 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-10-20 03:34
I am a confused senior contemplating college admissions. I'm applying to my dream college Early Decision but I need other options when I face a 26% acceptance rate. Northwestern seems like it would be an excellent choice for me. I'm interested in majoring in music history. I know there are some people from Chicago around here: have any of you gone to/know Northwestern and could tell me about their School of Music? I have a bunch of questions. I don't think I'll be able to visit; Chicago's about a 12 hour drive away (I may audition in Philadelphia or New York).
I was accepted by their National High School Music Institute last summer but musical and monetary reasons made me choose a different program.
Thanks,
Micaela
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Author: msroboto
Date: 2002-10-20 04:03
I don't know what your financial situation is but I was just reading an article in Smart Money magazine that discouraged early admission. The reason was that since you must accept the early admission the incentive for the school to provide it's best financial package is diminished.
There is a lot of the article and information at http://www.smartmonry.com
You might be better off applying to your dream school regular and try to use some of the techniques described to get your best deal.
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-10-20 14:37
Well, NU is hardly a generous place in terms of scholarship. Aid is determined by the FAFSA and is not flexible, unless your mom went there or something.
The clarinet education I received at NU was superb. Everything else was weak. If you want a good basic set of music classes, NU is not a good choice.
If you want to do some orchestral playing while you are in school, NU is not the place. I played about 10 works in the orchestra during my four years there and that was FAR more than most other clarinet majors got to do.
The rest of my playing was in the wind ensemble. Many spent a year or more in the large symphonic band as their only ensemble. Now, I like band and all, but it's not particularly helpful toward any career.
In spite of this, a lot of superb players come out of NU, on many instruments. Being around such people is a good thing.
It seems you are on the east coast. I assume you are applying to all the standard east coast schools. If you want to consult with me, would be happy to help in any way possible.
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
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Author: Meighan Stoops
Date: 2002-10-20 20:13
I find Dave's assessment of NU to be pretty accurate. I was there at the end of the Marcellus era/beginning of Dagon. It was a good place for me at the time. However, you mentioned that you were interested in music history. Not sure how much endorsement I could give to that program. You might be better off going to a school with more of an academic slant to its program. You might have to create your own playing opportunities though. It's a decision that will probably require a lot of soul searching though.
What I saw from the undergraduates at Yale was that they seemed to able to have the best of both worlds. There's no perf major (although they can major in music) but there are excellent ensembles (mostly student run) and the academics are superb (needless to say). Good luck.
meg
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-10-20 23:43
I would tend to agree with Hat and Meg. I was there a while ago (90-91), as a clarinet grad student. While there, I decided to focus more on the academics and less on the performance stuff. Well, that is, I was the only grad student on any instrument stuck in symphonic band all year (didn't even SEE wind ens...), and I got depressed and bitter about my playing. Now, don't take that the way it may sound. I had no problems with the school per se, but FOR ME it wasn't the best place at the time.
At any rate, I found the academic, GRAD-LEVEL music classes to be wayyyy too easy. I'm unable to comment on the non-music classes, though, not having had to take any.
In terms of other schools I've been to, well, my fave was Oberlin (of course...), and the stuff I did up here at the University of Minnesota was pretty decent too. There is a decent clarinet department here in MN, and the academics are rather good.
Katrina
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-10-21 15:53
Micaela -
Chicago in midwinter is COLD, in a way you'll never get in New York, and it's not called the Windy City for nothing.
I've heard Russel Dagon play a number of times, and I must say I don't care for him. He's got a big technique, and his tone at mf and softer is good, but the moment he gets above mf, it hardens and gets a bullying quality that I find very unpleasant. Also, I've met some performance majors from Northwestern who didn't play very well. Nevertheless, the Dagon students I've met all adore him.
Any large university will have more than enough to keep you challenged and occupied, and you get out of your classes what you put into them. The questions you've asked on this board show you're a talented and serious person, so you'll do well wherever you go. Visit the schools and pick the one that feels best. If possible, listen to a lot of clarinet graduates from each school. The best sign is if they all sound good and all sound different, since the best teachers bring out what's best in each particular student rather than imposing their own way of playing.
If you're heart is set on being a performance major, you should consider a top conservatory -- Juilliard, Curtis, Eastman and the like. However, the competition there is ferocious, and, to my mind at least, the best musicians have the type of broad education you don't get at a conservatory where you disappear into a practice room and come out four years later able to play at top speed but, far too often, no beauty.
On the assumption that you're not the next Larry Combs, I think you'd have more options as a music major at a university. If you have what it takes, you'll do fine. David Hattner is the shining example.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2002-10-21 16:16
Not to be too supportive of my school, you might want to have a look at McGill, Montreal, Canada.
I am not in the music program, but I can tell you that it's a pretty good performance school and a great academic school.
Prices will be lower than most US schools.
anyways check:
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=91163&t=90681
For a discussion on the school.
-Sylvain
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2002-10-21 18:41
How certain are you that you will end up majoring in a music-related field? Many college students end up switching to different majors than the one they picked out when entering school. Many graduates with music degrees end up working in different fields. I would give great weight to the overall academic quality of the school. If you attend a college with a great music program and lackluster other programs, you might have to change schools just to change a major. Also, if you pursue some other career later on, it will be easier to be able to say that you have a degree from a respected, well-known college rather than from a conservatory unknown outside of the music world.
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-10-22 02:20
Thanks for all your great advice! I suppose that the more narrow performing opportunities come with the size of the school...it's a great deal bigger than any other school I've considered.
I'm really hoping that this won't even be an issue because I'll get in Early Decision at my dream school, which is, by the way, Swarthmore. Money isn't too much of an issue, the thing with the summer program was their program cost over $5,000 and I was accepted to a state-sponsored program that cost $1,300. Financial aid would be good, though.
I'm definitely an academic type as well as performance- the only conservatory I'm applying to is Oberlin and there as a double degree student. I'm also applying to Vassar, Wesleyan, Barnard, Wellesley and Bard. I'm pretty sure I want to major in music and minor in European history, or maybe double major. Philosophy and English literature could always intrude, though.
Meighan- I visited Yale and can't say I cared for it a lot. It was too bound by tradition and "we're better than Harvard" and "my family's gone to Yale since the 18th century" for me. The music program did sound great, though.
I've ruled out Eastman, though I like Mr. Grant very much. Performance isn't exactly my direction. I though I could do both and apply both to conservatories and colleges but I would die of stress. I'm currently taking four Advanced Placement classes and not practicing nearly enough.
Thanks again for the help,
Micaela
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-10-22 02:29
Another $.02-with your interest in European History, Philosophy, and English, I would say that state schools are NOT the best place for you as an undergrad. You can get a much better individual attention at Oberlin, and I'm assuming the other schools you mentioned (with which I am not familiar...) in these subjects.
Best of luck!
Katrina
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Author: lyn
Date: 2002-10-23 01:27
Vassar and music? For a liberal artsy type thing maybe...... but why would someone go to Vassar for music?
lyn
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Author: Meighan Stoops
Date: 2002-10-23 01:42
Michaela-
If I had to find a polar opposite to Yale it would probably Bard. My group (Da Capo Chamber Players) is actually in residence there. We go about twice a year to play Joan Tower's students' pieces. There is no performance major but you could study with Larry Guy at Vassar. It's a very interesting and creative student body. I'd say it's ideal for the creative types who don't want to be bound by rules (or...ahem...even grades). It's a truly unique place.
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