 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: theconcertino
Date: 2005-08-18 18:47
Hi everyone, I was just wondering what your opinions were on high school art/music schools. I'm currently a junior in high school and am looking into NC School of the Arts for my senior year since i've heard good reviews of it and I live in NC, but was wondering what your reviews and opinions are of it and the clarinet teacher (Igor Begelman i think). Also, do you all know of some other possible high school art/music schools across the country, and what are the pros and cons (if any) of going to high schools for the arts.
Thanks alot!
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Author: Ashlee'
Date: 2005-08-18 19:32
Hi! My name is Ashlee' and I'm a senior in High School at the North Carolina School of the Arts. This will be my 3rd year at NCSA and I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed studying at the school. First of all, you need to make sure that you want to pursue a career in music. We have a great academic history yet we mainly focus on our instruments. As far as (music) teachers go, we definitely have some of the best. Igor Begelman inparticular.
Anyone considering clarinet as a major/career should definitely consider Igor Begelman at NCSA. I've only studied with him for a year yet I can't express to you how much I've learned and grown. I'm not sure where you live in NC, but I'm playing/touring with the North Carolina Symphony this fall. Maybe this would give you a chance to hear what he has to offer.
As far as the school goes, everyone is just as commited and dedicated to their art as you are making it a great artistic environment. We live away from home which gives us not only freedom but more practice time which is essential to a young performer. We have some of the best ensembles available for young artists. Wind Ensemble to Orchestra we play some of the most difficult pieces in our repertoire and premiere pieces by people all over the US. Not to mention, we have also been known to travel with our ensembles giving concerts all over NC.
Overall, going to school at an art high school has definitely been a "pro" for me. It gives me the artistic freedom and publicity I need to start my music career. Not to mention, the people (professors and collegues) will become some of the best friends and supporters you will ever have in your lifetime. If you are considereing a music career, you should definitely consider North Carolina School of the Arts.
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Author: TonkaToy
Date: 2005-08-18 19:56
I'm a graduate of NCSA, though it's been a while. I'm not familiar with Mr. Begelman since I studied with Bob Listokin, the original clarinet instructor at NCSA.
I think that attending NCSA as a high school student would be a great opportunity for you for a number of reasons. If you're serious about music and the clarinet it will provide you with experiences that will help you come to a decision as to whether you really want to jump into the deep end of the pool, spin the lottery wheel, and take a chance at a career in music performance.
You'll be around some very talented young people in a very competitive environment. My reaction to that environment was that it had it's up-side and it's down-side. On the plus side, it's a great chance to learn both from your instructors and your peers. NCSA has some incredible teachers. Even now, I sometimes look back and have a hard time believing the quality of instruction I was privileged to recieive. I also was lucky enough to attend school with people who are now sitting in major symphonies all over the world.
The not so fun part about NCSA was that it was an intensely competitive, very insular world, that as often as not, brought out the worst, not the best in people. There was the constant jockeying for position and attention, the casual backbiting and sabotoge, the intensified mean spiritedness of youth everywhere. It's hard for young people to realize that their success doesn't have to be at the expense of someone else, but that was the milieu of NCSA when I attended.
You'll have the chance to study with great people, to learn some of the great clarinet literature, be exposed to some of the gems of the chamber and orchestral canon, and I think most importantly for a high school student, to decide if this is a life you'd like to pursue.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2005-08-18 20:18
NC School of the Arts has a great reputation, and I think that's what you have to look at. However, we have a couple of "Arts" magnet schools in my area where private lessons are not offered to musicians and I don't see that much going on--except complacency among those students who are living under the mere illusion of going to a an "Arts" school. Their kids try out of the same all-district/all-state groups that my kids do, and often don't do as well.
Anyone considering a magnet school, should look closely at how that school handles your particular area of pursuit.
A friend of mine taught at a "Governors School" for the arts, but his students were only allotted one private lesson every two weeks. I sat in with him one day, and found that these kids' performance wasn't on par with more generic high schools. This and a county magnet school that I've had a look at did have more success in the theatre and visual arts respectively.
The fact that the NC school has a clarinet teacher to tell you about may well set it above a number of lesser schools with similarly impressive sounding names. If you have a choice which has less to offer, be prepared to take reponsibility for going out and seeking more of your own individual instruction.
Allen Cole
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-08-18 20:58
I have played with Igor, and he is an outstanding musician. Some might find a few things he does with the repertoire to be unconventional, but you will certainly find it all to be very musical and artistically grounded. He is also a technical master of the instrument.
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Author: Ashlee'
Date: 2005-08-18 22:43
Well, I can relate to just about every message. I've also studied with Bob Listokin and Dan McKelway, the past teachers at NCSA. Mr. Begelman's technicallity and viruosity is definitely something that NCSA (or the clarinet world for that) has never seen. If you want viruosity, Begelman's the man!
Mr. Cole also brought up an interesting issue, the availability and support of teachers. Begelman is usually here for an entire week every other week giving two lessons and two masterclasses. In addition, we are welcome to call and consult with him whenever he is away. Some teachers forbid their students to consult with them outside of the studio. We are also treated to "special" masterclasses outside of the school. This past year we had an Internet 2 session with Stolzman and a live masterclass with Eddie Daniels.
There are alot of art schools who don't give their students opportunities such as these. Definitely take that into consideration when looking at schools. Visit the campus, talk to students, and make sure you have a lesson with the teacher you plan on studying with. I hope you will seriously consider NCSA. Mr. Begelman is very serious about the wellbeing and growth of his students. I'm proud to be one of his students and a NCSA student for that matter.
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