 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClarinetMother
Date: 2009-06-06 17:51
My daughter is beginning to look at colleges. Her current teacher says, "Find a college with an excellent clarinet teacher."
Any suggestions on how to do that?
We live in NE Wisconsin. My daughter hopes to stay within 350 miles of home so that coming home once in a while is feasible. Her sister is just starting at Wartburg College in Iowa this fall, and we have already seen the many advantages of attending a private college. However, we're not ruling out public universities with good music programs. She is interested in Music Education, but another music direction, including performance, is not out of the question. (She will be a High School junior this fall, but is already working on college-level music)
So, looking for a college within 350 miles of NE Wisconsin, with a good music program, an excellent clarinet teacher and tuition that's not off the map. (Lawrence University is right here in town, but very expensive - not out of the question, but not first choice). Any thoughts?
Thank you!!
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Author: ClarinetMother
Date: 2009-06-06 18:43
What about the school itself? Is it separate from UW-Milwaukee? I can't see my daughter at UW-Milwaukee. Yes, it would be close to home, but I think she'd be just lost there. I would like to see her get the attention/support/encouragement that my older daughter is already getting.
Listening to his music, he does sound like an incredible performer.
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Author: Pappy
Date: 2009-06-06 19:06
If you are a music student, you often are an island unto yourselves at an otherwise big campus. She may not feel she is at a "big" place at UWM. My son is at a music school at a university of only 5000 students. It works very well for him. It was clicking with the violin faculty there that made the decision for him. I went to Indiana University school of music. Big University. BIG music school. But I still didn't feel that size was an issue at all. We got very good individual attention. I think that's is part and parcel of being at a music school of most stripes actually. I keep up with my classmates to this day as well as the professors - at least as long as they were alive - many have passed on, but were active in the former students' lives decades after the fact, even at a big school.
Still, I've hear great things about the string program at Lawrence. If she connects with a teacher there, that may be the ticket.
ETA: IMO, don't get hung up on a "name" teacher or a "pedigree". Evaluate the teacher based on their other students, what your daughter thinks, etc. Not who they are or even so much who they, in turned studied with.
Post Edited (2009-06-06 19:07)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-06-06 19:46
Not sure what you mean by the many advantages of a private college. I've visited a handful of public and private colleges over the past couple years. There were plenty of differences from school to school, but they didn't seem to be linked to whether the school was public or private.
FWIW, I did my undergrad at a public school of well over 30,000 students. The quite good music department of a few hundred students was very intimate, and not at all overwhelming. A sort of everyone-knows-everyone environment, an island to itself, as Pappy describes. Of course, it probably helped that we were geographically isolated from the rest of campus. I'm off to private grad school for music in the fall.
If anything, I'd recommend checking to see how personal the music department is in particular.
I'd recommend visiting a bunch of schools, and especially their music departments, to get a feel of things. Heck, I even decided not to apply to a school based on a bad vibe from a phone conversation with a professor who wondered why a prospective student would be interested in visiting. I'd also recommend finding places that have good programs in other potential areas of interest. Who knows if she wants to stay in music, a few months down the line. I added a music major to my initial computer science degree, and lament not giving bio or linguistics serious consideration. The more good departments at a school, the more options you have.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-06-06 20:07
Most music schools within a universlty are music schools almost separate from the University other than some academics. Having taught at a large public university and a private conservatory I can honestly say that it all depends on the teacher. I gave my students at Towson University the same attention and time as I gave my students at the Peabody Conservatory, which I have just retired from. Your daughter needs to arrange a lesson with each teacher at the schools she is looking into. A music ed degree is very smart because it is almost impossible to get a decent, or any, playing job in America that one can come even close to making a living, no less pay back the student loans. She can always go to grad school for performance if she has that desire. Go to a state school and save your, or her, money for grad school. Check out my website, I have some articles concerning jobs in the USA and taking auditions, amongst other topics.
By the way, one of my students is going to UW to study with Todd Levy for graduate work, he has a good reputation. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
PS. feel free to contact me at my aol. address if you want any personal advise
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Author: ClarinetMother
Date: 2009-06-06 20:10
She's just getting started - has no idea what she wants, college, major, or otherwise. She's considering Music Education. She's a very good clarinet player and needs a good teacher. That's the primary focus of this thread request.
As for private vs. public, perhaps we WILL find that the music arena will be a world to itself. All I have to judge by so far is my personal experience. I went to UW - Stevens Point in Wisconsin for Biology. It's a good school of about 10,000 students. Biology majors were in the neighborhood of 500 or so. Took me six years, as I was working my way through. I was literally first in my major when I did graduate.
My oldest daughter will attend Wartburg College in Iowa this fall to study Music Education/Music Therapy. (And, yes, this school is a possibility for younger daughter, too, although I wish it was closer and I know nothing about the clarinet teacher). She hasn't even started school, yet, and she has had more attention, support and encouragement from her future professors than I had in my entire six years of college. And, I graduated #1! Now, perhaps that's just Wartburg and is not common to all private schools. Or, perhaps my experience at a larger school is not typical. Perhaps I was too shy to push myself forward in any way other than my grades. Whatever the case, that has been my personal experience so far.
The reason for this thread request (and registering just so I could make it!) is that we'd like the opinion and recommendations of those of you who have had wonderful clarinet teachers. Are any of them within 350 miles of Appleton, Wisconsin?
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Author: ClarinetMother
Date: 2009-06-06 20:14
Thank you, Mr. Palanker. That is good to know. My reply above was directed to the reply before yours. Cost is certainly an issue. However, my older daughter is attending on a full ride, and that is a possibility for younger daughter, also. She's only a junior as of next year, and just beginning to look. So, nothing eliminated at this point.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-06-06 20:28
I wouldn't discount public universities. The state of Michigan is not all that far from you and has several music schools worthy of consideratin. My daughter will be starting at Western Michigan U in August as Dual-major: Music performance along with another major in their Hoinors College. Bradley Wong, her Clarinet professor, is excellent and has gone out of hs way (as have many other individuals) to make her feel wanted and welcome. SAhe attended their summer institute the past couple of years, and the atmoshere was great there. They have an intensive 2-week camp that shows them what being a Music Major is really like. As it stands, they stall hhave vacancies for Clarinets in the camp this year: http://www.wmich.edu/music-camp/vacancies.html
Jeff
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Author: George Stalle
Date: 2009-06-07 14:23
I'm from Oconomowoc originally and I ended up going to Lawrence. Does your living there eliminate Lawrence??? It's been solidly known for both performance and music education for years, as are programs at UW-Eau Claire, Luther College in Iowa, UW-Madison, Indiana University, Oberlin in Ohio. Also check out Northern Illinois and the University of Iowa.
It really depends on how much she wants to play and how much she wants to teach. And what general atmosphere she wants to part of. . .
George Stalle
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-06-07 23:03
I really would not rule out Lawrence either.
Also look into UMN-Twin Cities (about 5 hours by car) with Burt Hara.
The other ones George mentions are all great too (I'm an Oberlin grad myself).
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Author: ClarinetMother
Date: 2009-06-16 23:11
Thank you all so much - and thanks to the folks who e-mailed directly. If anyone else has another teacher suggestion, please let me know!
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Author: khoexter
Date: 2009-06-17 21:40
I greaduated from Lawrence university Conservatory in 1979. The conservatory has an excellent reputation and is extremely generous with scholarships. Don't exclude it due to the high price tag! Talk with them first. They have an outstanding program with many opportunities to play in ensembles. They also have a strong tradition of chamber music for all students. A chamber piece was required on each recital I performed (half recital my freshman year and full recitals each year after that). Feel free to email me offline if you would like to talk more!
Karen Hoexter
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Author: ClarinetKatie
Date: 2009-06-18 04:20
Hello, Jacqui-
I'm not familiar with your area, but as someone starting my doctorate in music this fall, I've had PLENTY of experience "teacher shopping."
My advice to you daughter would be to get a lesson or two with each clarinet professor before she makes her decision. Since she is trying to stay closer to home, it won't be difficult to do this. Have her vist the websites of major college and university music programs in your area and email the clarinet professor. She should explain that she is interested in the music program, would like to major in music education, and ask if it would be possible to take a lesson some time (the answer will be "yes." If it IS no, then don't choose that school!) She should also ask if they preffer communicating via email or phone, and if they say phone, she should ask when it's best to call. Professors love that sort of thing. ;-) Also, when she talks with them to set up the lesson day and time, she should ask what they charge or simply bring a check to the lesson. Many teachers will work with a prospective student for free, but don't expect that.
Meeting and playing for each teacher will help in two ways: 1.) She will get a feel for what it would be like to study with each professor, what their priorities are, their personalities, etc. 2.) She will be more memorable to each professor and taken very seriously. They will love her initiave. (Just make sure that SHE corresponds with them, not you.)
She is going to have a lot of different people telling her to study at a lot of different places, but in my experience, it's always best to just go with your gut feeling!
I hope this helps---good luck with the search!
Katie Brown
http://theclarinetstudent.blogspot.com
http://clarinetkatie.com
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Author: ClarinetMother
Date: 2009-06-18 12:32
That is all good advice - thank you! I don't personally have a musical background, so this is all new for me with my daughters. I suspect there will be many college visits in the next few months.
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Author: Rozmp
Date: 2009-06-18 23:51
I'm a clarinet Mom and I too am having to find things out through asking questions. My son is about done with his graduate degree (MM). He did an ungrad performance major and I'm sick to death of people telling me he should have done music ed. For him at the time, performance was what he was comfortable in and still is. Sometimes you have to go with what is right for your child's interest and ability. The summer before your daughter's senior year is the time to take a lesson with these prospective clarinet professors. If they are interested in her they will give her some things to work on and then they will see if she achieved those goals at the audition in the winter of her senior yr. I agree that a school of music is an entity in itself. But she also has the basics to take so she wants to feel like she fits in with the University as well. A smaller University but still competitive is Grand Valley State University west of Grand Rapids, MI. Arthur Campbell is their prof. and he will push your daughter to do the best she can. When it comes to graduate school, which is a must, I personally believe she needs to get herself into a position where the prof. is "connected". Perhaps is a principal in a major orch. and perhaps teaches at summer music programs. They will have more real life experiences to share with her.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-06-19 20:51
Fine comments, Rozmp, also Ed Palanker's sage advice [above] concerning career decisions facing our "up and coming" pro musicians at this stage of choices. I just heard a trumpet "concert" by an early player, a student at Baldwin Wallace Conserv. Cleveland, OH, and was impressed by his tonality and phrasing, so, IMHO, its not the school, its the dedicated/effective teacher. Wish I were young agin !! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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