College/University Poll

[climbingoddess]

Alright, so I have this random, far-off dream of starting a music school someday. After attending a couple of different schools, i'm starting to build my own opinions about what would/could/should work best in a school.

So here is the question: what are the top three pros and cons about the school(s) that you attended?

If you wouldn't mind listing the school's name, the degree/diploma that you were working towards, and the years that you attended.

Also--please nothing about your specific teacher or bad cafeteria food! I'm looking for things related to how the school theoretically groomed you for a career in music. (Excellent teachers are already a given!)

Disclamer: this info is not being used for anything but my own curiosity. In general, I don't really care what school you are talking about or when you were there, I just think it would be interesting to see! (ie. the west coast in the 80's was full of pros) What I am really concerned with is what would contribute to a school being "good" and what would drag a school down.

Thanks in advance to everyone who shares their opinion! Who knows, maybe someday you'll be sending your kids to my ultimate music school!

I'll start:

Western Washington University, BA, 1996-2000
pros:
1. They let us play in both jazz and classical ensembles without hasseling us or worrying about if we were actually a jazz or classical major.
2. Decent scholarship money
3. Orchestral rep was pretty good (even if we played it poorly!)

cons:
1. Not enough emphasis/encouragement surrounding outside of school oppoutunities (festivals, etc.)
2. Not enough emphasis on theory and ear training
3. No orchestral rep classes until my senior year (at the students' request


New England Conservatory, MM, 2001-2003
pros:
1. Gig office and Career Center that had me working a lot as a student, and continues to keep me on gigs as an alumni.
2. Internship opportunities outside of performance that has opened doors for my "day job"
3. Great coaching staff for chamber music

cons:
1. Not enough scholarship money
2. The level of players around you at any given time can be questionable
3. Orchestra program left much to be desired (bad conductors, questionable seatings, etc.)


Berklee College of Music, Performance Diploma, current
pros:
1. Great scholarship money
2. Wide variety of classes and ensembles to participate in

cons:
1. Administrative nightmare
2. No graduate level programs

(Berklee is left unfinished becuase I have not been there very long...)


[ This Message was edited by: climbingoddess on 2004-04-25 08:57 ]

[ This Message was edited by: climbingoddess on 2004-04-25 08:58 ]

[tcutrpt]

Texas Christian University: 2000-May 8, 2004 , B.M.

Pros:

1. orchestra plays great rep
2. many performance opportunities within the school of music
3. very personable faculty willing to help out

Cons:

1. only a handful of serious aspiring musicians
2. can be very political (chair placement, treatment)
3. cost
_________________
Matt Cyr
trumpetmc@gmail.com

[kmm0805]

East Carolina University: B.M. 1998-2003
Pros:

-small school of music which means very personal contact with faculty
-the faculty is very good (for the location of the school)
-jazz program is excellent
-a distinguished professorship that brings in a wide variety of great artists
(Vince Dimartino, Dr. Billy Taylor, Paul Katz(cello), Meridian Arts Ens. (next year)
-good orchestra conductor that does good rep
cons:

-location
-not many opportunities outside of school (private lessons or playing)
-No awareness of music festivals, orchestras, and basically the professional world of music.
-not such a strong orchestra

Boston University: M.M. 2003-present

Pros:
-big city with lots of resources
-great orchestra
-non-competitive atmosphere within the studio
-awareness of festivals, competitions, auditions and the professional world of music
-playing opportunities outside of school
-lots of scholarship money
-strong chamber music program

cons:
-no jazz program (what jazz that is there is pretty sad)
-little if any interaction with other depts. (i.e. vocal, string, woodwind)

I don't have many cons about BU since for one I love it here and (2) I am just finishing my first year. However, I don't see myself coming up with too many more cons.

[adamcz]

Berklee College of Music (BM 1999-2002)
Pros:
-Huge bank account
-Large variety of classes/teachers available
-Exposure to technology

Cons:
-Too many beggining/terrible players
-Private lessons are only 30 minutes


Manhattan School of Music (MM 2002-2004)
Pros:
-Level of student players is extremely high
-Location
-Small class sizes with great teachers

Cons:
-Less scholarships available than similar conservatories
-Little/no flexibility in your schedule
-Jazz large groups play mostly faculty compositions, and often the same ones every year