 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Megan
Date: 2000-06-03 01:46
Hello everybody----
I know all of you guys have been playing clarinet alot longer than I have, and many of you have studied music in college, so I figured this would be the best place to ask about a good music school, and what they expect from a prospective student. I am a Junior in HS and I know I have a lot of time left, but I want to at least have some colleges I'm thinking about. I live in Georgia, and I really don't want to go to the Universities here, just because they don't seem like serious music schools, they all seem to be based on Marching Band and Football.
I also don't want to go to a place that does only music, like a conservatory, because I've heard that that gives you nothing to fall back on. I really don't know where I want to go, I'm looking for all the advice I can get:)
The only other thing is that I don't know what they expect from students when they apply. I do EVERYTHING I possibly can, I mean I'm principle of our school's wind ensemble, I made principle in the district band, for 2 years now I have been either assistant Drum Major or Drum Major for the Marching Band, I play clari and tenor sax in our Jazz Band, I coordinate small ensembles for our school, I made 6th in the state @ GA All-State this year, I go to every honor band imaginable, and the lowest I've sat is 4th,I take private lessons and next year I'm going to compete @ Furman University's Woodwind Competition. But does all of that even matter? Do they really look at that when they consider you? I just don't know much of anything 'bout college, all I know is that people make it sound hard to get in and even harder to stay in. But if you have any advice about the wonderful world of undergrad studies, I'd appreciate anything you have to give.
Thanks,
Meg
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Author: David Goss
Date: 2000-06-03 12:23
Advice number one. Take piano lessons.
Aside from that... Check back in the forum I remember a post very similar to yours only a week or so ago about undergrad music schools.
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Author: connie
Date: 2000-06-03 15:15
Meg,
The advice about piano lessons is right on.
This is a good time to start looking. All of your extracurricular activities will certainly help with getting admitted to the college of your choice. It may help you to narrow down the area of the country where you would like to live...how easily do you think you might want to be able to get home? what kind of climate do you prefer (or abhor)? Would you rather go to a big school and get lost in the crowd, or do you want to stand out in a smaller place? What are your career interests, and how will the schools you're considering prepare you for that? But you probably know all that, and maybe you're just using this forum to compare schools from those who have personal experience.
My daughter has just finished her freshman year at James Madison University. They have a terrific marching band (but a weak football team), but also excellent instruction, boasting nearly 100% employment for their B. Mus. graduates. It has been tougher than she expected, because all of the clari majors are tops from their area, but she wouldn't have been accepted if they didn't think she could do it. As far as I'm concerned, it's the best place she could have gone for what she wants (Music Ed.) and for those other things I listed above. Even better, she made the decision without my input. She has really loved being at JMU. On the other hand, her local teacher commented that if she wanted to major in clarinet performance, there were only about 6 places in the country where she could go and expect to get a job on graduation. (I shoulda asked which ones, but I didn't!) He's pretty cynical, though.
So there's my .02, if you want more specific JMU info, their website is jmu.edu, or you can email me and I can put you in touch with my daughter.
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Author: AL
Date: 2000-06-03 21:24
Again. Take piano lessons!
You sound like you'd make a great music teacher.
Have you ever considered coming up north?
NY State has some fine State University schools a which have good music progams plus liberal arts and other majors on the same campus.
Pennsylvania too.
Good Luck,
Al
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Author: Anne
Date: 2000-06-03 23:31
Meg,
Last year I was in your situation, although I think you are a little more interested in music than I was. I also live in GA and I've been to a few of UGA's summer music workshops. Sounds rinky-dink, I know. Going to those camps kinda made me consider UGA b/c Dr. Jahn (the clar. professor) is really cool. Just b/c GA isn't too hot w/ music schools doesn't mean you should overlook them. But your choice kinda depends what you want to do: do you want to STUDY music, or just play? I've decided to go to GaTech and shoot for a degree in engineering and play my clarinet on the side. So if you don't want to go into music ed or performance, music is a great hobby to fall back on.
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Author: Kim Parsons
Date: 2000-06-04 02:01
I'm going into third year of my undergraduate degree and the one thing that I did that helped me find a school was research the teachers. I emailed a few and from they're responses it gave me an idea as to what their personalities were like and what not. I wanted to be a performance major so getting along with my teacher was VERY important. I find that being happy with my teacher makes every day at school just seem that much more pleasent. I'm not saying it's the right thing to do but it's something you may want to consider - good luck
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Author: Megan
Date: 2000-06-04 18:47
Hey AL,
I used to live in Bradford PA, what Universities are you talking about inparticular?
Meg
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Author: AL
Date: 2000-06-04 20:22
Megan,
In NY, the State University of NY College at Potsdam is the home of the Crane School of Music. It's up north. It has an excellent variety of offerings and the Crane School is excellent.
Also at SUNY College at Fredonia has a fine program and a diverse curriculum.
In PA, I don't remember the name exactly but I believe it's a State school in Westchester, PA.
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Author: Jim
Date: 2000-06-05 04:27
Megan,
There are any number of factors to consider... You didn't mention grades and boards (SAT scores.) A music major needs to attain both entry to the institution and acceptance to the music department. Low grades/ boards could limit your choices. You didn't mention finances, if yours are limited and grades preclude heavy scholarship awards, that too will limit your choices. (Some colleges charge better than $35,000/ year!) Another consideration is whether you want to teach or to perform. Some schools offer only one of those tracks.
If you are finishing junior year, you have almost NO time left to investigate colleges as your applications will need to be made just after the winter holidays at the latest. If, however, you are entering junior year, this is exactly the time to do your search and don't put it off.
At the risk of being laughed at, I will strongly suggest talking to youe school guidance dept immediately. (Also, be sure that you have taken/ are taking all the courses that colleges typically want, and be sure to immediately take the boards in Sept if you are a senior, or the psats in Oct if you will be a junior.)
Talk to your music teachers and ask where they studied. This will start you on the quest to find your answers.
The best of luck to you!
Jim
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Author: Megan
Date: 2000-06-05 14:25
Jim,
I'm entering my junior year, and I have a 95.7 GPA and I made 1090 on the PSATS, and I haven't taken the SAT yet, but I'm in the top 2% of my class. My directors went to Appalachian State and Furman, and I am looking at Furman.
I'm planng on doubling in Education and Performance, in whatever school I go to.
Meg
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Author: Jill
Date: 2000-06-06 19:15
Hi, Megan!
You do have a major decision in front of you, one which I saw my daughter go through just a year ago. We also live in Georgia. My clarinet performance degree is from UGA, and my daughter just finished her freshman year there (she was in All-State every year; you might know her). She considered Furman (was offered a nice music scholarship there), but ultimately decided on UGA because of the great facilities and opportunities (2 music and 2 academic scholarships). Don't sell UGA short--Ansley made the Wind Ensemble, and I noticed that nearly everyone in it was in the top of their section in All-State. It's really a fine group. Dr. Jahn is a wonderful teacher, but I will say that he is leaning toward retiring in the near future. They also have 4 bands of varying levels. The music department is very serious--it's not all football.
Visit several places; don't go on hearsay--it's the only way to see what you really like. Go to a few classes, eat in the dining halls.
Other advice--if you haven't done it already, be in as many extracurricular activities as you can, including, but not only, your music activities. It's impressive to colleges. So are work and community service activities.
You seem enthusiastic and serious about your future. I wish the best for you--but only you can decide which school fits you!
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Author: Julie
Date: 2000-06-10 12:28
Hi Megan,
I just finished my auditions for college a few months ago, and there were a couple things I did that I believe made the auditions go smoother. First of all, during my junior year, I toured the music schools in my state (Ohio) and actually took a lesson or two from each professor. This will make you feel so much more comfortable when you walk into the audition and see a familiar face. It was a lot of driving, but I felt really sure about choosing which school I wanted to go to in the end. Remember, you should choose a college mostly based on the clarinet professor.
Also, I took piano lessons since I was really little, so I hope to proficiency out of piano classes in college. I might have to do a year of lessons, but that will be so much easier than starting from scratch.
Good luck!
Julie
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Author: tree
Date: 2000-06-24 04:19
One of the most incredibly important things you should do is to research clarinet professors. You're going to be spending the next 4 years of your life with them, so trust me( im a music ed major), you NEED to feel comforatable with them!
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