2018 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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I wouldn't recommend Peedwater. Bob Pixely is a great player and has no doubt turned out some great players, but I've heard he doesn't really care about most of his students. If you don't fit inside a really narrow box and aren't willing to give up any personality to your playing, he'll make you miserable. |
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Bobby G New Member
Joined: 17 Jun 2018 Posts: 5 Location: Jacksonville, Florida
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Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:53 am Post subject: Grad school options |
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Greetings!
A great program with a monster teacher is Frost at the University of Miami. People often forget about us down in the southern tip of America, but the program is very solid, and has lots of money to give. Craig Morris teaches his small and serious studio, coaches chamber music, and has a weekly studio class. He is a monster player (plays all around the world with major orchestras and as a soloist), and gives you a taste of what it takes to make it. He consistently puts kids into New World Symphony, major teaching jobs, brass quintets and orchestras. Check him out online recently performing at NTC with UNT Wind Symphony or on his recent solo recital tour. Both are on YouTube. _________________ Best,
Bobby G |
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liscagle New Member
Joined: 10 Jan 2019 Posts: 6 Location: Greer, SC
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 11:30 am Post subject: |
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Anderson University is good |
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LaTrompeta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 May 2015 Posts: 867 Location: West Side, USA
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Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 9:56 pm Post subject: Re: Graduate School Options |
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My question to the OP would be more frank--why do you feel the need to go to graduate school in music? What do you intend to accomplish with the additional investment? _________________ Please join me as well at:
https://trumpetboards.com |
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Tobylou8 Veteran Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2019 Posts: 157
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:36 am Post subject: |
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Betelgeuse215 wrote: | After doing my research, I chose to do all my degrees at Peedwater Community College | We should get together all the "Whizzers" alumni one day. Great school and the price was just right! |
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Tobylou8 Veteran Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2019 Posts: 157
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:45 am Post subject: |
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JoseLindE4 wrote: | I wouldn't recommend Peedwater. Bob Pixely is a great player and has no doubt turned out some great players, but I've heard he doesn't really care about most of his students. If you don't fit inside a really narrow box and aren't willing to give up any personality to your playing, he'll make you miserable. | That may be true but he has turned out some great Whizzers!!! |
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Christian K. Peters Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Nov 2001 Posts: 1538 Location: Eugene, Oregon
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 7:05 am Post subject: Graduate school options |
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Hello all,
Here is a thought. I know of it at least a couple of kids who have done this. Depending on your leaning of classical or commercial or both. Go to a city, get a job and just take lessons for a year. Choose a teacher that does a method/genre that suite you, and learn it well. It could give you a leg up on auditions. Or look into schools that are offering a GTF position. You would have responsibilities with teaching the first years and gain experience in the studio. I was more of a realist. By my third year in school, I knew that I was not going to make a living by just playing music. The competition is even greater now then it was 40 years ago IMO. I know too many mid 20's kids who did not have a plan B, and are now just floating around with no idea where to go. _________________ Christian K. Peters
Schilke Loyalist since 1976 |
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OldSchoolEuph Heavyweight Member
Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Posts: 2458
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 7:38 am Post subject: |
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Considering the date, I wonder what the OP decided (must be about done with undergrad now).
I'm surprised nobody ever mentions U North Texas in these threads given the century-long track record of turning out not just pro players but great teachers, designers and even trumpeters-turned-world-class-conductors. _________________ Ron Berndt
www.trumpet-history.com
2017 Austin Winds Stage 466
1962 Mt. Vernon Bach 43
1954 Holton 49 Stratodyne
1927 Conn 22B
1957 Holton 27 cornet
1985 Yamaha YEP-621
1975 Yamaha YEP-321 Custom
1965 Besson Baritone
1975 Olds Recording R-20 |
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Tobylou8 Veteran Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2019 Posts: 157
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:01 am Post subject: Re: Graduate school options |
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Christian K. Peters wrote: | Hello all,
Here is a thought. I know of it at least a couple of kids who have done this. Depending on your leaning of classical or commercial or both. Go to a city, get a job and just take lessons for a year. Choose a teacher that does a method/genre that suite you, and learn it well. It could give you a leg up on auditions. Or look into schools that are offering a GTF position. You would have responsibilities with teaching the first years and gain experience in the studio. I was more of a realist. By my third year in school, I knew that I was not going to make a living by just playing music. The competition is even greater now then it was 40 years ago IMO. I know too many mid 20's kids who did not have a plan B, and are now just floating around with no idea where to go. | +++100!!! |
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Tobylou8 Veteran Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2019 Posts: 157
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:04 am Post subject: |
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OldSchoolEuph wrote: | Considering the date, I wonder what the OP decided (must be about done with undergrad now).
I'm surprised nobody ever mentions U North Texas in these threads given the century-long track record of turning out not just pro players but great teachers, designers and even trumpeters-turned-world-class-conductors. | Great school too. I knew some "monster" players that went there in the 70's and couldn't make it! Tough competition, but the graduates are top notch! |
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andybharms Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 May 2009 Posts: 633 Location: Boston, MA
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Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 7:24 am Post subject: |
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Someone mentioned U of Miami. I would second that. I love the way Craig teachers and players, and one of my great life regrets is not spending more time there. I don't typically field public responses like this but it's been on my mind lately and I hope this response helps SOMEONE, somewhere.
I am going to say something mildly controversial and that I myself would not have wanted to hear at your juncture. Ask yourself, what do I want? Then ask, is this school going to help me get what I want? Thea answer to these questions lies in the activities of recent graduates. What are recent alumni doing? Are they winning stuff? Getting gigs you are interested in having? Are they pulling shifts as a barista down the street from the school (nothing wrong with that, just be prepared that it might be you!)? Or are they changing careers in droves (again, nothing inherently wrong with that, but again, it could be you.)? Nothing else about the school matters nearly as much as how the graduates of the trumpet program are doing in the real world.
Another thing to consider. There are a lot of fantastic teachers out there that can show you what you need to know. But I think it behooves you to keep in mind that this industry is full/overflowing with REALLY great players who all work REALLY hard, and unless there is something about you that sets you apart from the top of that bell curve, it's going to come down to word-of-mouth, and how much people like you. I strongly encourage my students to keep in mind the relationship of both the teacher and school to the music community as a whole. It matters-- a lot.
Finally, I would encourage you that NO CHOICE is also a choice. Keep in mind that your tuition includes a lot of stuff you may not care about, like libraries and other academic departments. So unless you need those things for your goals, it might be cheaper to just pay for the lessons a la cart. _________________ Andrew Harms, DMA
http://www.andrewbharms.com |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9088 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 9:30 am Post subject: |
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Reasoned post. This comes up with regularity. I would just supplement this by pointing out that going to school takes disparate studies and puts them into one place in one relatively compact time frame. You may not have this kind of consolidation when choosing other paths. It's like Andy said, it's what your goals are and how you want to handle them.
I, personally, wanted more than musical training, rather a multiplicity of subjects to explore so, for a well-rounded education, I chose university studies. Worked out well for me. I've spent my entire adult life as a full-time musician. Somebody will say you can do that on your own and that is true. But how much access and time will you have learning it piecemeal? Your call.
BTW, if I was starting out now, I would probably be relying much more on technology and truly functional, musical products. Trumpet would be incorporated with other musical elements and not, for example, just playing trumpet in pop band horn sections. It's a different world. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis." Attributed to Chet
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet |
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tristanfrank New Member
Joined: 15 Mar 2019 Posts: 5
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:18 am Post subject: |
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Keep an eye on CU Boulder. Ryan Gardner was just hired there as their new full time professor, and Justin Bartels is on faculty as well. |
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ColoradoOrch New Member
Joined: 16 Apr 2019 Posts: 8
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Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 6:35 am Post subject: |
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Seconding CU Boulder; it's a fun place to live (depending on your interests) and Denver is great too. There are a surprising amount of professional/amateur music options for a city of its size. |
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scarface Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 1806
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Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 9:34 am Post subject: |
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tristanfrank wrote: | Keep an eye on CU Boulder. Ryan Gardner was just hired there as their new full time professor, and Justin Bartels is on faculty as well. |
I recently watched his masterclass on YouTube. Phenomenal teacher, as are the other choices. |
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abontrumpet Heavyweight Member
Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 1811
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 2:58 am Post subject: |
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Do yourself a favor and reread andybharms post over and over. It kind of sounds like you're looking to just be a career student rather than a career trumpeter.
Good recs so far:
UMiami: Craig Morris, 'nuff said.
CU Boulder: Gardner had great success, plus BOULDER
Some solid Midwest suggestions with some money:
- Michigan State U - Justin Emerich - Putting out some success
- Western Michigan U - Bob White and Scott Thornburg - Solid education
- UMKC - Keith Benjamin - Always a solid studio
- Indiana University - John Rommel - I loved that school and my time with him
- DePaul - Various - They had money the times I auditioned, solid location
IMO, your MM should be THE school that is the best for you. Shortest/smallest investment for potentially great return. If that means waiting a year and taking lessons (as K. Peters recommended) then do that. Not only that, but the MM is basically taking lessons with some ensembles thrown in. You don't need school to be pro but you do need to be good/good guy. |
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spitvalve Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2002 Posts: 2178 Location: Little Elm, TX
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 5:22 am Post subject: |
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OldSchoolEuph wrote: | Considering the date, I wonder what the OP decided (must be about done with undergrad now).
I'm surprised nobody ever mentions U North Texas in these threads given the century-long track record of turning out not just pro players but great teachers, designers and even trumpeters-turned-world-class-conductors. |
North Texas is the best. I was an MM jazz studies major from 1987-1990, but my minor was in applied trumpet. I had to leave the music business after a car wreck messed up my chops for a few years, but I've remained in the Denton area and have observed that the program is just as strong now as it was then. I was one of a hundred-plus trumpet players in the school and the competition was fierce but friendly. When I went there, having been one of the top dogs in my undergrad (everyone there was first chair where they came from), the first thing they did was rip away everything I thought I knew, and then fed it back to me one corrected piece at a time.
Caleb Hudson of the Canadian Brass just joined the faculty. The future looks good. _________________ Bryan Fields
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1991 Bach LR180 ML 37S
1999 Getzen Eterna 700S
1977 Getzen Eterna 895S Flugelhorn
1969 Getzen Capri cornet
1995 UMI Benge 4PSP piccolo trumpet
Warburton and Stomvi Flex mouthpieces |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9088 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 9:13 am Post subject: |
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spitvalve wrote: | North Texas is the best . . I was one of a hundred-plus trumpet players in the school and the competition was fierce but friendly. When I went there, having been one of the top dogs in my undergrad (everyone there was first chair where they came from), the first thing they did was rip away everything I thought I knew, |
LOL. How true. I was All-State everything and when I got to UNT I found myself buried right in the middle. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis." Attributed to Chet
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet |
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