 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clare
Date: 1999-07-07 03:04
going to a college with a good individual clarinet instructor, or going to a college with superior ensembles? I'm looking into colleges now and I'm wondering what kind of schools to look for. Although I know the ideal situation is to have both, since good ensembles and good instructors both help motivate musicians to play their best, I would like to hear other views on the subject. Also, in my high school, the only foreign language offered is Spanish. I know that knowing foreign languages helps get into music school, but is knowing Spanish really that important in music?
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-07-07 04:40
I haven't heard of knowing foreign languages being a plus or getting into a music school. It helps for vocalists who have to take English, French, German and Italian Diction. And some schools require voice majors to take a year of French or German as well. But i don't believe a non vocal major should have to know a foreign language to be accepted. Sure you need to know musical terms which come from all those languages. But not how to speak one of those languages fluently.
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Author: Col
Date: 1999-07-07 11:19
Hi, i agree with the previous posting regarding the need to know a foreign language. The only thing i would add is that a music school is not only interested in your potential to be a great player but also on your intelligence and well roundedness as a person, and a language is a way of demonstrating this. It is important not to become to absorbed in your own playing otherwise it will limit you in your ability to improve.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 1999-07-07 18:50
Knowing Spanish could sure come in handy to help you get a job with an orchestra or band in Mexico or another Spanish-speaking country. You could also help out if someone from one of those countries ended up as your stand-mate in the USA and needed translations. As a kid growing up in California, I found knowing Spanish useful in school, where my counselor sometimes asked me to hang out with Spanish-speaking kids and help them get used to things here. I learned a lot from those classmates and enjoyed making friends with them. Later I tutored ESL (English as a Second Language). Knowing an "extra" language will come in handy, and in the USA, Spanish is probably the most useful one to learn, IMHO, so I hope you take this good opportunity to learn Spanish while you're still in school.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-07-07 20:20
But good grades in high school or college (if tansferring) will be adequate without taking a language. Though here in Texas, high school students are rewuired to take two years of a foreign language. Of course, that doesn't mean you really learn anything... i'm proof of that.. heh
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Author: STuart
Date: 1999-07-07 20:45
Dear Clare,
I found that my process of choosing a college was over informed by the schools themselves, my peers, and my teachers. Looking back, I often wished I had studied elsewhere or with a different concentration. I would spend hours looking through these magazines telling me about their magical schools, and I was completely swept up. I hated the philosophy of the department I choose, which I couldn't have forseen and ended up bouncing around until they graduated me. I never felt like my school was at the center of my development as a musician, and have been undertaking a lot or re-learning. Maybe if I had taken some time off things would be different.
I encourage you to think about what you really want to accomplish in school and how possible that is. I wanted to do everything, but one by one, areas of study became more meaningless to me. What was left was just a basic desire to comune with other souls and reflect on the mysterious experience of life.
I don't know where your intrests are, but I would say it is always a good principle to go for the great instructors over the topics or the ensembles. And if the teacher doesn't rock your mind, complain and take another class, your education is too precious and expensive to be wasted on some of the BS they'll try handing you.
Good luck with your descisions, and become as familiar with your choices as you can. Talk to the students before you read their bullitens and stuff. - Stuart
Adios, amiga!
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Author: Ginny
Date: 1999-07-08 00:39
Many believe that you learn more from your fellow students than the instructors. I certainly got lots of tips from other students along the way. I have found that access to the prof and their willingness to meet at office hours makes the most difference for me. It could go either way.
Many universities require 2 or 3 years of foreign language from applicants. Most accept Spanish. Some Phd. programs require that you be able to read technical articles in a foreign language. I think German, French and Russian are typical, as scholarly articles are likely in these languages. Perhaps Spanish is now included in these sorts of exams, my last experience was a few years ago. I have occasionally wished to be able to read some Russian articles of interest, that were not available in English.
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Author: Kimberly
Date: 1999-07-14 21:09
A school without good private instruction probably won't have top notch ensembles. This would probably be a rare occasion if you found a school with good ensembles and studio teachers who cannot teach.
Even with a teacher who can teach you may not get allong with the teacher and therefore have problems learning or progressing as far as you want. I have found success at going to the schools where the teacher wants me there. Pick a variety of places to audition. Make sure your private teacher will be at the audition, and that you have a chance to meet him or her. At that meeting you will find out how you react with the teacher. Even if possible take a lesson from the teacher, they will give you some hints on ways that you can improve, and you will learn what direction you will go first when you get there. I was turned off by teachers who only had corrections to make, but turned on by the ones who started out positive, and listened to me and then made corrections.
Another concideration which has sort of been hit appon, is how serious are you. If you you choose a private school or out-of state school you will be paying more, and therefore need to be serious, and get through your corse of study and out before you run up too much debt. If you are choosing state schools, no matter how serious you are, you can take your time. If you are not sure you will stick with music, then you need a school with a variety of departments that are good and that you can switch to if needed. I hope this helps some. Good luck with your search.
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