 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClarinetLearner101
Date: 2011-05-19 05:49
Hello,
I'm considering applying to the Cleveland Institute, and I'd like to know if anyone has any knowledge about the type of education I could receive, and if anyone has any experience with Frank Cohen. How is he as a teacher/mentor? Would you recommend that I apply? How difficult is it to get in?
Thank you!
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Author: clarinettist1104
Date: 2011-05-19 14:30
He is such a nice person, and a fantastic teacher! He has this way of calming you down at the audition, and keeping you from getting nervous! It was a great experience, and I really like him as a teacher, and a person. However I was wait-listed there this year, and I will be re-applying there in the future!
The one thing I can say about CIM is that the audition is not the only factor in determining if a student is to be accepted. They also test you on audition day in music theory (which counts for a lot), and ear training, as well as looking at your academic record and SAT/ACT scores. They like well-rounded people, but the Cleveland Institute is a fantastic school, and Mr. Cohen is a fantastic person, musician, and teacher. I would highly recommend him!
To answer your question of how hard is it to get in, it is VERY hard! Not to be discouraging or anything, but it is very hard to get in.
-alex
Post Edited (2011-05-19 14:32)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-05-21 04:13
Most conservatories today do the same things that Cleveland does, they don't want students that will struggle to much with the academics and want a student to have more of a back round in music than just playing your instrument. With that said, Frank Cohen is a great player, we played together many years ago, and I've heard he's a really fine teacher as well. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: bwc2304
Date: 2011-05-22 03:59
I'm a student of Mr. Cohen's at CIM, about to start my junior year. As people have said before, he's an incredible musician and inspiring teacher. CIM has a close relationship with the Cleveland Orchestra, and I see their concerts and open rehearsals almost every week. All the students rotate through the school's orchestra, which gives concerts weekly as well. There's also woodwind chamber groups that are coached by other Cleveland Orchestra members-I've had John Clouser, principal bassoon, and Frank Rosenwein, principal oboe. It's a really great opportunity to work with these musicians and then see them play in the orchestra.
Mr. Cohen teaches all of the clarinet students, on average 8. This past year we had 7 students-5 undergrad and 2 grad. This coming year we'll have 10, 6 undergrad and 4 grads. Generally he will accept 2 undergrads a year. We have a weekly studio class in addition to our individual lessons, which are all open to other students to observe. Starting next year, Mr. Cohen is working on having all of our lessons videotaped for us to take home. When the Orchestra goes on tour, the clarinet studio is lucky to have guest teachers come in (recently we've had Robert Woolfrey, Dimitri Ashkenazy, Eli Eban, Guy Chadash, and Dan Gilbert).
As an undergrad you'll take general education classes from Case Western. If you're interested, you can get a minor too in any subject from Case. You can make the general education credits as intensive or minimal as you want. The theory training is quite comprehensive-you meet five days a week for the first two years developing harmony and aural skills and then take additional courses in Form and Counterpoint. The freshman class is 60 people on average (mine was the largest in the school's history at 80). The students are very friendly at the school, and there's a supportive sense of community.
Hope this helps, feel free to email me if you have more questions.
Ben
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-05-22 04:56
"When the Orchestra goes on tour, the clarinet studio is lucky to have guest teachers come in (recently we've had Robert Woolfrey, Dimitri Ashkenazy, Eli Eban, Guy Chadash, and Dan Gilbert)."
Gives a whole new meaning to the term "substitute teacher." All I ever got was Mrs. Nicastro -- from whom, I fear that I never learned anything. Of course, it was rather hard to hear her from the cloak room.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-05-23 20:18
Isn't it nice to hear that there's a major teacher that not only doesn't mind his students studying with someone else but actually brings them in when he's on tour. Just proves that Frank has no reason to be threatened by someone else's opinion to his students. ESP
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-05-23 20:41
There's no better orchestral clarinetist than Frank Cohen. If you have what it takes to pursue an orchestral career, CIM is a great place for you. One of the best things about studying there is that you get hear the great Cleveland Orchestra constantly.
As Ed says, the best sign of a great teacher is that his/her students play at the top level, but no two sound the same.
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2011-05-24 14:27
"Mr. Cohen teaches all of the clarinet students, on average 8."
Average of only "8" per semester (I assume)--and then, he gets to "pick" his two ungraduate students?? I wish I had that kind of class size expectation and selective opportunites during my career in public school music. Our "norm" is too many students per class--we have to accept whom ever walks through the door--and limited scheduling and financial support. And our salaries are most likely, on the average, less than half what Prof. Cohen receives. When I read only "8 students, on average", I must confess I get a bit jealous..........but to that one out of a hundred students who will go on to professional clarineting, he is probably worth every penny.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-05-24 15:06
"Average of only "8" per semester (I assume)--and then, he gets to "pick" his two ungraduate students?? I wish I had that kind of class size expectation and selective opportunites during my career in public school music."
Remember, this is only a part-time job for him -- and at the college level. It's my understanding, he has a "day job."
Best regards,
jnk
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